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The Apprentice
The business-based reality show returns, with 16 candidates hoping to scoop a £250,000 investment from Alan Sugar. The multimillionaire sends the fresh batch of hopefuls to Valletta - capital city of Malta - for their first task, with his trusted advisers Karren Brady and Claude Littner following their every move. Their task is to bag nine Maltese items for the lowest possible prices before reuniting back at the airport. One team quickly hits the road, but they are clearly on the wrong scent, while fiery personality clashes over negotiations soon rock the boat on the other team.
The candidates are challenged to create a brand-new comic aimed at children, before pitching their ideas to leading industry figures to secure orders. The task balances creative flair with productive pitching and the team that forgets either could face a graphic showdown in the boardroom. On the story teams, while one PM takes an assertive lead, the other's sub team leader seems to lose the plot. When creating their Augmented Reality front covers, the girls run riot, while the boys team struggles to make a move.
Lord Sugar summons the candidates to an 18th-century tidal mill in the heart of London's East End. For the third task, the candidates must manufacture and sell upmarket doughnuts to both a corporate client and the public.
The candidates are challenged to sell high-end products and services at one of the world's largest bodybuilding expos based at the NEC in Birmingham. The contestants clash over which team will get to sell top notch weights, and on the services side, the low-costs massages mean the team are hard pressed all day.
The candidates congregate at London’s Adelphi Theatre, home to hit musical Kinky Boots. Hot on their heels is Lord Sugar with a challenge for them to put their best foot forward in the world of ladies’ shoe design. Candidates must create and market a brand new shoe, along with putting together an event to launch and sell their product to major industry players.
The candidates are summoned to London City Airport, where Lord Sugar sets them the task of devising a marketing campaign for a brand new budget airline. They need to come up with a distinctive brand, make a 30-second TV advert and design a uniform that flies the flag for their new airline.
Lord Sugar summons the candidates to Crossrail’s leafy roof garden, nestled above the new Elizabeth Line station in Canary Wharf, where he sets them a gardening task. The teams must set up their own urban gardening business, carrying out commercial and domestic jobs across London. On day one, both PM teams visit corporate clients to pitch a plan and secure a price for a large rooftop renovation.
Lord Sugar instructs the candidates to head north to Scotland, meeting at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, where they are tasked with becoming art dealers, selecting a contemporary artist’s work to sell at their very own gallery event. To top up takings, teams must also make merchandise adorned with their chosen artist’s work. The team that generates the most money from art commission and merchandise sales are the winners.
Lord Sugar summons the remaining candidates to TV Centre in west London, the iconic former headquarters of the BBC. On arrival, the teams are tasked with their most pressurised challenge yet. In just ten hours they will be selling live to the nation on one of Britain’s leading TV shopping channels. Teams must tune in to the best products to sell, as well as direct a promo to boost sales of one of their items. The team that generates the most sales will win.
Lord Sugar pays the six remaining candidates a flying visit, challenging them to cash in on the lucrative Christmas market.
An in-depth look at the final five candadiates, featuring interviews from family, friends and loved ones, as well as Lord Sugar’s trusted aides Baroness Brady and Claude Littner.
The final five candidates face the scrutiny of Lord Sugar’s most trusted advisors, who are primed to put each of their business plans under the microscope.
Lord Sugar looks back at the candidates who fell before the final hurdle and the tasks that took them to the brink, with the help of some previously unseen boardroom moments.
Lord Sugar summons the finalists to the heart of London’s financial district to set them their final challenge in their attempt to win his £250,000 investment. For their last chance to convince Lord Sugar they are worthy of his cash, each finalist must launch their business. Invited back to aid the two finalists are some of this year’s fired candidates. In an intensive three-day challenge, the finalists must create a new brand for their company, produce a digital screen for the London Underground and direct and edit a television advert before pitching to Lord Sugar and a room full of industry experts at London’s City Hall. Back in the boardroom, after 12 tough weeks, Lord Sugar declares who wins.
