Quick Info
Status: Returning Series
Network: BBC One
Type: Reality
Rating: 5.8/10
The Apprentice
Overview
British version of the reality competitions series that sees young entrepreneurs compete in several business tasks, attempting to survive the weekly firings in order to become the business partner of one of the most successful businessmen.
This production, originally released in 2005, has captivated audiences with its unique storytelling. As a Reality series, it brings a fresh perspective to the Reality genre, maintaining a strong viewer rating of 5.8 across its 20 seasons.
- Storyline Highlights:
- • Explores themes within Reality.
- • Produced in United Kingdom.
- • Original Language: English.
Directed By
Written By
Starring Cast
Lord Alan Sugar
Self - The Boss
Mark Halliley
Self - Narrator (voice)
Karren Brady
Self
Tim Campbell
Self
Seasons
Specials
18 Episodes • Aired 2007-03-15
No season overview provided for this season.
Season 1
14 Episodes • Aired 2005-02-16
Series One of The Apprentice television programme was broadcast in the UK from 16 February to 11 May in 2005. The format of the UK version was very similar to that of the US original. The format was licensed by RTL Group and the programme produced for the BBC by RTL's Talkback Thames division. It was shown on BBC Two on Wednesday evenings over twelve weekly episodes. The winner was to become an apprentice to Sir Alan Sugar.
Season 2
12 Episodes • Aired 2006-02-22
Series Two of The Apprentice was a television series which was broadcast on BBC Two between 22 February and 10 May 2006. As in the previous series, Sir Alan Sugar continued as the boss, assigning the teams specifically designed tasks. Nick Hewer and Margaret Mountford also returned as Sugar's advisers and observed the teams in action. In addition, a companion discussion program called The Apprentice: You're Fired! was introduced and aired on BBC Three. This series premiered in Australia on 27 August 2008 at 9:30pm on Channel Seven, under the title Sir Alan Sugar: The Apprentice to distinguish it from the US version. Despite heavy promotion of the series during Seven's Olympic coverage, the series only rated 583,000 viewers nationally, which was third for its timeslot. The following week, the series was moved to 10:30pm, and ratings have continued to decrease. The series also airs in Australia on pay TV channel UKTV.
Season 3
12 Episodes • Aired 2007-03-28
Series Three of The Apprentice was a television series which aired in the UK on BBC One. The series began on 28 March 2007 and finished on 13 June 2007. Sir Alan Sugar reprised his role as the boss with Nick Hewer and Margaret Mountford as his advisors. Moving from BBC Two, this series attracted 10,000 applicants and promised "tougher tasks and better people" than before, however Sir Alan believed that the show was morphing into "Big Brother". Sugar also criticised the US version for making the error of "trying to change things just for the sake of it", causing it to backfire. Two 90-minute specials were aired during the series run. The first programme was titled The Apprentice: Beyond the Boardroom and featured information about the personal lives of each of the semi-finalists. The second, The Apprentice: Why I Fired Them, featured Sugar revealing why he chose to remove each candidate from the programme.
Season 4
12 Episodes • Aired 2008-03-26
Series Four of The Apprentice was a British reality television series. The series began on BBC One on 26 March 2008, and ran for twelve weekly episodes. Auditions and interviews are reported to have taken place during the first two weeks of July 2007 in London, Glasgow, Manchester and Bristol. A record 20,000 applications were received. Sir Alan Sugar reprised his role as the boss, and Nick Hewer and Margaret Mountford again served as his advisers. 'Frances', Sir Alan's boardroom 'receptionist', also returned. The show's spin-off, The Apprentice: You're Fired!, was again hosted by Adrian Chiles. Filming of the first episode of The Apprentice: You're Fired! took place on 25 March 2008. TV presenter Jennifer Maguire also participated in this series.
