The Apprentice flooded with complaints over 'brutal' interviews

If you're a fan of The Apprentice, you'll no doubt be aware that the penultimate episode which features the interview stages can be pretty brutal! But this year, viewers have accused the show of taking things too far, with many making complaints after the episode on Thursday 16th March.

Warning: The below article contains major spoilers about The Apprentice!

Thursday night's (16th March) episode featured the final five Dani Donovan, Megan Hornby, Victoria Goulbourne, Rochelle Anthony, and Marnie Swindells being grilled by Lord Sugar's aides; Claude Littner, Karren Brady, Mike Soutar and the infamous Linda Plant, who all totally ripped apart the finalist's business plans.

At one stage in the episode, Megan thanked Karren for her time, to which the CEO of West Ham United Football Club said: "It's Baronness Brady to you, my friends call me Karren."

Although the interview stage has been awkward to watch in previous years, fans of the show were quick to take to social media following last night's episode, with many accusing the show of 'bullying' this year's candidates, with many of them being reduced to tears following the interviews.

One wrote: '@bbcapprentice I've been in business for 40 years, I love the apprentice TV program. But last nights bullying was horrendous to watch, if that happened in real interview you should be prosecuted. Where was positive side? And spelling and grammar has nothing to do with business'. (sic)

Another wrote: '@BBCOne and it’s leadership team need to review tonight’s programme as to whether it is really ok to belittle and frankly bully individuals to the point of making them cry. It’s not acceptable in any modern workplace.' (sic)

Another shocked viewer then gasped: 'There is a fine line between entertainment and humiliating potential talent that should have been nurtured during the 'process'. The production team should help refine the business plans during the process, rather than send candidates to interview slaughter'. (sic)

A fourth added: 'This isn't a hard business interview and public humiliation and bullying. I would never want to work with any of these people if that's how they treat potential business parents. The candidates are all poor. But it fella like they were chosen just so they could be humiliated'. (sic)

Following the tough interviews, Lord Alan Sugar made the decision to fire Dani Donovan, Megan Hornby and Victoria Goulbourne in the boardroom, meaning Rochelle Anthony and Marnie Swindells have made it into the final.

Check out the most successful winners of The Apprentice below:

The 2023 final of The Apprentice will air on Thursday 23rd March, where Marnie and Rochelle will battle it out to become Lord Sugar's next business partner.

Now read:

The Apprentice's most successful winners to date

The Apprentice star announces pregnancy following firing

Applications for the next series of The Apprentice are now open

How to listen to heat radio:

If your favourite music icons are the Spice Girls and your favourite Ks are Kylie and the Kardashians, you need heat Radio in your life! heat Radio is portable, so you can listen to us on the move. Simply download our app from your phone’s app store, listen online at heatradio.com and at heatworld.com. We’re on all the smart speakers too, just say “play heat Radio".

• the apprentice