Former Apprentice runner-up Claire Young gives her
thoughts on the first episode of series eight as another 16
candidates compete for a £250,000 investment from Lord
Sugar.
Within five minutes of episode one starting I was cringing for
the candidates as the egotistical one-liners kept flowing:
Gabrielle has promised to "roar her way to the top" and Ricky is a
Shark. If Tom is running a £3.5m business, why on earth does
he need to go on The Apprentice? Can anyone else smell the horse
manure in the air?
Lord Sugar set the first challenge providing the teams with
blank items, which they had to add value to by designing prints
onto them. I run this task in schools with enterprise students,
it's a simple exercise and not rocket science.
As we saw candidates divided into girls versus boys the
fireworks soon start flying in typical Apprentice style. Working
under pressure with people you don't know, pumped full of
adrenalin, and followed by a camera crew makes the most sensible
behave in bizarre ways.
There are some very strong personalities in the girl camp. Nick
describing them as a baying bunch of hyenas is spot on. Their
moaning, high pitched talking on top of each other made my ears
hurt and people were literally running away from them - costing the
team much needed sales.
Nick was the only chap to step up and volunteer to be project
manager for the boys' team. It does make me laugh how every year
the majority of candidates promise to be the best thing since
sliced bread, but when it comes to actually doing - as opposed to
talking - they run a mile. Nick is my hero of the week for having
the balls to lead and the skill to win. Everyone said that he was a
good leader. The guy desperately needs a hair cut so maybe a
hairdressing task one week would do him good.
The girls lost (£214 profit to the boys £616) and project
manager Gabrielle (the lion who roars) brought in Katie 'the blonde
assassin' and Bilyana. After a pretty ferocious spat Bilyana was
given the heave ho by Lord Sugar and he was completely right to
give her the shove. She never shut up, didn't gel well with the
team and was disrespectful when being fired. "Oh that's a shame,"
she said in response to the big, fat finger. Life sometimes doesn't
go the way you want it to, but you should at least have the
maturity and good grace to walk away with a smile on your face. It
is not a good idea to burn your bridges.
I think Katie had a lucky escape - she was as much of
an assassin, as I am size eight ballet dancer, and she needs to up
her game. Personally, I think she'll drown in this experience and
her days are numbered.
For more information about Claire click here, www.claireyoung.co.uk.