The Apprentice (British TV series) series 10

The Apprentice
Series 10
Promo group shot of Alan Sugar, Nick Hewer and Karren Brady standing before the candidates for series 10
Starring
No. of episodes14
Release
Original networkBBC One
Original release14 October (2014-10-14) –
21 December 2014 (2014-12-21)
Series chronology
← Previous
Series 9
Next →
Series 11

The tenth series of British reality television series The Apprentice was broadcast in the UK on BBC One, from 14 October to 21 December 2014.[1] Due to live coverage in summer of that year for both the FIFA World Cup and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the BBC postponed the series' broadcast until autumn to avoid schedule clashing.[2] It is the last series to feature Nick Hewer as Alan Sugar's aide, who left the programme following the series finale. Ricky Martin, winner of the eighth series, appears as an interviewer in the Interviews Stage.

Alongside the standard twelve episodes, with the first two airing on consecutive days, the series featured two specials before its premiere – "Meet the Candidates", made available online only on 7 October; and "Ten Years of The Apprentice" on 13 October. Later in the series, two further specials also aired – "The Final Five" on 16 December; and "Why I Fired Them" on 18 December

This series featured twenty candidates, the highest number of any variation of The Apprentice globally, with Mark Wright becoming the overall winner. Excluding specials, the series averaged around 7.40 million viewers during its broadcast.

Series overview

Applications for the tenth series opened in Spring 2013, towards the end of the ninth series' broadcast, with the selection process of auditions, assessments and interviews held during the summer of that year. As The Apprentice was now entering its tenth year, the anniversary was commemorated in subtle ways throughout the programme - the first sales task and the subsequent bargain-hunting task featured items from previous series' challenges. The decision to increase the number of candidates allowed Sugar to perform more multiple firings than before, allowing for the series to include a triple firing outside of the Interviews stage, for the first time in the series' history.

During filming, Nick Hewer began to contemplate his future on the programme, after finding the filming schedule tiring and intense. After considering his other commitments, including his new role as host of Channel 4's Countdown, he eventually decided that the tenth series would be his last on The Apprentice, revealing his decision towards the end of the tenth series' broadcast, with it fully confirmed by Sugar on social media and the series finale of You're Fired.[3][non-primary source needed][4] Apart from Hewer, Margaret Mountford also elected not to return in her role as an interviewer, a post she'd held for the past four series; she was replaced by series eight winner, Ricky Martin.

Owing to the live coverage of two major sporting events in 2014 – the FIFA World Cup and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the BBC was forced to broadcast the series in the autumn, to avoid schedule clashes.[2] The series premiere was preceded by a special, entitled "Ten Years of The Apprentice", a retrospective on the past nine series. In addition, this series featured the online exclusive mini-episode, "Meet the Candidates", which introduced the series' candidates and even showed their audition tapes; it was hosted by comedian Matt Edmondson.

The team names for this series were Summit and Tenacity. Of those who took part, Mark Wright would become the eventual winner, going on to use his prize to start up an SEO business called Climb Online.[5]

Candidates

Candidate Background Age Result
Mark Wright Sales Manager – Digital Marketing 24 Winner
Bianca Miller Owner – Personal Branding Company 25 Runner-up
Daniel Lassman Director – Pub Quiz Company 27 Fired after Interviews stage
Roisin Hogan Accountant 32
Solomon Akhtar Technology Entrepreneur 22
Sanjay Sood-Smith Senior Manager – Banking 27 Fired after tenth task
Katie Bulmer-Cooke Fitness Entrepreneur 27
Felipe Alviar-Baquero Lawyer 33 Fired after ninth task
James Hill Multiple Business Owner 26 Fired after eighth task
Lauren Riley Solicitor 28 Fired after seventh task
Pamela Uddin Assistant Brand Manager 23 Fired after sixth task
Jemma Bird Operations Manager 26 Fired after fifth task
Ella Jade Bitton Business Management Graduate 23 Fired after fourth task
Sarah Dales Former PA and Hypnotherapist 32
Steven Ugoalah Social Worker 29
Nurun Ahmed Marketing Officer and Fashion Retailer 36 Fired after third task
Lindsay Booth Owner – Swimming Academy 29
Scott McCulloch Clinical Development Strategist 24 Fired after second task
Robert Goodwin Marketing Manager 25
Chiles Cartwright Company Director 35 Fired after first task

Performance chart

Candidate Task Number
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Mark LOSS LOSS LOSS IN IN LOSS LOSE IN LOSS BR IN HIRED
Bianca IN IN LOSS IN BR IN WIN LOSS IN IN IN RUNNER-UP
Daniel LOSS BR IN LOSS WIN BR BR IN LOSE IN FIRED
Roisin IN IN LOSE IN LOSS IN IN BR IN WIN FIRED
Solomon LOSS BR LOSS WIN LOSS IN IN LOSS IN IN FIRED
Sanjay LOSS LOSS LOSS IN LOSE IN IN BR WIN FIRED
Katie IN IN WIN LOSS IN LOSS LOSS IN BR FIRED
Felipe LOSE LOSS IN LOSS IN LOSS LOSS WIN FIRED
James LOSS LOSS BR IN LOSS WIN IN FIRED
Lauren IN IN IN LOSS IN BR FIRED
Pamela IN IN IN LOSS IN FIRED
Jemma IN IN IN IN FIRED
Ella Jade IN IN IN FIRED
Sarah WIN IN IN FIRED
Steven LOSS LOSS IN FIRED
Nurun IN WIN FIRED
Lindsay IN IN FIRED
Scott LOSS FIRED
Robert BR FIRED
Chiles FIRED

Key:

 HIRED  The candidate won this series of The Apprentice.
 RUNNER-UP  The candidate was the runner-up.
 WIN  The candidate won as project manager on his/her team, for this task.
 LOSE  The candidate lost as project manager on his/her team, for this task.
 IN  The candidate was on the winning team for this task / they passed the Interviews stage.
 LOSS  The candidate was on the losing team for this task.
 BR  The candidate was brought to the final boardroom for this task.
 FIRED  The candidate was fired in this task.
 FIRED  The candidate lost as project manager for this task and was fired.

Episodes

No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleOriginal release dateUK viewers
(millions)
1271"Ten Years of Selling"[1]14 October 2014 (2014-10-14)8.22
Lord Sugar begins his search for a business partner from a pool of twenty new candidates. For their first task, candidates must sell a selection of items handpicked from nine years of opening challenges. Both teams opt for the same strategy of branding the same item with a novel design, as well as making hot snacks. The women manage good sales, despite selling their branded product for less than potential value and dealing with a frustrating team leader. The men deliver a strong performance, but are hampered by time-wasting and poor sales tactics. The women secure victory, leaving the men to face the boardroom over their mistakes. Of the final three, Chiles Cartwright becomes the first to be fired for his lack of sales, mismanaging his sub-team, and for focusing on low-value items rather than more valuable commodities.
1282"Wearable Technology"[6]15 October 2014 (2014-10-15)7.50
Fashion with in-built technology is the basis of the next task, as each team must come up with a brand-new piece of wearable tech and pitch their concept to retailers. The men design a jumper with a built-in camera and LEDs, but secure no orders due to poor pitching, alongside negative feedback on their product's design. The women design a solar-powered jacket with a built-in phone charger and heat pads, managing to secure orders from one retailer, despite concerns over their design. Tenacity win, while Summit are criticised over their flawed product. Of the losing team, Robert Goodwin is fired for his lack of contributions, while Scott McCulloch is also fired for his lack of leadership and presence.
1293"Home Fragrance"[7]22 October 2014 (2014-10-22)7.79
This week's task is to manufacture a brand-new range of fragrances to sell to passing trade and retailers around London. Summit create a range made with high-end ingredients and a beach-themed branding. Tenacity create a range made with cheap ingredients and a British-themed branding, managing lucrative sales and controlling their costs, despite some customers being put off by the high price tag. Tenacity win, leaving Summit to face an in-depth review of their poor performance. Of the losing team, Lindsay Booth leaves the process voluntarily after admitting to being out of her depth, while Lord Sugar fires Nurun Ahmed for her lack of assertiveness and sales.
1304"Online Video Channel"[8]29 October 2014 (2014-10-29)7.63
The teams are tasked with creating their own YouTube channel showcasing unique content, with the ability to secure additional views through the support of both a prominent Youtuber and a major website. Tenacity focus on fitness videos, but problematic members cause production errors, while their videos are deemed offensive, and their pitch to the website is poorly received. Summit focus on creating culinary comedy videos, securing good views through using a popular Youtuber's promotions, but fail to secure the website over concerns that their content is aimed at the wrong target audience. Summit secure victory, leaving Tenacity to face questions over the flaws in their performance. In the losing team, Lord Sugar fires three members for contributing to their loss – Steven Ugoalah, for presenting a poor pitch to the website and his volatile personality; Sarah Dales, for her weak performance in tasks; and Ella-Jade Bitton, for directing the videos poorly.
1315"Coach Tours"[9]5 November 2014 (2014-11-05)7.72
Teams are tasked with running their own luxury coach tour, complete with refreshments, with each team choosing two London attractions. Tenacity take their guests to Blenheim Palace and Oxford, managing their costs efficiently and receiving good customer feedback, despite criticism over the refreshments on offer and a weak tour of Oxford. Summit take their guests to Hever Castle and Canterbury, receiving good customer feedback on their refreshments, but were criticised for a poor tour of the first site, a group singalong on the coach, and for getting lost and thus having less time to tour Canterbury. Tenacity win the task, leaving Summit to face criticism. Of the final three, Jemma Bird is fired for her poorly-planned guided tour of the first venue, alongside her lack of contributions and presence in tasks.
1326"Board Game"[10]12 November 2014 (2014-11-12)7.80
Teams are tasked with creating their own board games, with each selling their creation to retailers around London. Summit create an educational geography board game, managing positive sales and receiving praise from retailers and their focus group on their concept. Tenacity create a dating board game and, despite making modest sales, their concept is criticised by their focus group and retailers over the sexist and offensive nature of its design. Summit win the task, leaving Tenacity to face questions over the flaws of their game. Of the final three, Pamela Uddin is fired for ignoring market research.
1337"Advertising – New York"[11]19 November 2014 (2014-11-19)6.77
The teams are tasked with designing a brand new soft drink, heading to New York to create a promotional campaign, before pitching it to American industry experts. Summit create a fizzy drink that's praised for its taste and promo campaign, despite the experts having issues with the brand's logo and their TV advert. Tenacity create a new health drink, but face criticism over a dull presentation, the drink's poor taste, and both the advertising and branding, despite receiving good feedback on their concept. Summit win the task, leaving Tenacity to face criticism over the flaws of their creation. In the losing team, Lauren Riley is fired for contributing to the team's poor pitch.
1348"Country Show"[12]26 November 2014 (2014-11-26)7.04
Heading to the Royal Bath and West Show, each team must select two new products and one sure-fire seller to sell at the event. Summit choose hanging chairs, folding Wellington boots and lawnmowers, but make poor sales due inefficient salesmanship. Tenacity sell hot tubs, bike trailers and handbags, achieving significant sales with the hot tubs, yet in-fighting between those selling the trailers and handbags impacts sales. Tenacity secure victory and, in the losing team, James Hill is fired for his poor leadership, as well as his immature and arrogant attitude.
1359"Ten Years of Discount Buying"[13]3 December 2014 (2014-12-03)6.66
Lord Sugar gives the teams a list of ten items to procure, each handpicked from previous series' bargain-hunting tasks. Summit's strategy is to source all the items before seeking out bargains and demonstrate good negotiations on some purchases, but are hampered by problematic members. Tenacity spend little time on sourcing items and use their best negotiators to secure good bargains, but two purchases are disallowed for not matching specifications. Summit achieve victory, as Tenacity face serious questions on their performance after their total spend is impacted by the fines they receive. Of the final three, Felipe Alviar-Baquero is fired for making the critical purchase that was disallowed, alongside demonstrating a lack of business skills and his overall track record.
13610"Premium Pudding"[14]10 December 2014 (2014-12-10)7.31
The teams are tasked with creating a brand-new premium pudding, complete with packaging, and pitch their creations to retailers. Tenacity create exotic trifles, but receive few orders from retailers due to criticism of their packaging, pitching and their product's unappetising taste. Summit create a line of tea-based cheesecakes, earning favourable orders thanks to good feedback on their creation and its flavour. Summit win and, in the losing team, Lord Sugar fires Katie Bulmer-Cooke for creating an unpopular flavour, while Sanjay Sood-Smith is fired over his poor contributions.
137SP–1"The Final Five"[15]16 December 2014 (2014-12-16)N/A
As the series finale draws closer, this special episode profiles the five remaining candidates. Discussing their backgrounds, experiences, personalities, and strengths and weaknesses, are candidates' friends, family and colleagues, as well as Lord Sugar's aides, Nick Hewer and Karren Brady.
13811"Interviews"[16]17 December 2014 (2014-12-17)7.17
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 four of Lord Sugar's most trusted associates, facing scrutiny over their backgrounds, work experience, track record, and business proposals. In the boardroom, Solomon Akhtar is fired for his vague and poor business proposal; Roisin Hogan is fired for concerns over the costs of her proposal; and Daniel Lassman is fired for questions over his business proposal and failure to demonstrate sales skills. Bianca Miller and Mark Wright receive praise from interviewers, and Lord Sugar deems their proposals very appealing.
139SP–2"Why I Fired Them"[17]18 December 2014 (2014-12-18)N/A
As the final looms, Lord Sugar takes a look back on the series so far. From making board games and selling soft drinks in New York, to operating coach tours and bargain hunting, he relives all of the mistakes, doomed decisions, and other notable events that occurred during the process, providing his reasons behind each firing.
14012"The Final"[18]21 December 2014 (2014-12-21)7.22

After facing a multitude of business tasks and a tough interview, the two finalists, aided by the fired candidates, present their business proposals to an audience of business and industry experts. Bianca pitches her plans for a tights and hosiery business, but faces questions over her lack of manufacturing experience and the product pricing and branding. Mark pitches his plans for a SEO business supporting small companies, receiving praise for his strong industry expertise and brand name, yet faces questions over his proposal's target market and staff costs. Based on feedback from these presentations, Lord Sugar crowns Mark Wright winner, for his strong business proposal, leaving Bianca Miller to finish as runner-up due to concerns raised about her proposal, as well as her leadership skills (despite having beaten Mark when they were opposing project managers in Week 7).

Notes: This episode was originally broadcast as part of a two-hour crossover special with the programme's sister show, You're Fired. After the crossover special, this episode was broadcast separately in subsequent repeats.

Ratings

Official episode viewing figures are from BARB.[19]

Episode
no.		 Airdate Viewers
(millions)		 BBC One
weekly ranking
1 14 October 2014 8.22 3
2 15 October 2014 7.50 6
3 22 October 2014 7.79 5
4 29 October 2014 7.63 5
5 5 November 2014 7.72 4
6 12 November 2014 7.80 6
7 19 November 2014 6.77 8
8 26 November 2014 7.04 7
9 3 December 2014 6.66 9
10 10 December 2014 7.31 4
11 17 December 2014 7.17 7
12 21 December 2014 7.22 6

Note: During the 2-hour final, the show was shared with The Apprentice: You're Hired, and as a result the figures are lower than expected. The first hour was the main show whereas the second hour was You're Hired. Original overnights for the final put the first hour at one million viewers more than the 2-hour average.[20][non-primary source needed]

Specials

Episode Airdate Viewers
(millions)		 BBC One
weekly ranking
Ten Years of The Apprentice 13 October 2014 N/a N/a
The Final Five 16 December 2014 N/a N/a
Why I Fired Them 18 December 2014 N/a N/a

References

  1. ^ a b "Ten Years of Selling, Series 10, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  2. ^ a b Jefferies, Mark (29 October 2013). "The Apprentice: Next series pushed back until autumn 2014 to avoid clashing with World Cup 2014". Mirror. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  3. ^ "Nick Hewer on Twitter".
  4. ^ "Nick Hewer to leave The Apprentice". BBC. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  5. ^ "The Apprentice: where are the previous winners now?". The Week UK. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  6. ^ "Wearable Technology, Series 10, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  7. ^ "Home Fragrance, Series 10, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  8. ^ "Online Video Channel, Series 10, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  9. ^ "Coach Tours, Series 10, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  10. ^ "Board Game, Series 10, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  11. ^ "Advertising – New York, Series 10, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  12. ^ "Country Show, Series 10, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  13. ^ "Ten Years of Discount Buying, Series 10, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  14. ^ "Premium Pudding, Series 10, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  15. ^ "The Final Five, Series 10, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  16. ^ "Interviews, Series 10, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  17. ^ "Why I Fired Them, Series 10, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  18. ^ "The Final, Series 10, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  19. ^ "Weekly Top 30 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  20. ^ "Twitter". UK TV Ratings.
allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Apprentice_(UK_series_ten)