The Apprentice #5

Ratherbeskiing · Jan 31, 2026

I understand why they opened the season the way they did. Its the 20th anniversary and they wanted to make it a bit special. Plus it meant that every contestant got to do the international trip.

But it didn't work. As noted above, the teams were too big, and it's so early that they are clamouring to prove themselves. And Hong Kong might be where Suggz (I like that @glm31) does lots of his business deals, but it's really not set up for a scavenger hunt, everything is so spaced out. There's the language barrier, too. I felt for the poor locals when they had 5 women descend upon them all shouting 'do you speak English'. They spoke enough to be able to shake their heads and then get the hell out of there. I'd probably do the same. Just confirms the obnoxious Brit Abroad stereotype.

TravellingPants · Jan 31, 2026

Ratherbeskiing said:
I understand why they opened the season the way they did. Its the 20th anniversary and they wanted to make it a bit special. Plus it meant that every contestant got to do the international trip.

But it didn't work. As noted above, the teams were too big, and it's so early that they are clamouring to prove themselves. And Hong Kong might be where Suggz (I like that @glm31) does lots of his business deals, but it's really not set up for a scavenger hunt, everything is so spaced out. There's the language barrier, too. I felt for the poor locals when they had 5 women descend upon them all shouting 'do you speak English'. They spoke enough to be able to shake their heads and then get the hell out of there. I'd probably do the same. Just confirms the obnoxious Brit Abroad stereotype.

Yes, the language barrier and lack of local knowledge made them come across badly even though it was out of their control. You simply wouldn’t try to do business in a country whose native language isn’t yours without translators or having fluent speakers on your team. It comes back to the conceit that the internet/phones don’t exist, you’d at least be able to use Google Translate rather than yelling in English or doing a fairly offensive impression of just the key words in hesitant English to make themselves understood.

IfTheCapFits · Jan 31, 2026

I get the argument for using technology, but I still think it's a good test of common sense & ingenuity. From what we saw, the girls barely used the information pack at all & map reading obviously wasn't in their skillset.

In my work, we deal with a lot of new designers/architects of a similar age & unfortunately the contestants are a good indicator of what we have to deal with! They'll do a fancy drawing of something, made of materials that can't be sourced, & even worse, just can't be made how they've designed it as it defies the laws of physics

TravellingPants · Jan 31, 2026

My favourite example of the treasure hunt task was when they phoned a library and asked them to look up the items they couldn’t identity in a dictionary. I don’t know why the girls didn’t make more use of the English tuition centre staff, unless they have been told not to.

Jelly Bean · Jan 31, 2026

TravellingPants said:
Yes, the language barrier and lack of local knowledge made them come across badly even though it was out of their control. You simply wouldn’t try to do business in a country whose native language isn’t yours without translators or having fluent speakers on your team. It comes back to the conceit that the internet/phones don’t exist, you’d at least be able to use Google Translate rather than yelling in English or doing a fairly offensive impression of just the key words in hesitant English to make themselves understood.

Yes - it's entertaining and obviously is to test their ingenuity.
I wonder how far they are allowed to use their initiative eg if it was me with the internet and phone restrictions I'd spend time trying to find a bilingual guide with local knowledge and pay them to come in the car and do the negotiations.

Ponponpon · Jan 31, 2026

Has anyone watched Unfinished Business? I feel like it's a video recording of a podcast, and I avoid those at all costs. What was wrong with You're Fired?

Boomwhatwasthis · Jan 31, 2026

Mark81 said:
Its just like any reality show these days. All about the drama rather than the business side of stuff. Gets steadily worse each year

I swear these eejits become more moronic with each passing year.

lazy arse · Jan 31, 2026

Ponponpon said:
Has anyone watched Unfinished Business? I feel like it's a video recording of a podcast, and I avoid those at all costs. What was wrong with You're Fired?

I watched the first one won't be watching any more. What a pile of old crock it was.

Iamthebosun · Jan 31, 2026

Boomwhatwasthis said:
I swear these eejits become more moronic with each passing year.

I'm sure they used to be smarter. The mistakes used to be someone smart doing complex calculations and getting the right answer but the person who told them the original number the calculation is based off of has misread it. Now the mistakes are what is shrimp paste? I'm not sure, does anyone know which way is left?

TigerTim · Jan 31, 2026

Ponponpon said:
Has anyone watched Unfinished Business? I feel like it's a video recording of a podcast, and I avoid those at all costs. What was wrong with You're Fired?

I expect the new show is a lot cheaper to produce than You’re Fired as it doesn’t have an audience etc. They’ve obviously seen how well Traitors Uncloaked has done and decided to do their own spin on that format

Ivegone · Jan 31, 2026

Yeah but does dear old Al go and do that himself does he not have a translate even phone transaltor for business or does he get a minion of his to do it for him because he doesn't know the language etc

Ponponpon · Feb 1, 2026

TigerTim said:
I expect the new show is a lot cheaper to produce than You’re Fired as it doesn’t have an audience etc. They’ve obviously seen how well Traitors Uncloaked has done and decided to do their own spin on that format

Ah, I don't watch The Traitors, but I know Ed Gamble does the follow on show. Thank you for sharing, I see the logic now.

missbct · Feb 1, 2026

Absolute chaos. My fella was watching behind his hands most of the episode. Chapaeu

girlinbrum · Feb 3, 2026

I did think rather than have the fine for not getting the shrimp paste, they could have popped into any supermarket and bought the cheapest one?

girlinbrum · Feb 5, 2026

I think I would get fired in first episode, for not pretend laughing at Sugar's "jokes".

missbct · Feb 5, 2026

I’d get fired for not being able to wear a bodycon dress as I’d look like a sausage, not to mention the fact I can’t wear heels. Apart from that, I’m grand!

Iamthebosun · Feb 5, 2026

missbct said:
I’d get fired for not being able to wear a bodycon dress as I’d look like a sausage, not to mention the fact I can’t wear heels. Apart from that, I’m grand!

You could be the 'quirky' one who wears suits and loafers and doesn't straighten her hair. It'll help if you're over 40.

Adelie penguin · Feb 5, 2026

missbct said:
I’d get fired for not being able to wear a bodycon dress as I’d look like a sausage, not to mention the fact I can’t wear heels. Apart from that, I’m grand!

Do you have excess lip filler and overdone make up though? If so you'll fit right in.

savedlatin21 · Feb 5, 2026

I felt hot and sweaty just looking at them running through the humidity of HK in those cheap business clothes.

ElectricDreams · Feb 5, 2026

Iamthebosun said:
You could be the 'quirky' one who wears suits and loafers and doesn't straighten her hair. It'll help if you're over 40.

You'll only last a couple of weeks though even though you've probably got more business sense than the rest of them put together because you're a dinosaur

The Apprentice #5

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