Alan Sugar’s iconic boardroom has seen some hugely talented business folk walk through his doors, whereas some The Apprentice hopefuls have been less successful…
The Apprentice is back, and now there are 18 hopefuls left fighting it out for £250,000.(Image: Ray Burminston/PA Wire)
Both outgoing candidates on The Apprentice insisted tonight Lord Sugar was wrong to fire them – with one businesswoman taking weeks to get over his decision.
To mark series 20 of The Apprentice, Lord Sugar sent his 20 candidates to Hong Kong, one of the world ’s most vibrant trading hubs, tasked with securing nine items at knock down prices. But both the male and female teams struggled with the unknown geography, tight deadlines and business basics.
After setting up the boardroom outside of London for the first time he sent Nikki Jetha and Georgina Newton packing, as their female team only bought two items, with half the team also almost two hours late to the finish line which led to further penalties.
Looking back, actress and events manager Georgina, 31, said: “I didn’t deserve to be fired. I think in the first episode, I probably contributed more than anybody on my team, and I think for the show, the person that contributes the least should go home. I thought I had a few more weeks, at least, left in me. I was devastated. I spent two weeks feeling sorry for myself but then I picked myself back up, put myself back together and then cracked on ready for the next thing. But I was really sad.”
However, it was not all bad news as Georgina got to travel long-haul for the first time in her life and insisted she had learned a great deal. She added: “I’ve been performing in theatre all of my life. I’ve always played a character, and I think for a lot of my life, I’ve hidden behind being somebody else, and being in this process, it’s the first time I’ve ever done anything just as Georgie. And I think what I realise the most from this is that I am enough just as I am. I can hold my own. I’m enough, and I think that’s a really lovely takeaway.”
Niki, who was project manager for the task and amongst those arriving late, insisted she should not have been fired because she led on the challenge for the unorganised female team. The 33-year-old said: “I did not get to show more of myself and what I’m capable of, but I definitely don’t feel defeated. You know, I stepped forward, I took a risk and I own the outcome.
“I was brave enough to stand up and take on a challenge during the first task. It was, you know, unfamiliar territory. Not knowing the process, let alone the country, and not having the internet and things like that. But I did the best I could do under the pressure, with limited information, and I’d rather be fired for stepping up than staying safe in the background. There’s a saying that ships are safest in the harbour, but that’s not what they’re built for.”
Laying into some of her teammates but refusing the name people she added: “There were some people who weren’t team players, and they didn’t contribute. You know, they spent more time complaining and moaning, as opposed to giving ideas and working out how we can push forward.”
Georgina now has a job selling items for brands on TikTok and hopes to land a job on a shopping channel whilst Niki is back at her old job and raising a family.
She concluded: “I’m doing exactly what I do best. I’m a mortgage advisor, I’m still advising my clients, growing my business and building my brand, but ultimately, I’m still a mum, family-focused, but I’m definitely not slowing down, and this is not the last you have seen of me.”
* The Apprentice continues on BBC1 and BBC iPlayer on Thursdays at 21.00.
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