The third series of British reality television series The Apprentice (UK) was broadcast in the UK on BBC One, from 28 March to 13 June 2007. Following favourable ratings, the BBC moved the programme onto its mainstream channel and thus to a much wider audience, with its companion discussion show The Apprentice: You're Fired! being reallocated to BBC Two as part of the move.[1] For this series, Alan Sugar commented that its production would include "tougher tasks and better people" as a means of making the programme stand out from other shows like Big Brother.[2] Alongside the usual twelve episodes, the series also featured two specials – the first, titled "Beyond the Boardroom", was aired on 3 June prior to the eleventh episode; the second, titled "Why I Fired Them", was aired on 10 June prior to the broadcast of the series finale.
This series saw in a change in the show's format, allowing for sixteen candidates to take part in the third series, with Simon Ambrose becoming the overall winner.[3] Excluding the specials, the series averaged around 5.62 million viewers during its broadcast. The third series saw Sugar face accusations of sexism from several groups that he later denied, alongside a complaint by a candidate who participated in the series over the treatment of himself and the others he worked with.
Series overview
With viewing figures proving favourable since the programme's debut in 2005, the BBC decided that The Apprentice needed to be more accessible to a "mainstream" audience. In discussions between them and the production company, it was agreed that the show be relocated to BBC One, retaining it scheduling arrangements, while also requiring that its sister show, You're Fired, be moved over to BBC Two to make it also accessible to a wider audience.[1] Work on the new series included Alan Sugar arranging for a more tougher set of challenges to be faced by participants, and recruiting a more varied collection of participants than had been seen in the previous series. Sugar believed that by doing this it would keep the show fresh, and thus avoid it becoming just another version of existing reality programmes at the time, such as Big Brother.[2] An example of this was having mixed gender teams at the beginning of the process, albeit a male and female candidate switching places with each other, rather than at a later task in the process as is more common in the programme's format found in other series.
One of the biggest changes made by the production staff, besides the change of channel for episode broadcast, focused on an issue that Sugar raised in the previous series over firing candidates. With the show attracting a far greater number of applications for participation, resulting in staff conducting interviews, auditions and assessments on over 10,000 applicants, the decision was made to increase the number of candidates that formed up the final line-up while still maintaining the use of twelve episodes for the series, thus allowing Sugar to fire more than one candidate at any time before the Interviews stage. When production began, 16 applicants found themselves taking part in the third series, in which the first task saw the women form under the team name of Stealth, while the men formed under the team name of Eclipse. It is the first series to feature a candidate leaving the process despite having won a place into the next stage – the decision by Katie Hopkins to depart towards the end of the Interviews stage, garnered considerable criticism over sexual discrimination in the aftermath of the episode's broadcast.
Of those who took part, Simon Ambrose would become the eventual winner of the series,[4][5] and go on to work at Sugar's property company Amsprop, overseeing development projects, before leaving Sugar's employment in 2010 to focus on setting up in the restaurant business.[6] The move to BBC One proved to be a reasonable decision, as it led to a further improvement in viewing figures for the programme during its broadcast – by the end of the series, The Apprentice reached a peak of 6.8 million viewers watching the series finale.[4][7]
Sir Alan begins a new search for an apprentice for 2007, but this time with sixteen candidates taking on his challenges. Their first task focuses on the sale of coffee to passing trade within Islington, each team making a profit with the stock they purchase for the hot beverage. Eclipse focus on using a mobile van and a fixed stand to sell coffee, yet despite some issues with the stock they purchased, they make good sales throughout the task. Stealth focus on a similar sales strategy, yet their sales are hampered by poor marketing locations, an overspend stock, and purchasing an unnecessary product. Stealth's mistakes fail to achieve a higher profit than that of Eclipse, leaving them to face the boardroom. Amongst the final three, Andy Jackson becomes the first to be fired over his poor leadership skills and failing to prevent certain members from making mistakes during the task.
Making specially design accessories for canines is the basis of the next task, with each team designing a new concept to pitch to retailers. Eclipse are forced to go for a specially designed utility belt, facing issues throughout the task with their team leader despite securing orders. Stealth opt for a dog wardrobe with a focus on pitching to the largest of the retailers they would meet, rather than attempting to pitch to all three. A tally of orders soon shows that Stealth's gamble was a worthwhile risk, as they secure victory while Eclipse face criticism over their performance. Amongst the losing team, Sir Alan deems two members to be at fault for differing reasons – Ifti Chaudhri is fired for a lack of focus and personal problems, while Rory Laing is dismissed for his behaviour and the decisions he made as leader.
Each team is given £200, with which to set up a service from those documented for them to create – one during the day, the other in the evening – and make as much profit as possible from their choices. Eclipse opt for a gardening service during the day and a pub-singing service in the evening, managing well despite having to cope with an aggressive leader. Stealth focus on a children's face-painting service during the day and a kiss-o-gram service in the evening, but face mismanagement on marketing locations for custom and criticism on the choice of evening service. In the boardroom, Stealth lose out due to their mistakes and performance on the task, leaving them to face scrutiny over these. Amongst the final three, Sir Alan deems Gerri Blackwood at fault for her team's loss, dismissing her for overall performance and contributions in tasks.
Teams face the challenge of creating their own sweets, with each selling their concepts to visitors at London Zoo. Stealth create a range of chocolate lollies and fudge, yet while they focus on a high price tag to make more money, a manufacturing issue leaves them with less stock than planned. Eclipse focus on two kinds of lollies to sell, yet their effort is hampered by a mislabelling issue with one of the range they create and a panicked rush to sell reducing their prices towards the end of the task. A totalling of income shows that Stealth's pricing strategy was key to them securing victory, leaving members of Eclipse facing criticism over their loss. Of the final three, Sophie Kain is fired for her low sales, lacking a passion for business, and lacking proper business experience.
The teams find themselves each representing an artist, earning commission through selling their choice's photographic artwork in a gallery in East London. Stealth opt for artwork themed around horses and fish, being firm on their sales tactics with their customers and performing well throughout the task. Eclipse focus on artwork with a high price tag, but face questions over the layout of their gallery space, while their softer approach to selling attracts few purchases. In the boardroom, the results of each team's efforts reveals that Stealth's strategy was more effective, leaving Eclipse to argue amongst themselves over who was at fault. Amongst the final three, Sir Alan disapproves of what he hears and sees from Natalie Wood, firing her for lying over her contributions as the project manager and who she brought back for the final boardroom.
Teams find themselves heading to a French farmers market with a selection of British produce, with each team seeking to find the right market for their choices and making use of salespeople fluent in the language. Eclipse focus on selling tea, smoked fish and marmalade, making strong sales with most of their selection thanks to gifted French speakers. Stealth focus on selling sausages, chutney and processed cheese, yet face issues from one product being un-sellable, along with a lack of co-ordination and poor decisions by the team's leader. When totals are reviewed, Eclipse prove themselves at picking the right products for the foreign customers, leaving Stealth to debate over their mistakes on the task. Of the final three, Sir Alan fires Paul Callaghan for the many errors he made that contributed to his team's loss and not taking responsibility for these.
Sir Alan gives both teams a new shopping list of items to find, tasking them with finding each one for a bargain price. Eclipse struggle on finding the items due to a problematic leader heightening tension amongst its members, with deals they made being rushed through with little negotiations. Stealth manage good negotiations due to a firm focus on the task, and good co-operation between some of its members. While neither team managed to secure the same item, the counting of spends combined with fines occurred reveal that Eclipse manage to spend marginally less than Stealth did, despite their issues and their opponent's co-ordinated effort. Amongst the losing team, following a discussion on their loss, Sir Alan dismisses Adam Hosker for his poor organisational and leadership skills, and for making a fatal mistake that cost his team a chance of victory.
Given a new style of trainer, each team is challenged to create a unique brand for it, complete with promotional campaign, and pitch their concept to retailers. Eclipse go for a "Street" theme and the use of charity within the design of their brand, though face minor issues in their pitch over the latter aspect of their concept despite providing a good campaign. Stealth focus on a more well-made branding around an urban music theme, but while the TV advert is well designed, their concept faces criticism over the unclear messaging in their promotional material. In the boardroom, feedback leads Sir Alan to granting Eclipse the win, after Stealth's concept is deemed to be of poor quality. Amongst the losing team, Ghazal Asif is deemed unfit for the job offer after being criticised over her attitude, lack of business skills, and her overall performance in tasks.
Establishing a trade link between nations is the basis of the next task, as each team chooses a groundbreaking product from abroad, and then find customers for it around Britain within two days. Stealth choose items made in Canada that have a high market value, performing well despite delaying themselves to be briefed on their choices and thus having to make sales on the second day. Eclipse choose items from Sweden, yet while they perform well, they secure fewer sales and are fined for lateness in returning to the boardroom. A review of their performance soon reveals that they failed to secure favourable figures compared to Stealth, leaving Eclipse to face an in-depth scrutiny of their work. Of the final three, Jadine Johnson is fired for lacking proper focus on tasks and for personal reasons she voiced in the final boardroom.
Heading to sell on a shopping channel, each team is given an airtime slot to sell a selection of productions, seeking to make a good presentation to secure sales from viewers. Stealth's selection includes chocolate fountains and slimming pants, yet while one member's product demonstration goes wrong, the team manage good sales. Eclipse's selection includes foldable wheelchairs and trampolines, yet face issues over one of their products, poor communication amongst the team, and a humorous demonstration, that hamper sales. In the boardroom, Stealth's presentation is deemed the best from the figures they achieve, leaving Eclipse to be questioned on their failure. Amongst the final three, Naomi Lay is ejected from the process for her product selection, lack of respect to superiors and her overall track record.
In this special episode, the fired candidates from this series of The Apprentice look back at their experiences on the programme. Along with them, their friends, family and colleagues discuss about the backgrounds and personalities of each respective candidate, including Sir Alan's aides, Nick Hewer and Margaret Mountford.
After facing ten tasks as teams, the five remaining candidates now compete as individuals in their next task – a series of tough, gruelling interviews with three of Sir Alan's most trusted associates. Each member faces scrutiny over their backgrounds, work experience and performance within the process when questioned by the interviewers. Feedback to Sir Alan, alongside observations by his aides, leads him to deciding to dismiss Lohit Kaliburgi for his poor CV and background, and Tre Azam for his argumentative and immature nature in interviews. Of the remaining three, Katie Hopkins opts to leave of her own accord, rather than face having to relocate her family if she won, leaving Simon Ambrose, who received praise for his academic knowledge, and Kristina Grimes, who was given praise by all the interviewers, moving on into the final.
As the final looms, Sir Alan takes a look back to the tasks he set for this year's series of The Apprentice. From the fiasco in France, to the most tightly fought win in the show's history, he relives all of the mistakes, doomed decisions, and other notable events that occurred during the process, and provides his reasons behind each firing he made amongst the candidates for the process, which ultimately whittle them down to the two finalists for this series.
After facing a multitude of business tasks and a tough interview, the two finalists now face one more challenge – helped by old friends, each finalist must put together a proposal over the style of redevelopment to be made on a plot purchased by Sir Alan. Simon's proposal focuses on an "organic" design for the development on the site, while Kristina's proposal focuses on a design aimed at symbolising the regeneration of the sight. Both proposals are well-received in their presentations, leaving the decision on which is the best a tough one in the boardroom. Based on his observations on the task, Sir Alan decides that Simon Ambrose shall be his new apprentice for 2007 due to his creativity, business knowledge and risk-taking strategy, leaving Kristina Grimes to become the runner-up for demonstrating herself as being less of a risk taker than desired.
Criticism
Sexual discrimination accusation
Towards the end of the third series, several organisations - including the Trades Union Congress, the Liberal Democrats, The Equal Opportunities Commission and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation - criticised Alan Sugar for conducting sexual discrimination on a televised programme. The accusations were centred around the boardroom segment for the eleventh episode, in regards to the questioning of two of the remaining five candidates in the contest, Katie Hopkins and Kristina Grimes, about their child-care arrangements, but not Tre Azam, with the groups accusing Sugar of being in breach of the 1976 Sex Discrimination act.[23][24][25] However, Sugar denied the allegations of sexism due to his knowledge of the government act,[26][27] a point that was strongly supported by facts that had not been taken into consideration before the accusation was made.
The primary factor that the groups did not know of, was that both Hopkins and Grimes had been asked about child-care, because both had disclosed information in their applications before appearing on the programme that each was a single mother at the time; Tre Azam was not asked the same question, because he had made clear in his application that, while he was a father, he was also married.[28][29] In addition, Hopkins' decision to decline an offer to proceed into the final had been purely her decision, and not influenced by anyone else or her status as a single mother.[30][31]
Ratings
Official episode viewing figures are from BARB.[8]
