The Apprentice: Thread 4

[Pebbledashery]

Suralan is watching you..

Maybe there's some huge revelation about Stephanie that they're saving for interview stage.

Since there are only four this time, we'll get more time on each one.

Why are they always surprised when the interviewers pull information from Companies House?

They're all a bit deluded. It's like they have those self affirmation aphorisms on the wall and don't want to hear anything negative.

I couldn't have imagined the programme without Nick and Margaret but I've coped
I missed Claude though and was pleased to see him back for the interviews. He did look like his accident has taken a toll I do hope he's well enough to return next series.

It's really not been the same since Nick and Margaret left. I do love Claude, but with Karen it's like she's been told to constantly put on that lemon sucking face and be as horrible as possible, it's like a parody. At least with Nick and Margaret their expressions and comments seemed like it actually came from them, rather than scripted. I like Tim, but he's not really made much of an impression or made me laugh.

Yes so much better with Nick and Margaret

Nick's expressions

Didn't the teams used to communicate more doing tasks?

I can imagine Thomas pillows chortling away to himself in a corner - occasionally popping out a ‘farkin hell’

Tim has been more contained.

Like in a tiny box contained.

Did Tim just think 'I cannot do this any more, fucking muppets'?

Has one of them got a foodie plan? The clips with Linda interviewing show her telling someone to not cry and something about "I could make a stew" I may have misheard that though, tbf

I can't stand Karren though. Feels so scripted.

@woodhill

Didn't the teams used to communicate more doing tasks?

I was about to say the very same. They definitely did. They were always on the phone.

It's a shame there's no old series available to watch.

Yes in the cars. No wonder the tasks go wrong if they cannot communicate

@AlisonDonut

Did Tim just think 'I cannot do this any more, fucking muppets'?

I think he was just there to fill in until the other guy was better.

I'm sure I remember there being a problem in one series where they were complaining about too many phone calls, now they barely communicate at all.
It offends me that they still have 4 huge people carriers for 6 people, why can't they just share 2 normal cars? Its not a covid thing - it's always annoyed me for years!

No, Tim is filling in for Claude. Tim is isolating so they brought in Soutar for that week.

@Fizbosshoes

I'm sure I remember there being a problem in one series where they were complaining about too many phone calls, now they barely communicate at all. It offends me that they still have 4 huge people carriers for 6 people, why can't they just share 2 normal cars? Its not a covid thing - it's always annoyed me for years!

The cameraman, or woman, needs to be in there too with their equipment.

Early on I kept thinking Tim was a candidate.

@woodhill

Didn't the teams used to communicate more doing tasks?

I think (and I might be misremembering) they used to actually try to work together to win the task. I feel like now, from the outset, they all just try to stitch each other up and get some ammo ready in case they lose and have to stab a teammate in the back in the boardroom.

A lot of mixed metaphors there . But I just really noticed this series, having not watched for a good few years, that right from the start the priority for most of them was "Who will I blame if we lose?" rather than "How can we best use each of our strengths to win?"

Ruth Badger would beat all of these with one hand tied behind her back.

Ruth was the dingdongs.

Loved her.

At first they all had reasonable business plans and seemed genuinely interested in doing a good job. But now I feel they want to get on the celebrity pathway, especially the girls in their tight dresses,

@woodhill

Didn't the teams used to communicate more doing tasks?

Yes they were always speaking on like corporate looking blackberry's and the like And their was always a drama when they couldn't get in contact with the other side of the team as they'd been blocked for they were in the meeting with a client

Now it's a 5 second phone call about cous cous and brown rice

@DrSbaitso

Has that ever happened before? No sales at all and both teams lose?

I wonder what the prize would have been.

I remember it happening once before, in the series won by Joseph the plumber. It was a very similar task except they were designing a healthy snack. One team produced vegetable crisps that were drenched in oil. The other team had a superfood bar that looked like poo and was really dry and crumbly. No orders for either.

AS got each PM to choose one other team member to join them so there were 4 people in the final boardroom. Only one person got fired though.

@woodhill

Didn't the teams used to communicate more doing tasks?

Also agreeing with this. They definitely seem to be allowed only a limited number of very short phone calls between the subteams now which just sets them up for failure.

Brittany should have been held more accountable for squirming out of the food production side. She's a nutritionist, FFS, if she can't put together a decent baby food she needs to pack it in, and last night demonstrated that her design skills are crap.

Looking at the business plans, I'd say Harpreet (coffee and cakes) is in quite a strong position. I can't see alcohol/protein drinks working, and selling online pyjamas seems a bit limited. I'm in two minds about Stephanie's (second hand designer children's clothes). I hate her use of the "pre-loved" euphemism, and IME used children's clothes tend to have taken a bit of a beating if they are any good; the only ones that end up in good condition are the ones that weren't used because they were so impractical or hideous. But I could see her winning out in the sustainability stakes.

There was a candidate a few years back who had a similar business for selling children's designer clothes.

The pyjamas could work, AS invested in swimwear.

Alcoholic protein drinks sound awful.