The Apprentice 2026 - starts tonight - first stop Hong Kong!

[IHeartMyTissues]

Anyone else looking forward to the new series?

First task is the classic buying task, but it's taking place in Hong Kong.

There's also a new companion show - 'Unfinished Business' - let's hope it's a return to form after several years of the 'All About Tom Allen' show 😆

I was particularly disappointed because this is my favorite task, and they were so bad that even the
totting up at the end was no fun.

Yes, I love this task, it's usually so entertaining and the candidates really have to use their wits.
Maybe it's getting harder as people are just used to googling and not working stuff out?

Yes, and map reading is becoming a lost art. I can't blame people. I'm old enough to know how to read a map but I much prefer electronic navigation. I can't think now how I managed as a student in the 1990s clutching an A-Z to find my way around a new city!

They certainly had no idea how to use a map

I think it's not that difficult because it's quite logical, but they just couldn't put their collective minds to it. They should really be able to think out of the box!

My favourite Baggs quote was '“I'm not a one-trick pony, I'm not a 10-trick pony. I've got a whole field of ponies, waiting to literally run towards this job'.

One thing you don't see on the buying task is that all sellers have to agree to being filmed. This may make it more difficult overseas where The Apprentice isn't a well-known TV show. It's possible that the girls found shrimp paste etc. but the sellers wouldn't agree to filming.

No, they don't set them up to fail like that. You'd know on entering the premises to get the shrimp paste straight away if it was a no no.

He was so funny. It's really sad.
Only 27.

I wondered if the PM tactically chose a strategy of being overly positive and nice - only for it to backfire.

I think it’s a bigger gamble to volunteer to be PM for the first task when you don’t know the people There’s a lot inbetween being PM and keeping your head down, put in a really solid performance and you’ll be safe in the first round. Sadly not many solid performances going on with this lot so far!

Especially somewhere like Hong Kong. And its relationship with China especially with regards to freedom of speech and the media. Apologies probably said that really clumsily

What are you expecting a vendor selling shrimp paste to say during a negotiation with Apprentice candidates that would put them at risk from any form of mainland retaliation re freedom of speech? Even if they wanted to discuss human rights or the Chinese government, that’s going to be quite a stretch to get it into a “I’ll sell you for that jar of shrimp paste for 100 dollars”.

But there’s 9 other things they don’t get on the list. Organisations like the BBC will be closely monitored. As soon as reason for travel is disclosed on the visa application. They will be monitored. And vendors might be reluctant by association not what they have on them as such.

Children's books tonight!

I hope they have kid focus groups, they're always brutal.

They always ending up pitching children's products too young - like it's an animation aimed at 12 year olds and it's something like Peppa Pig (but crap).

Oh dearie me.

House they stay in is huge so why are they squashed in dormitories?

Is it just one of them that has kids?

Lucky Levi ...

Having a 4 year old is useful for being pm.

Maybe they've read Andrea's giraffe blockbuster!

Maybe they've read Andrea's giraffe blockbuster!

Wow Andrea