The Apprentice 2015

[90sWereBetter]

So, that's the finalists set then. Happy at least one half of my two picks made it through.

Is it just me, or was Claude relatively neutered this time around. He wasn't being his normal belligerent self. I was expecting one of the candidates to be torn to shreds ala Solomon last year or Jordan back in 2013. Alas, it wasn't to be.

Also, since when did John Cleland the touring car driver become an interviewer? I wasn't aware Clelands the Volvo dealers had become a multi-million pound business? :P

 

[me123]

Yeah, I think with Claude being more involved in the process he's too familiar with the candidates to be as intimidating at this stage. He's seen them over the last few weeks/months, and actually had some nice things to say. It's much more easy when you've never met the candidates and only have their bull**** CVs as ammunition.

I think Sugar made the right decision given the circumstances.

 

[Butts]

Yeah, I think with Claude being more involved in the process he's too familiar with the candidates to be as intimidating at this stage. He's seen them over the last few weeks/months, and actually had some nice things to say. It's much more easy when you've never met the candidates and only have their bull**** CVs as ammunition.

I think Sugar made the right decision given the circumstances.

I don't think Claude should have been involved in the Interviews either, as you say he is familiar with the candidates unlike before when he only appeared at this stage.

If Karen was also an Interviewer that would make it more acceptable.

Why does Sugar never conduct the Interviews himself ?

I can't believe it is Joseph and Varna in the Final , neither of them did that well in tasks overall.

Bring back Margaret and Nick !!!

 

[me123]

Bring back Margaret and Nick !!!

Whole heartedly agree.
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[Tetchytyke]

Vana has grown on me. Irritating at first but I believe she's genuinely capable and has some substance behind the bulls**t.

I think the edit shows which way this is going, and Joseph had a very kind edit during the interviews.

Vana is a cretin, has been a cretin since day one and her business idea is astoundingly cretinous. I genuinely cannot believe someone as idiotic and vacuous as her has made it as far as she has, she should have been booted out in week one.

Tinder doesn't make money; it is used a loss-leader by its owner, the people behind match.com. Grindr has just started making money this year, but it was launched in 2009. If Tinder and Grindr don't make money, then I don't see anyone else making money, even with the brains behind Viglen computers and the Amstrad em@iler backing them.

My favourite twitter take on the idea was this one: https://twitter.com/PeripateNic/status/677243489214668800

As for the interviewers, I don't know who or what Linda Plant is, but she had all the looks and charisma of a satsuma that had been left in the sun too long.

 

[WelshBluebird]

I think the edit shows which way this is going, and Joseph had a very kind edit during the interviews.

Vana is a cretin, has been a cretin since day one and her business idea is astoundingly cretinous. I genuinely cannot believe someone as idiotic and vacuous as her has made it as far as she has, she should have been booted out in week one.

Tinder doesn't make money; it is used a loss-leader by its owner, the people behind match.com. Grindr has just started making money this year, but it was launched in 2009. If Tinder and Grindr don't make money, then I don't see anyone else making money, even with the brains behind Viglen computers and the Amstrad em@iler backing them.

My favourite twitter take on the idea was this one: https://twitter.com/PeripateNic/status/677243489214668800

As for the interviewers, I don't know who or what Linda Plant is, but she had all the looks and charisma of a satsuma that had been left in the sun too long.

The main problem with Varna's idea is simply she assumes popularity = money. Which especially in the app world is so far from the truth. Many of the popular apps we all use do not make money. They are funded from venture capitalists who aim to make money when the company is gobbled up by one of the "big guys" or floated on the stock exchange for ludicrous amounts. And a quarter of a million is nothing compared to what some of the VC's put in.
She is right in that her idea could well prove to be popular (after all, as was mentioned on the show these kind of apps and the gamification of various things are both popular ideas atm). But that doesn't in itself make money.

 

[EssexGonzo]

I think Alan Sugar sees something of himself in Joseph which is why he's got this far. He's got a good, honest sense of graft with some intelligence about him whereas someone like Richard, bright and capable though he was, eventually offended too many of his sensibilities with his politics and arrogance. Of course, being opaque about one's business and ownership structure is never helpful, either.

 

[Butts]

So Joseph and his plumbing business triumphed

Personally I thought Varna's presentation was far slicker but perhaps the idea lacked substance.

Was it "Apprentice Apartheid" ?

None of the Black Candidates were invited back as helpers to the finalists and where was Selena ?

Also Sugar needs to get up to speed on Watchdog, Anne Robinson left at the end of the series before last.

 

[me123]

I think Vana (sans "R") was the better candidate and had a much better presentation, but ultimately the business was a very risky investment. I can see entirely why he went for Joseph. Joseph's company needed some money. Vana's needed some money from Lord Sugar, and lots more from other investors to make it a viable business.

I don't think there was any racial consideration in the returning candidates; it's worth pointing out that the last candidate to leave who was black essentially quit the process. Aisha and April left quite early on, and they don't bring everyone back (and never have done AFAIK). Megrim is an ethnic minority candidate who did return. Selena apparently had a bit of a temper tantrum after she left the show and didn't appear on "You're Fired" or anything like that.

 

[Butts]

I think Vana (sans "R") was the better candidate and had a much better presentation, but ultimately the business was a very risky investment. I can see entirely why he went for Joseph. Joseph's company needed some money. Vana's needed some money from Lord Sugar, and lots more from other investors to make it a viable business.

I don't think there was any racial consideration in the returning candidates; it's worth pointing out that the last candidate to leave who was black essentially quit the process. Aisha and April left quite early on, and they don't bring everyone back (and never have done AFAIK). Megrim is an ethnic minority candidate who did return. Selena apparently had a bit of a temper tantrum after she left the show and didn't appear on "You're Fired" or anything like that.

None of the blacks were in the audience for the after show either as far as I could see. Nor was Selena , her absence was not explained.

Get rid of Jack Dee and bring back Dermot or Adrian

 

[Crossover]

Selena broke contract I think, did she not? So there was little chance she would be back on

I think of the two, he went for the right option, though Vana's presentation was very slick (they did both come across well from the cut that was shown, though)

Somehow, whilst having watched the last couple of episodes and not particularly liked Vana, I somehow saw her in a different light on the basis of the final and the You're Hired programme

 

[Butts]

Selena broke contract I think, did she not? So there was little chance she would be back on

I think of the two, he went for the right option, though Vana's presentation was very slick (they did both come across well from the cut that was shown, though)

Somehow, whilst having watched the last couple of episodes and now particularly liked Vana, I somehow saw her in a different light on the basis of the final and the You're Hired programme

Why was Scott's "walkout" hardly mentioned ? This would have been an obvious topic for discussion rather than being "swept under the carpet".

 

[me123]

Selena's spat with the production team has been quite well documented. She seems to be alleging that the production team have manipulated the footage to make her appear inept.

The camera on You're Fired didn't focus too much on the returning candidates, but I'm definitely sure I saw Scott (who quit the show).

 

[Busaholic]

The most likeable candidate won, but surely the amount being staked by Sugar should be higher? He's always on about how wealthy he is, and well-connected too, so half a million has to be the minimum.If it had been the latter sum, Vana might well have got the nod. I really do think the next series should be the last, though, the tasks are becoming very repetitive and are not necessarily the best preparation for getting into bed with Sugar (now,there's a revolting thought).

 

[Butts]

The most likeable candidate won, but surely the amount being staked by Sugar should be higher? He's always on about how wealthy he is, and well-connected too, so half a million has to be the minimum.If it had been the latter sum, Vana might well have got the nod. I really do think the next series should be the last, though, the tasks are becoming very repetitive and are not necessarily the best preparation for getting into bed with Sugar (now,there's a revolting thought).

I concur with what you have suggested.

More than that I would like a programme dedicated to revisiting all the previous winners to see how they got on and updating their current position.

It would be a great trip down memory lane.

 

[Busaholic]

I concur with what you have suggested.

More than that I would like a programme dedicated to revisiting all the previous winners to see how they got on and updating their current position.

It would be a great trip down memory lane.

I don't think it'll ever happen as it might place Lord Sugar's sagacity and foresight in some doubt! At least two or three ended quite quickly with some very hostile comments thrown in for free!

 

[matt]

I don't think it'll ever happen as it might place Lord Sugar's sagacity and foresight in some doubt! At least two or three ended quite quickly with some very hostile comments thrown in for free!

I think since the format changed to a business investment all of the previous winners are still successfully trading. I don't think any other winners still work for Lord Sugar.

 

[Crossover]

I'm sure at least one of the previous winners from the original format ended up in litigation with Lord Sugar

 

[Spamcan81]

I'm sure at least one of the previous winners from the original format ended up in litigation with Lord Sugar

And lost her case.

 

[CC 72100]

I'm sure at least one of the previous winners from the original format ended up in litigation with Lord Sugar

Stella English

 

[Crossover]

And lost her case.

Stella English

Either way, I don't think she would be welcomed back :P

 

[Butts]

Either way, I don't think she would be welcomed back :P

That should not preclude a programme featuring the others, which I'm sure would be of interest to most of the people who have watched it over the years.