The Apprentice, week 7, Wednesday 9pm, BBC1

Posted by Michal Dzierza

I might be wrong, but this could be the first ever case of an aspiring apprentice being fired on their birthday. And it all began so well…

The teams were off to Marrakech, “the bargaining capital of the world”, apparently. Raef used the occasion to behave as if he was auditioning for Out of Africa – Redux. But unfortunately he wasn’t the main star of the evening, oh no.

It was the scary, screaming witch Jenny and her accomplice, Sophie Ellis-Bextor lookalike Jennifer. Along with the other dimwits (I refuse to call them “apprentices” - most of them wouldn’t know a good business idea if it hit them in the face with wad of cash) they were supposed to procure 10 items, carefully described by Sir Alan.

Team Alpha was led by Lee and team Renaissance by Jenny. Please forgive me, but I’ll ignore team Alpha today as they mostly did what they were supposed to do: they bought a cowhide, a green mosque clock and some kosher chicken. It was the chicken, however, which proved to be team Renaissance’s undoing.

Now, what do you do if you don’t understand a foreign word? You look it up, right? Well, not if your name is Jennifer or Jenny and you claim to be “probably the best salesperson in Europe”. Instead, you run around like a headless chicken (sorry, couldn’t resist), do no research, have no plan and try to guess the meaning of the word “kosher”. Could it mean “cute”? Could it be Japanese, perhaps? Oh, hang on, they’re in a Muslim country! “Muslims have kosher chickens,” declares Jennifer.

After that, I just stopped cringing and was simply waiting for some more delightful quotes – and Jennifer didn’t disappoint: “Can you make it halal?” she asked a butcher. “I want it blessed by somebody from the mosque. Have they come from the mosque?” Oh dear, no, they came from a local asylum to have you locked up.

 

Meanwhile, in another corner of the souk, Jennifer bought a clock. A white clock – against Sir Alan’s rules, which stipulated the clock had to be green. Needless to say, team Renaissance lost, which led to a bloody showdown in the boardroom. “Michael, are you ashamed?” asked Sir Alan, when it turned out Michael didn’t know what kosher meant. “Did you say you are a good Jewish boy to impress me?” Sir Alan inquired. “I’m only half Jewish,” replied Michael. Yes, you’re also a halfwit.

But having announced with a big grin that it was her birthday, it was Jenny who resorted to employing her dirtiest tricks. (During the task, she also tried to bribe a tennis racket maker.) But that – combined with her blatant ignorance and arrogance – spectacularly backfired. She got fired. Mid-sentence. On her 36th birthday. Lovely.

“Right, who’s next?”, the bloodthirsty Sir Alan exclaimed. Yum, so there will be more? But the fun was short-lived when, after Alex was sent home, there were only two people left in the boardroom – Michael and Jen. As a team leader and sales person she was useless. But rather than defending herself with an overpriced cowhide, she practically fired herself: “If you want to have a liar in your company, fire me now.” Which Sir Alan did. And the nation breathed a sigh of relief.

Were you expecting a different outcome? Tell us what you think.

SEE ALSO:

Two Jennys vent their spleen>>
Kevin is fired >>
Meet the candidates >>
Reject Lindi aims high >>

Comments

[andrew]

appologies to Nic about Blog
my blog relates to
Breadandbutter pudding

[Andrew]

Ho Dear my poor Nic, how sad you are to start going on about another bloggers spelling, you could read and understand what was written, you are yourself probably a sad little person in life whom Sits in his arm chair on a saturday night with a box of tissues, going cross eyed.. however my spelling was understood and hasnt caused a problem in my succesful life, career,, can you afford a box of tissues..

[jill]

51yr old,just qualifies as computer literate and even I could do better!! What a set of tossers. seen more get up and go in an asprin, think Ishould apply next time, more kitch than kosher!

[Ian]

In the first series you felt a number of the candidates had the potential to succeed in business, but it has now degenerated into a reality tv game show. Initally Sir Alan said he was doing the show to encourage young people to get into business, but I can't see what he gets out of the current pantomime contestants of mainly arrogant, talentless bullies. Jennifer was a totally inept team leader. Lady Jenny Macbeth seemed to equate obnoxious personal harassment and underhand tactics as showing she was a tough businesswoman. It was right they should go, but will lessen the entertaiment value of future episodes.

[The just]

If you're a guy you would not sack Jennifer - she's way too hot! A tilt of the head with those lovely blue eyes, a flash of her amazing legs and a wiggle of her sexy arse and you would do anything for her. The sexiest babe we've ever had on The Apprentice!

[sh]

jenny used to pick on people like sara and all it came back to her.good decision sir allan!

[Nic]

Sir Alan did absolutely the right thing by firing both Jennys last night, one of them should have gone last week. I have been watching the Apprentice from the beginning and this is probably the worst series. Although, I think Raef is the strongest out of them all. I think Sarah should have more fire in her belly & needs to come out more. Lucinda is calm & collective I do like her nature, but is she a silent all rounder?

[breadandbutter]

I fink the sperling on the comennts on this blog is apawling, back to skewl eh Andrew jeese. Dont applie to the aprrintace.

[Tim Lyon]

I thought Sir Alan was remarkably lenient. I totally agree with Brian Berry, remark above @ 09:19. He should have sacked Michael too.

Sir Alan asked; how can he employ dishonest people? What sort of trouble are they capable of getting his organisations into - Complete destruction of goodwill, even Fraud and or extortion? Young Michael, you're a very lucky boy!

From which gutter does Sir Alan's recruitment team select these bottom feeders. Dishonest, incompetent, big headed, aggessive, and thoroughly unpleasant people. Fantastic black comedy - Fawlety Towers - John Cleese did better. The candidates that do have a modicum of potential - is this supposed to make us think the show is authentic?

I think if there is to be another series, we should see the real candidates, a reflection of the people Sir Alan would really employ - perhaps similar to his stage show invigilators. Or are we to believe the whole Sugars operation is run by such desperadoes?

Sir Alan this is beginning to look bad on you. God forbid that your show is transmitted overseas where foriegn businessmen may be misled into believing that British managerial candidates are such dross. Do you really need the show money so badly as you would compromise your good reputation? £800m may sound big to the plebs, but in the real business world - its very small beer - the turnover of 10 large Tesco stores only! Now tell me, who's laughing at Teso?

[Diane Roughton]

I have watched almost every episode of every series. This series the contestants are very weak. Was Sir Alan too harsh last night? I don't think so. Liar Claire has to be one of the most annoying people on TV, doesn't her voice just grate? May the "best" person win - whoever that turns out to be Sir Alan is welcome to them!

[Mike L]

If these candidates are typical of people in business today, heaven help us! I would have fired all but two -from both teams. Although, if a foul mouth is a qualification for promotion they should all succeed.

[harry r]

OVERALL, RAEF IS EASILY STANDING OUT ABOVE THE REST. HE'S SMART, ARTICULATE, LIKEABLE AND HE INSPIRES CONFIDENCE IN WHATEVER TEAM HE IS APART OF.
I CANNOT RECALL ONE PERSON WHO HAS SLAGGED HIM OFF YET.

CLAIRE IS A LOUD MOUTH WITH NO CONTROL.
THE LOUDEST IN THE ROOM IS THE WEAKEST.

[Septimus]

Big Al should have sacked the lot of them, they so called professional people behaving worse than petulant children!!

[Loni]

I don't care about any of them at all.

However, does anyone else focus in on Claire when she does these weird twitching in the boardroom? She looks like she's trying to eat her own face off - it's revolting and absolutely hypnotising at the same time. She's repugnant.

[Martin]

I think Sir Alan did well.
Jenny deserved to go. I can't wait for the next episode.

[kola]

Why would you think Raef was shining? The man who suggested dressing as locals and proposed speaking Italian through out the restaurant task?

[just]

The auburn haired Jenny is a complete cow and deserved to be fired (earlier then now) but the dark-haired Jennifer didn't do much wrong apart from fail to control and lead a team of useless back-stabbers. Sad to see her go really - I would have given her another chance (and she is incredibly good looking).

[Andrew]

Is the show now going to get boaring after Sir Alan, has got rid of the 2 most taistless women, that gave action to the show, Women Like those two could actually put men off women, very taistless

[Prince]

The best ever decision made by Sir Alan Sugar before it gets too late.

[clare]

i thought it was great !! he saw what she was all about like us viewers and did the right thing !!!!

[jane]

It was Sir Alan's finest hour getting rid of those two coniving, cheating, liars. Michael should probably have gone too, but I suppose he was just a weak willed follower in it all and can always go another time.

[toby felton]

Hi i think sir allen was way to harsh as if he has never done somthing underhand to get ahead in buissness? as far as i am concerned the tennis racket thing was just good thinking and the same as getting exclusive with a company. i thought he would praise them for it.

[Brian Berry]

I agree with Sir Alan in that Jennifer and Jenny were the 2 prime targets to be fired. Sir Alan was lenient in not firing Michael as I would have fired all three. They were not desirable work colleagues as business wise they appear to be clueless. Their big heads far exceed their abilities.

[harry r]

I have now watched every episode of every series and this years contestants have got to be the WEAKEST set of people I have ever seen.
Raef is the only applicant who is clearly shining way above the rest.
I'm gutted by the standard this year :<
ps
Jenny a freak and the other one