In a surprising turn of events on The Apprentice this week, Lord Sugar made the bold decision to eliminate not just one, but two contestants. This unexpected double firing has left the competition even more intense, as only ten of the original eighteen ambitious candidates remain in the running. The contestants faced a challenging financial task during Thursday night’s episode, but one team struggled to attract the interest of investors, leading to their downfall.
As always, the proceedings were monitored closely by West Ham vice-chair Baroness Karren Brady and former winner Tim Campbell, who provided their insights to Lord Sugar. The 77-year-old billionaire was evidently in a no-nonsense mood, opting for swift action in the boardroom. This latest episode marks the seventh week of the 19th series of The Apprentice, with plans already in motion for a 20th season, as Lord Sugar has begun inviting applications for the next year’s competition.
What was the task on The Apprentice this week?
During week seven, the aspiring apprentices were tasked with designing a banking app for children, along with an accompanying money box to pitch to industry experts. The team named Ascendancy, led by Frederick, chose a dog-themed money box branded as “Strong Savers.” Unfortunately, they were unable to secure any investments from three potential investors, primarily because they had failed to incorporate an educational component into their product. Lord Sugar pointed out that the team had “missed an opportunity of £1.1 million” and ended up with zero orders at all.
Who got fired this week?
Keir Shave became the second contestant to be dismissed during this week’s episode. The telemarketing company owner from Leeds struggled to make a positive impression with his pitching skills, ultimately leading to his termination. Lord Sugar stated, “Keir, I’m sorry, there’s no excuse for your pitching. I believe that the pitch was the reason the task failed. So, I’ve concluded that I have nowhere else to go on this…”
After his dismissal, the 27-year-old expressed his disappointment, saying, “If I’m honest, I don’t think I should have been fired. I performed well in all weeks so far. Lord Sugar himself said the reason was due to the lack of financial literacy, which is why no one invested. I wasn’t part of the app team, and I had more to offer.” Nevertheless, he maintained that he was “happy with my whole progress.”
The first contestant to be fired this week was Frederick Afrifa, who was removed from the competition before he could even bring anyone back into the boardroom for discussion. The former Italian track star turned motivational speaker from Milton Keynes led the losing team but was ultimately dismissed by Lord Sugar, who remarked, “Look, my gut feeling tells me you’ve got a lot to answer for, Frederick. I don’t like wasting my time.” He continued, “I think you led a bad team; the dynamics of the team are terrible at the moment.” Frederick later reflected, “I definitely think it’s an Apprentice first, so at least I can say I’m making history.”
In previous weeks, other contestants like Jonny Heaver and Dr Jana Denzel also faced elimination. Jonny was fired in week six after a failed corporate away-day deal that promised luxury but delivered disappointment, while Dr Denzel voluntarily stepped away from the competition in week five, expressing a desire to focus on his business and family.
Who are the remaining contestants?
Following the dismissals of Frederick, Keir, Jonny, Dr Denzel, and several others, only ten contestants now remain in contention for the coveted title of Lord Sugar’s apprentice, along with an investment of £250,000 and mentorship. The remaining candidates are:
- Amber Rose Badrudin
- Anisa Khan
- Chisola Chitambala
- Dean Franklin
- Emma Street
- Jordan Dargan
- Liam Snellin
- Max England
- Melica Moshiri
- Mia Collins
As the competition heats up, week eight will bring a new challenge where the contestants must create and market their own hot sauce before pitching it to industry experts. With stakes higher than ever, the upcoming episode promises to reveal who can handle the pressure and emerge victorious in this fiercely competitive environment.
