The Apprentice fans left 'cringing' at errors by candidates in first task
It wasn't the best start for this year's contestants...
After the series was delayed until February this year, The Apprentice finally got off to a start on Thursday 1st, as Lord Alan Sugar was joined by his trusted aides Baroness Karen Brady and Tim Campbell MBE, as he hunts for his next business partner.
For the first task of the series, this year's 18 candidates were split into a boys' and girls' team, before they headed off to the luxury Scottish Highlands to put on a corporate away day for clients.
🚨 Warning: The below article contains major spoilers 🚨
With some of the biggest brains in Britain and most aspiring entrepreneurs in the country on the show, you'd be forgiven to think the task was a simple one to kick-start the series, but it certainly didn't go to plan for either team...
Whilst the boys' time-keeping turned their day event into an utter shambles, the girls had a kitchen nightmare, attempting to fry fish cakes in crumble, rather than breadcrumbs. Poor negotiating and communication skills between teams was also evident, resulting in viewers to express their humour at the episode, with many left 'cringing'.
One wrote: 'Just when you think a new set of candidates can’t get any worse… A PM who can’t swim on a Loch tour, the crumble fish cakes, the tablespoon malarkey, the clapping before Tim announces who won😭 this is a comedy show surely🤣 so glad it’s back #TheApprentice'. (sic)
Another added: 'I'm sat cringing at The Apprentice, surely this can't be real?', with another saying: 'THIS IS SO EMBARRASSING 😭😭😭 #TheApprentice'. (sic)
Another commented: 'Yet another year of The Apprentice and yet another year of absolute idiots on this show. I can't believe these lot are all adults. 😂 #TheApprentice'. (sic)
Things didn't get much better in the boardroom either...
After both Karen and Tim confirmed the final figures, Dr Asif Munaf made a bit of a fool of himself by prematurely celebrating, before learning that the group actually lost Lord Sugar around £600 during the task.
Following the board room discussions, project manager Virdi Singh Mazaria decided to bring back Steve Darken and Oliver Medforth into the firing line, with Lord Sugar later saying the dreaded "you're fired" words to Sales Executive Oliver.
Lord Sugar told him: “Ollie, it’s funny that you’re amongst eight colleagues and quite a few of them didn’t know what you did, and so I say no smoke without fire…..It’s a tough one, Ollie I’m sorry to say mate you’re fired.”
Check out all of the remaining candidates on this year's Apprentice:
Phil Turner - FINALIST
Occupation: Owner, Pie Company
From: Bognor Regis
He said: "You don't grow a multi-million-pound business by being a pushover."
Rachel Woolford - FINALIST
Occupation: Boutique Fitness Studio Owner
From: Leeds
She said: "I have no doubt that starting up during Covid made me a tougher person all round."
Dr. Paul Midha - FIRED
Occupation: Owner, Dental Group
From: Leeds
He said: "I am enthusiastic about learning from one of the UK's most successful."
Flo Edwards - FIRED
Occupation: Recruitment Consultant
From: London
She said: "My warning to the other candidates? Don't underestimate me. I'm here to win."
Tre Lowe - FIRED
Occupation: Music & Wellness Entrepreneur
From: London
He said: "I am going to change the world and create a legacy that reverberates through time."
Foluso Falade - FIRED
Occupation: Project Manager
From: Manchester
She said: "Money doesn't move me, but making a difference does."
Steve Darken - FIRED
Occupation: Management Consultant
From: London
He said: "Don't judge me by my suit and tie – I'm not just another corporate!"
Raj Chohan - FIRED
Occupation: Mortgage Broker
From: Leamington Spa
She said: "I want to be a multi-millionaire by 50!"
Maura Rath - FIRED
Occupation: Owner, Yoga Company
From: Wexford
She said: "The success of my business is measured by the joy and health it brings people."
Noor Bouziane - FIRED
Occupation: Owner, Jewellery Company
From: Liverpool
She said: "I have competitiveness in my blood. I will go to any length to win this process."
Virdi Singh Mazaria - FIRED
Occupation: Music Producer
From: Leicester
He said: "DJ. Host. MC. The other candidates are just extras on my journey to the top."
Sam Saadet - FIRED
Occupation: Pre and Post Natal Fitness Coach
From: Essex
She said: "I have a business that truly helps others."
Onyeka Nweze - FIRED
Occupation: Chartered Company Secretary
From: London
She said: "My business is going to be making 10 million within the first 5 years."
Jack Davies - FIRED
Occupation: Recruitment Director
From: Bristol
He said: "Anything I put my mind to, I succeed in."
Amina Khan - FIRED
Occupation: Pharmacist and Business Owner
From: Ilford
She said: "I am one of the hardest working women I know. There is no one else like me."
Dr Asif Munaf - FIRED
Occupation: Owner, Wellness Brand
From: Sheffield
He said: "I've got an extremely high IQ. I've got an extremely high bench press. And to top it off, I'm quite good on the eyes."
Paul Bowen - FIRED
Occupation: Director, Pie Company
From: Lancashire
He said: "I could make Lord Sugar the Lord of the Pies."
Oliver Medforth - FIRED
Occupation: Sales Executive
From: Yorkshire
He said: "I am a selling machine."
The Apprentice airs every Thursday night on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Now read:
Applications for The Apprentice series 19 are now open
Lord Sugar reveals the thing he 'regrets' about The Apprentice
The Apprentice's most successful winners to date