The Apprentice [Archive] - UK Business Forums

clairemackaness

23rd February 2006, 08:02

Who watched? What do they think?

I think Sayed is a moron! He's got to go. And as for that curly haired girl who jumps around screaming, it looks like more tears for her next week too. If you cant hack it love........YOUR FIRED!

Tazuk

23rd February 2006, 08:07

I agree sayed, that curley hair thing and the very quiet one who was trying to sell a bag of fruit with the quietist little voice and no confidence. I was shocked that Ben went he seemed quite strong and in charge.

clairemackaness

23rd February 2006, 08:09

Ben was blatantly picked on by the others so that they looked like they agreed with Alan. After all they picked him and went to him for advice all day. He wasn't even allowed to get his point accross because Sayed was too busy sucking up like a parott.

thekitchendesigner

23rd February 2006, 08:11

i watched!

turns out i kind of know one of the contestants! He runs a part time wedding carhire company and i met him in Bristol last year. I've spoken with him a few times via email since. He's the Taiwanese chap with a shaved head!

He's a really nice guy and he even let me mess around with his ferrari (wedding car).

I've emailed him to ask him what it was like!

Tazuk

23rd February 2006, 08:14

Sayed has really gotta go i couldn't have someone like that working for me. In some of the enviroments i work in he would be in some very serious trouble.
sayed your fired lol.

Sarah-Ink Promotions

23rd February 2006, 08:14

Sayed was an idiot "er.. how about the A team?" :lol: and the curly haired girl annoyed me too much, the womens team leader seemed quite good and at least the girls are working together this year instead of bickering amongst themselves!

clairemackaness

23rd February 2006, 08:17

I think the girls team leader, showed decorum and was extremely well presented. I kind of agree with Allan though, that perhaps they shouldn't have used their female pursasion quite so much, but all credit to them for making all that money.

Sarah-Ink Promotions

23rd February 2006, 08:20

I think the blagging was fine but the massages etc.. was a bit too far, not very professional! but you know if the teams were mixed the guys on the team would have encouraged that stuff so that they could win!

Tazuk

23rd February 2006, 08:27

Selling goods that would only last another 24 hours without warning the consumer was i believe a wrong move and could have opened up a big bag of wriggly worms.
Thier was a bit of business and a bit of womanly charm but then again take a look at motorsports and bike sports.

mattk

23rd February 2006, 08:38

Does anyone know what Amstrad actually do? I know they make settop boxes for Sky and they used to make Viglen PCs that were sold to schools and those crappy email telephones, that wouldn't exactly make them top of my list of companies I'd want to work for???

clairemackaness

23rd February 2006, 08:39

They have an office in Brentwood thats 8 storeys high! I have no idea how he makes his millions though LOL

Sarah-Ink Promotions

23rd February 2006, 08:49

I think they sell a lot of his electronic gadgets on QVC :?

mumper

23rd February 2006, 08:50

I salute Alan Sugar's success and achievements in life and the fact he's worked extremely hard to get where he is. However, I don't think he's the right person for The Apprentice. He has worked for himself since the age of seventeen and has never been an employee, so can't know the problems the 'apprentices' face.

He does the firing on the show but is not actually there during filming. His two assistants report the the goings-on and the level of performance by each contestant and he makes his decision based on that.

DavidHorn

23rd February 2006, 08:58

I thought it was a great episode ... the boys team this year seems to be like the girls team last year - all petty squabbles and not much action. Ben had to go ... he was a bit of a wet fish. Sayed this year is like Paul last year ... he'll go a fair way, but god, you wouldn't employ him would you?

As for the curly haired girl. Oh my god. Get rid of her pronto!

Good to have the show back!

directmarketingadvice

23rd February 2006, 09:00

I was shocked that Ben went he seemed quite strong and in charge.

He didn't do anything that impressed me. And he could have had some of his team out selling elsewhere, rather than stuck in the stall.

Having said that, any of the 3 guys in the boardroom could have gone and not been missed (except Syed's entertainment value).

Steve

cqueen

23rd February 2006, 09:08

I dont think Ben should have been fired, he seemed like a good chap.
There was another program on last night where they interviewed some of the people and showed unseen clips.
'The A team' wasnt the only name he came up with you know ..''ok well I've got another one''...''ok cool what is it?''.....''Winners''......... :shock: :lol:
Said/sayed won't last long, his too confident in himself, you might say thats a good thing but he's cocky with it, he just thinks he's better than everyone.
Another thing that gets on my nerves is at the beginning where one of the women said ''I'm going to win, Ive got the drive, ambition, I WILL win''.
We hear these famous last words in just about every tv competiton. Who wins is not down to you sweetheart!

freecybermag

23rd February 2006, 09:13

The thing I can't understand is that all these people lack a certain quality. I can't quite put my finger on it but they are all so far up their own arses and all to aggresive. I would never like to work with any of them and I certainly cannot belive that Alan Sugar will offer any of them a 6 figure salary.
As for Ben well he was just plain stupid. I mean it's common sense that when you have a fruit stall and 7 people you don't keep them all around the stall. For one thing it's very intimidating to the customers. There should be other people out in the field maxamising sales. Sayed also is the Del Boy of the group. Would Sir Alan like to have a Del Boy on a 6 figure salary working for him? What bugged me though was that in a board room with 7 people, there were shouts and arguments going on and Alan pointed his finger at the chinese guy and gave him a row for being quiet. I don't understand why Alan gave him a row. I think it's very unprofessional to join in a squabble and get all hot headed over something. It's important to keep your cool and deal with things in a rational manner.

Cheers

Chris

P.S. I loved the episode BTW :lol: :lol:

thekitchendesigner

23rd February 2006, 09:19

I agree chris. I think a lot of their attitudes are to play up to the camera, especially that Sayed guy. I know plenty of people who have done well in business and none are as arrogant as some of them are. i think they must feel that it is essential to be like that, when really its not. Common sense goes a long way.

some of their ideas and what they say make me cringe.

even so, the programme is great!

Russ

23rd February 2006, 09:27

I was lucky enough to be in the audience of the "youre fired" episode that is shown on BBC 3 straight after the main show. If anyone wants to go and see it, it is filmed at Riverside studios and you can apply for tickets for that and other shows at

http://www.lostintv.com/frameset.html?http://www.lostintv.com/

I thought the first episode was excellent and showed the girls to be far more tenacious than last years bunch, nothing wrong with turning on a bit of charm at the end of the day either... After all men have been calling girls "darling", "babes" and "honey" on market stalls for centuries.

Russ

Real World Hypnotherapy

23rd February 2006, 09:31

I watched it last night and I wanted to throw stuff at the TV when that curly haired woman started crying.

When she was making her point about women not having to use their sexuality to sell, and how she finds it very discriminative, isn't that exactly what they did?

The girls team leader was seriously fit! Like an intelligent Kelly Brook.

Matt, MK Printing

clairemackaness

23rd February 2006, 09:37

Curly top drove me mad, if she didn't like the accusation and felt discriminated why did she do it in the first place! Theres standing up for your morals and then playing up to Alan Sugar for the sob story, feel sorry for vote!

Looking at the clips for next weeks show, she breaks down again!

Robert

23rd February 2006, 09:39

I totally agree on the two most annoying contestants.

Overall I thought it was a brilliant peice of TV. Anything that has me shaking my head in disbelief, and shouting that the TV, has to be good.

Russ

23rd February 2006, 09:51

Anyone care to start a sweepstake as to who they think might win it? I know it's early days but could be interesting to see over the 12/13 week period who has good judgement...

My Money is on Paul if it's a guy or Karen if it's a Girl...

Sarah-Ink Promotions

23rd February 2006, 10:09

I couldnt believe that Paul was only 25!! - he looks at least 10 years older! :shock:

directmarketingadvice

23rd February 2006, 10:25

My Money is on Paul if it's a guy or Helen if it's a Girl...

Presumably the whole thing's been filmed already?

Is Paul the guy who sold the apples for £2? If so, I like him, but his inability with numbers has to be a concern.

Who's Helen?

I don't know the names of any of the women, so I've given them nicknames.

There's

Scottish lawyer
Other Scot
Screechy woman
Girl with accent I can't place
Melon girl (behave yourself - she got that name because she kept being shown holding melons)
Asian Woman
Big Woman

I've a better idea of the guys names, but the guys team is:

Syed
Samuel
Billy no-numbers
Big black guy
Shaven headed Asian guy
Hypno guy

Steve

Real World Hypnotherapy

23rd February 2006, 10:34

His assistants are a bit weird don't you think? The woman looks like she hates you and the bloke always looks like he is asleep.

I was going to go for the show but I realised that I don't want to live in London or work in an office for someone else.

I do admire Sir Alan but I would hate to work in such a high pressure environment. Also did you see the folow up program with Tim? He has been selling an anti-wrinkle device. I couldn't sell something I don't believe in and that I wouldn't sell to my own family.

Matt, MK Printing

Russ

23rd February 2006, 10:36

Helen is the "Scottish Lawyer"

Mac Yeti

23rd February 2006, 10:36

my virtual money is on the lawyer.

someone needs to strap the curly haired woman's arms to her waist, and sayeed is a replica of paul from last series.

Sarah-Ink Promotions

23rd February 2006, 10:37

Her name is Karen, dont think there is anyone called Helen :?

multilingual

23rd February 2006, 10:37

I think that Paul (based on 1 episode) has shown certain qualities that will hold him in good stead for the future.

As for many of the others, what we have to bear in mind is that although it is a 'job interview' it is also a TV programme with ratings to consider.

Therefore bringing in a mix of people (some good, some arrogant, some outright annoying) is all done to create the fireworks that will bring in the viewers.

Curly top and Sayed are probably the worst of the bunch, yet they are the ones we remember and talk about.

Having said all that, I hope they go soon! I can't stand 11 more weeks of that woman jumping up and down one minute and crying the next. I have a feeling that she is the 'lightweight' one that Alan Sugar pointed out in next weeks clip.

:)

JB

clairemackaness

23rd February 2006, 10:42

Paul is my man and whoever thought of the idea to ask what people were prepared to pay for the boxes of fruit is my girl winner.

Russ

23rd February 2006, 11:02

Her name is Karen, dont think there is anyone called Helen :?

Sorry, my mistake it is Karen not Helen.... :roll:

freecybermag

23rd February 2006, 11:10

OK so here are the names of the candidates:

Ladies
1) Alexa (Management Consultant)
2) Jo (HR Manager) (and annoying jumpy crying ***** :lol: )
3) Karen (Lawyer)
4) Michelle (Telecoms Consultant)
5) Nargis (PhD Student)
6) Ruth (Sales Manager) ("I will win this competition", Yeah Right)
7) Sharon (Business Lecturer)

Men
1) Ansell (Sales Manager)
2) Ben (Fired) (IT Consultant)
3) Mani (Management Consultant)
4) Paul (Head Hunter)
5) Samuel (Product Developer)
6) Sayed (Entrepreneur)
7) Tuan (Financial Advisor)

directmarketingadvice

23rd February 2006, 11:11

They have photos and bios of all the candidates here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/apprentice/candidates/alexa.shtml

So I can put real names to my nicknames.

Steve

DuaneJackson

23rd February 2006, 11:19

Looks like I am alone in liking Sayed? Oh well.

Ruth wont last long I don't think.

Ben had to go, to repeat a much over used phrase from last night he was a fish out of water.

I think it's way too early to predict a winner or to write them all off as arrogant.

Good TV!

cqueen

23rd February 2006, 11:23

What was it about sayed that you liked?

Tazuk

23rd February 2006, 11:31

Ok 12 weeks of pressure, early starts, late nights, demanding tasks that sometimes seem impossible, working as a team and working againts another team.
mmmmmmmmmmmmm, sounds like my basic training for the army.

Thats it get alan sugar and is bunch of apprentices and then contact the producers of bad lads army and we can have bad apprentices.

If you mess up you get beasted, jailed and then the lightweight gets fired.

And anyone who sobs gets fired

TAZ

freecybermag

23rd February 2006, 11:37

So I have signed up for the plot predictor on the BBC website of the Apprentice.

Here are my answers:

1) Jo
2) Jo
3) Samuel
4) Ruth
5) Paul
6) Syed
7) Michelle
8 ) Sharon
9) Tuan
10) Jo

Sorry for not writing the questions but they don't show them again at the end when you've finished selecting the candidates.

Is anyone else do this game. Must wait until next week now for my score :cry:

DuaneJackson

23rd February 2006, 11:44

What was it about sayed that you liked?

He got results. He dived straight in with the negotiating at the market and he did a fair bit of selling. As a person he's not particlualry likeable, but he seems to get the job done. And he's an east end boy!

cqueen

23rd February 2006, 11:58

Yes he does seem to 'get stuck in' as they say. But he needs to learn how to stand back and look at himself if you know what I mean, and not in his mirror.
I.E. I'm sure he probably cringes now when he sees the clip of him suggesting 'the A team'.
He has potential, but only if he stops being a cock.
Reminds me of whats his face...Darius, from pop idol, before he lost the attitude.

Pebble Communications

23rd February 2006, 12:44

Ooh good site, I did the game too.
Mani
Jo
Tuan
Karen
Mani
Paul
Nargis
Michelle
Samuel
Jo

(but I agree they should print a copy of the questions too, bit hard to follow otherwise!).

freecybermag

23rd February 2006, 12:56

So we agree on two :lol:

Jo is going to lead next weeks women team and get fired :lol:

SillyJokes

23rd February 2006, 15:49

I only saw two mintues of this but immediately wrote off curly haired 'oh my god' woman. Embarrassing or what?

Look forward to seeing it later tonight.

I was watching Brat Camp - it appeals to my cruel streak.

annethedonn

23rd February 2006, 18:11

Sayed will go far! But needs to grow up a bit - wouldn't bank on him not to stab you in the back though. I think Sir Alan and him probably have a lot in common. Paul is a good salesman and with another 10 years experience or so will probably give Sir Alan a good run for his money.

The lawyer is very diplomatic and could probably handle the big boss - not sure I'd want to work for such an arrogant man - I'd give him what for!!!

DuaneJackson

23rd February 2006, 19:16

Having met him a few months ago, I was surprised (and a little dissapointed) to find out that his on-screen image is exactly as he really is.

I don't think I'd like to work too close to him either!

Admiral Collections

23rd February 2006, 20:02

Having met him a few months ago, I was surprised (and a little dissapointed) to find out that his on-screen image is exactly as he really is.

I don't think I'd like to work too close to him either!

Really Duane? I find that interesting because I truly thought it was just a TV persona. Ahh well, the smaller dog has to bark loudest to prove a point. I did notice his car was large and as I commented earlier, he only just stands above his chair. Men with their phallic symbols!!!!

Nic :wink:

DuaneJackson

23rd February 2006, 20:10

That was the other thing - he didn't have that car with him. It was some dark red roller instead. Maybe the black one was in for an oil change (and the mechanic was paid with fruit)

annethedonn

24th February 2006, 07:43

Well he is an Eastend Boy after all, a bit rough around the edges. But good on him for getting so far!

I was born in the Eastend myself - no comments please!

directmarketingadvice

25th February 2006, 10:45

Does anyone know whether the entire series (including the final) has been filmed yet?

Steve

multilingual

25th February 2006, 10:50

My wife can't take Alan Sugar seriously at all.

When he walks into the boardroom and site in that enormous chair she starts laughing.

I think it's a Ronnie Corbett thing.

:)

JB

SillyJokes

25th February 2006, 10:53

Watched it last night. Not sure we have seen the winner yet.

To me it seemed Ben was fired for his inability to talk down Sayed, who I think is a bully actually. His uses his voice to brow beat people and keeps talking even when he has nothing to say to prevent anyone else getting a word in.

I think Sayed played his 'East End Boy' card a bit too early and unlike Tim, the previous series winner, he does not appear to have the honesty and loyalty which makes a person someone I would want to deal with.

Sir Alan will soon see him off. "I've marked your card," he said.