The Apprentice: series five, week seven

Posted by Will Parkhouse

Despite giving us a second tantalising glimpse of what Lorraine looks like without her awful glasses, this week's Apprentice will surely be remembered for exhibiting more snarkiness than 10 tetchy teenagers trapped in a two-man tent – oh, and for the perfectly justified but still somehow shocking firing of one-time guaranteed winner Philip.

The gang were initially expecting to jet off to sunny climes for a holiday task, which I was certainly ready for, having already put my sunglasses on in case Kate smiled. Sadly, the words "London Gateway" did not herald a trip abroad, despite Ben's assumption that the word 'gateway' "suggests that it's a gate to somewhere".

The gang were instead taken to a service station car park in the pouring rain, where Sir Alan told them: "You're going north." Yikes. But first, the teams had to choose two products each from 12 up-and-coming stubbly inventors, and then try to sell them to businesses in Manchester and Liverpool.

Empire team leader Mona went for a dog lead for lovers - how romantic! - and a sleeping bag with arms and legs. Over at Ignite, Lorraine, still feeling the vindication after last week's rug fiasco, kept banging on about her gut instinct, and picked a cardboard play area for cats and a pannier-like bag that straps onto the side of a bicycle to carry shopping.

Patronising everyone who strayed into her eyeline didn't help Lorraine's sales, but her minions Philip, Ben and Kate were even more nauseating, apparently spending most of the time mucking about like five-year-olds. It was pretty clear which team had lost - and, with Ben setting up a good meeting for his "PM" (what everyone’s calling their project manager nowadays), pretty obvious that Philip and Kate would be the ones joining her in the boardroom.

Fighting soon broke out, with Philip's bullish arrogance reaching new heights, leading him to ask Lorraine at one stage: "What did your instinct tell you?" with gnashing sarcasm. The bespectacled one had to resort to bringing up Kate and Philip's, ahem, "close friendship", which led Kate to turn on Philip to show that she can put business before pleasure. As the cock crowed for a second time, Philip suddenly went a bit quiet and, with the spectre of Pants Man still lingering in the air, Sir Alan fired him.

"Joke," muttered Philip rudely on the way out; we were slightly surprised that the grizzled mogul didn't call him back in a fire him again.

Comments

[Paul]

If these contestants represent the future 'captains' of industry and commerce , God help us . As for Phillip , I couldn't understand a word he said , not because of his regional dialect but because of his indistinct diction and speech deliverance .

[charz]

this week was really good!
Phillip was definetely the right one to get fired
He is such a plonker.
out of the 3 he deserved to get fired without a doubt. Kate had performed really well in every other task, so it was obvious she wasn't going to get fired, and Lorraine, she is determind and I liked how she didn't put up with any rubbish from Phillip. He is so ARROGANT.

[supasap]

like Supergran and Gazza this unfunny upstart will take us ages to live down in the north..... get back to "selling" houses ..... how difficult is that.... oh here's the house that you've already expressed interest in.... err do you want it.... mega talent

[Julia]

I wanted Lorraine to go! Sorry but can Sir Alan really see her in his company - Yes Philip was a bit of a plonker but at least he was prepared to admit his mistakes and his weakness for a pretty face. Never mix business with pleasure they say - shame cos I was quite enjoying that - made a nice change from the rudeness, backstabbing and file behaviour that is usually on display on the programme.

[Robert Hantke]

They are all poo poo.

[kay g]

The relocation of his brain, man, to his pants, man, from his head, man, made the inevitable downfall of arrogant upstart Phil even more laughable (& enjoyable).

[Iain]

I used to work for a company supplying Amstrad & had meetings with his Directors. Believe me you would not want to work there ! I've dealt with companies ranging from Sony to the BBC and I've never met such a bunch of yobs in my life. Be happy to be FIRED !

[Jade]

I my honest opinion he was one of the most talented contestants in this series, yes he was distracted he admitted but who wouldnt be, and most of all he came accross as an inteligent opinoinated yet honest man....quality which they all lack.........

[Jake]

too right dennis. someones gotta keep these scrotes in line.

[Major Dennis Bloodnok]

I agree with Tom above. Quote "The most arrogant and self-deluded muppet ever to be featured on the show. Ever."
I have never seen such a load of idiots in my life. The way they all behaved with their product choices last night was unbelievable.
The standard of applicant goes down with every series. I know they are young and immature but some of their actions and behaviour defies belief. They must be SO THICK after Sugar gave them the interviews with the two buyers to try and sell garbage that had no relevance whatsover to the marketing platform of those two stores! Frankly I hope Sugar sacks the lot of them and chooses NONE of them, Now that Would be a twist!
Perhaps as an ex Shell oil Marketing Man, Sugar might like to give me a job. I could knock the lot of them into a cocked hat!

[Paul]

Philip was just a joke, an idiot of the first order, Mona did some good selling and the rest are a waste of space. BBC has ruined this series by picking idiots who they think will make good TV rather than real candidates with real skill sets. And Amstrad has gone,sold last year to their only customer Sky for 220 million, about a fifth of it's all time high value (: Now who can sell £10 notes for £9 Sir Alan ?

[gill]

This group of contestants are a joke and if they consider themselves to be that good, then why are they not in successful careers rather than entering this show which for some of them is probably ruining their future employment potential anyway!! I think Mona proved herself last night though as has been said but the rest of them were pitiful. For Ben to say he had set up an appointment with the biggest pet supplier in the country was not such a big deal since the other team had also done the same. I think Ben, Kate and Phil did sit back somewhat although their choice of items was very poor and noone seemed to listen to Sir Alan's instructions and did not choose according to the two meetings he set up for them on day one.

[Joy]

I think some of these are really jumped up. I wouldn't like to work for them or even work with them. I agree all three should have gone, especially the team leader she's obnoxious

[Melanie Prendiville]

Having watched this show for quite awhile - I have a very successful office and every young person I train and employ are not educated in this country. They are the worst young men and women in the world to work with they are just like the team that Allan Sugar fires. The young french students and trainees are the best mannered and best educated kids in Europe along with the Asians born out of this country. The future economy is doomed with the young people who are lazy and mouthy and think they know everything.

[Matt]

In addtion to that ,she also didn't give it all away which is what pretty much ALL of previous Apprentice "legend in their own lunchtime" salespeople have done.To know when to walk away is the key and to lead the sale also.Her outstretched hand to the shop owner to seal the sleeping bag deal was brilliant.THAT is controlling a sale.

[Matt]

Better this week if only because ,possibly for the first time in Apprentice history we were given an object lesson in textbook negotiation.Mona's negotiations for the sleeping bag and the dog lead were straight out of the "this is how you do it" sales technique manuals.Excellent and far better than having to listen to all the other wannabes tell everyone within earshot how great they are at selling.She knows her stuff and rightly got the respect she deserved and won the task.She also was quietly happy in this knowledge.You know when you've sold well and you don't necessarily have to shout it from the rooftops.

[MICHAEL]

sir alan should have sacked all three while he had the chance ,,

[tom]

The most arrogant and self-deluded muppet ever to be featured on the show. Ever.

[Bobs]

I agree that Sir Alan made the correct choice, as much as i liked Phil he came across as rude and arrogant especially when it came to Loraine.
He dismissed her totally of her ideas and with the Rug and the Shoes she was spot on for highest value and he made out she didnt say anything about them when she clearly did. Phil needs to be brought down to earth before he becomes anything high in this world ;)

[Phil]

Who cares really? they're all a bunch of over inflated ego tossers! if they're the "cream" of modern business, I'm surprised Amstrad (the high quality electronics company!) are still in business!! - sack the lot of them, give us something on TV and train monkeys to do the jobs!

[Jake]

Can only be described as a self obsessed class A tosser

[Sally]

ARRRGHHH! To the people at Orange who insist on putting the latest Apprentice evictee on the front page in clear view - please don't! I missed it last night so was going to catch up tonight, but now I know who went I don't think i'll bother! Come on Orange, at least give it a couple of days for people to catch up

[Dave]

Thanks for ruining the suprise, I was about to watch it on iPlayer

[Tracey]

Kate to win

[James]

I'm not Lorraine's biggest fan, but I'm so glad Phil was fired. A really nasty piece of work. Arrogant and a total bully.

[Bob]

Ben to win

[emma]

he should of gone weeks ago. i've never seen anybody with such an ego,he always thought he was righ. what a laugh!