Series Phwoarrr! (The Apprentice UK)

Member Name: oxonian

Product:	The Apprentice UK
Date:	28/11/08 (195 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Exciting, fast-paced, fun to watch and inspirational.

Disadvantages: Have to wait until March for the next one.

I admit to being a fan of reality TV, I watch them all - Big Brother, I'm a Celebrity and even Celebrity Scissorhands... I really do watch them all. However, the Apprentice, which normally hits our screens each March on BBC1, offers a slightly more serious slant to the reality TV genre.

In essence, the premise is that 16 candidates are competing for a top job as an 'apprentice' to a well known Tycoon. In America, the tycoon is Donald Trump, and in the UK it is Sir Alan Sugar. Sir Alan is best known for founding and building from scratch the hugely successful IT company Amstrad. Due to his mammoth business acumen, the candidate that wins the competition will learn from the best and and scoop a position with a six figure salary attached.

The series starts with the 16 candidates being seperated into two teams - normally boys and girls. Each week there is a task where someone in the two groups must be the project manager, who will lead and motivate their team to success. The tasks can range from selling fish in a london market to creating an advert to promote a new product. The team who wins will be treated to a special experience - e.g. dinner at the ritz or a balloon ride, courtesy of Sir Alan. The team that loses will have to face Sir Alan in the boardroom to explain their flaws, and the project manager has to choose two people from the team to face the firing line. The member that is most to blame for the defeat is forced to hear the famous words "You're fired".

Season 4 was spectacular, featuring even more ruthless and ambitious individuals all looking to outwit their competitors. Notable favourites were Alex Wotherspoon - a good looking young sales manager who shone quickly as the first project manager for the men. Despite close eviction from the first task, his grit and determination saw him make great progress. Claire 'the Rottweiler' Young who appeared very erratic and aggressive at first, and who also nearly got the chop early on, turned her fortunes around to show signs of brilliance. Michael - an Edinburgh graduate and Telesales manager defied the odds numerous times, using his raw ability and naivity to appeal to Sir Alan's soft side. Then there was the inimitable Raef Bijou, an entrepreneur with a very posh and distinguished accent, who could communicate with "prince or pauper". He was pure entertainment magic and a great businessman. Finally there was Lee McQueen - a pumped up young recruitment sales manager with tons of energy and motivational qualities.

Lee McQueen was the eventual winner, which was great as he was a very genuine character. A lot of the candidates were very two-faced and manipulative, whereas Lee had the best interests of his team at heart and inspired them to good performances. Of all of the tasks, Lee was on the winning team each time - so it was only fitting that he won. Lee was exposed as having lied on the CV he submitted to the Apprentice about being at University for two years when he'd only been there for a few months. In my opinion, it isn't that big a deal as long as he delivers what he is tasked with. Upon starting, Lee missed his first week and then blew a load of money on cars for him and his girlfriend. However, he appears to be doing well.

The Apprentice is an excellent reality show. It follows the X factor in the sense that it is a talent/ability show where a successful career is the ultimate prize. The candidates that are selected are supposed to be the best business minds in the country, meaning that a lot can be learned from watching them operate on the weekly tasks. It is good to see the techniques that are used for selling, negotiating and managing teams and helpful for anyone wanting different ways of executing business activities. Series four was, in my opinion, the best series yet. Hopefully, Lee McQueen is there to stay.

Summary: Superb business reality TV show!