All Philler, no Killer - The Apprentice Thread Three

[ArticSaviour]

New thread for tonight as we have nearly reached the end of Thread Two

I think the business plans need to come out much sooner in the series, and I'm sure someone once suggested a task based on everyone's plan, that would be good.

The ridiculous thing about the format is that you spend 10 weeks doing tasks then Lord Sugar says sorry I don't want to invest in the idea. Surely he could read 14 business plans at the start and stop wasting these people's time. There is no correlation between performance in the tasks and the business idea.

I like Phil, I hope he wins. And the gym plan is just meh; it's been done.
I've ordered a couple of Turner's pies, I'll let you guys know if they're any good 🥧 (they're rated excellent on trustpilot!).

The last 10 weeks have been a total waste of time. At least be up front about the fact they have a rough idea who they want in the final

The pies investment makes no sense. The company as £700,000 in the account. Lord Sugar invests his £250,000 and gets 50%. He is up £150,000 on day 1. I'd do that deal.

Yep. Same with Paul’s business. Makes no economic sense for him to give 50% for £250k.

Also odd that two developed businesses that already have branding etc now have to make up new stuff just for this purpose. Why does it matter if pie man Phil can come up with an innovative brand or gym bunny Rachel can come up with a good tag line? The skills they want them to show in the final are completely irrelevant are to their existing businesses

That's been the gist though since the format changed from apprentice to business partner. The tasks are the entertainment. During the tasks, spotting who must have a decent business plan (and will make the final) is part of the 'fun'.

I guess this is this first time it’s been so blatant that one was pre chosen

I think the nit picking on the established in 1933 was just wrong and I'm surprised these "business experts" didn't know the difference between established and incorporated. M&S promote they where established in 1884 but Marks and Spencer PLC was incorporated in 1926,

My money's been on Tre! I think Paul would've made the final (and probably won) had he agreed to 50%, thus I don't agree that it's entirely premeditated.

Would have been at Rachel’s expense

The businesses used to be all start up type ideas. Phil must be doing this for the publicity, I can't see why he would want the investment - he doesn't need the money. He'd have been better off going to dragons den and getting a more "serious" business mentor. Or just employing a decent manager to run it for him.

This series has been awful. Time for a re-brand and relaunch. Would like to see Karen, SirAlan, Margaret, Nick, guy who was just on whose name I can't remember, etc, all carry out a series of tasks, set by us, women of MN, to revive the programme. Who could resist watching them competing to buy a baguette in Paris or a small Michaelangelo in Florence?

Yes - I want to hear Suralan doing a mine tour with five mins to write and learn the script.

And definitely Time and Karen cooking task - gluten free bread, throw in branding and an advert and pitch - I think 24 hours should be plenty of time.

I was behind Phil as the "local boy" and well-loved local business, but I went off him in this episode, he seemed incredibly stupid and naive, and as I said last week, I worry that the freshly cooked pies we know and love will reduce in quality if the business gets much bigger.
I'm surprised they felt he (and his brothers) had expanded too quickly as the expansion has been seemingly very successful from the outside - always queues out the door at lunchtime, always sold out by mid afternoon.

I think he has been set up to win, but I hope he doesn't.

Has anyone mentioned Tim's tie yet? I was trying to get a proper look all through the programme.

What a waste of time watching this season of TA has been.
It was apparent from early on that Phil was being given get out of jail cards, but I never thought it would be as blatant as it has turned out.
They have wasted everyone's time - the contestants, the interviewers, the viewers.

I don't care who wins. They may as well have put Tre through to compete against Phil in the final. Nothing about it is authentic.
I'm out.

I felt Phil got an easy ride throughout the interviews too. Despite the fact his business plan was missing a plan.

I'm not sure that Tre even wanted to win. He was more interested in raising his media profile.

Interesting point.

700/2 =350

350-250= 100

100K doesn't feel like a risk really

It’s all how the show is edited to present a view of a different people and perspectives

I don't see how Rachel's gyms will last in the long run, how will they compete with the likes of David Lloyd, Puregym, The Gym. Puregym and The Gym Group are opening new gyms almost monthly and membership is less than £25 (I pay £19) and that includes all the classes you want plus use of an actual gym.

One class for £15 or 5 for £65 seems expensive to me.

The final task is meaningless anyway - Alan knows all about the business and the candidate by that stage. The winning business is never going to use branding or advertising knocked up in a few hours for its actual launch or relaunch. The task is a hangover from the old format where they always ended on something very 'glitzy' such as organising a showbiz type event.

I would argue all of the tasks are thoroughly pointless. They’ve looked at the business plans and broadly decided who they want in the final. This year it seems very much that sugar wants to get into pies.