Another week, another batch of hapless ‘The Apprentice’ candidates, this week taking on the thankless task of building a crowd-funding campaign to help launch cycling-themed products.
Both teams had their challenges.
Team Titan should really have been undone by Trishna’s elementary mistake - spelling GILLET wrong, which was a shame as it was their product. By the time a quietly chuckling Claude had pointed it out to them, it had gone out on all their social media and website. In another corner, Samuel and Grainne almost came to blows over strategy.
However, they got lucky, raising just over a hundred pounds more than Team Nebula for their efforts. Not that this would have bothered the latter’s project manager JD, possibly the most relaxed in the show’s history. He was commendably laid-back, some might say to to a fault, telling everyone to “chill”, even in the face of looming disaster.
This relaxed attitude didn’t go down well with Lord Sugar, even after JD started apologising profusely for his mistakes.
Even with Paul and Sofiane squabbling furiously, it was still the project manager’s lackadaisical style that irked him more.
Lord Sugar said: “You are responsible for the failure of this task JD, and all you have done today is admit your mistakes, and it’s something that I can’t ignore. JD…you’re fired.”
The good news is… Karthik lives to see another week. The bad news… Samuel and Grainne might have to work together again.
‘The Apprentice’ continues on Thursday evenings at 9pm, BBC One.
Profession: Owner of a food distribution business
In his own words: “Sometimes I feel like James Bond when I’m in my suit.”
Profession: Owner of a design and marketing business
In her own words: “I’m proof that you can get things done without whinging.”
Profession: Sales manager
In his own words: “My creativity, my passion, my charm, and my likeability all roll into one, creating one perfect guy.”
Profession: Make-up studio owner
In her own words: “I need guidance and a little bit of mentoring to help me make that first million.”
Profession: Owner of a novelty gift company
In his own words: “How would I describe myself in one sentence? I'll give you one word: 'awesome'.”
Profession: Owner of a business consultancy firm
In her own words: “Like the Tasmanian devil in the famous cartoon, I will torpedo my way through to the win.”
Profession: Online fashion entrepreneur
In her own words: “A motto I live by is: there is no competition if you're already winning.”
Owner: Beachwear company
In his own words: “I won’t suffer fools. I will get upset by other candidates who don’t know their arse from their elbow.”
Profession: Art director at a fashion magazine
In his own words: “Sometimes batting the eyelashes can get you a lot in business. Hence, the mascara comes in handy – so they can see those lashes.”
Profession: Owner of IT consultancy company
In his own words: “If I wanted to be like everyone else, I’d have waxed my monobrow.”
Profession: Senior sales executive
In his own words: “The best survivors in the world are the people who adapt, and I’m the best at adapting. I’m like a chameleon. I adapt to anything, anywhere, anytime.”
Profession: Hair and beauty salon owner
In her own words: “I started at a young age, I'm a hustler, I've got the hustler’s ambition.”
Profession: Owner of a marketing agency
In his own words: “I'll play the team when I need to be part of the team, but I'm here to win; I'm not here to make up the numbers.”
Profession: Owner of a property consultancy company
In her own words: “I work 15 to 17 hours every day. 100 per cent, I'm a workaholic.”
Profession: Owner of a children's clothes company
In her own words: “I’m a pocket rocket. I’m quite fiery and live by the rule ‘kill them with kindness’.”
Profession: Digital marketing manager
In his own words: "I feel sorry for Lord Sugar, past contestants have been weak."
Profession: Cake company owner
In her own words: “I'll stop at nothing to get what I want.”
Profession: Recruiter
In her own words: “My only tactic is to be myself; this alone will make sure I win.”