Latest news with #BBCTheApprentice
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Apprentice: Final five to battle it out after double elimination
Lord Alan Sugar has selected the five final Apprentice candidates in with a chance of becoming his next business partner. The 78-year-old magnate fired workwear brand owner Liam Snellin and competitive bodybuilder and entrepreneur Mia Collins during Thursday night's installment of the BBC One reality show. After 10 weeks' worth of challenges, store owner Amber-Rose Badrudin, pizza company owner Anisa Khan, virtual assistant company owner Chisola Chitambala, animation entrepreneur Jordan Dargan and air conditioning company owner Dean Franklin have all made it through to the penultimate episode. The budding entrepreneurs will have their business plans picked apart during the gruelling interviews stage next week. READ MORE: The Apprentice: all you need to know about new series from candidates to start date BBC The Apprentice: Most successful winners revealed Apprentice star Noor on skipping You're Fired spin-off The candidates secured their places after they were tasked with launching an environmentally conscious and sustainable fashion brand during Thursday's episode. Reflecting on making it to the final five, Badrudin said: 'It's one of the proudest moments of my life, to be honest. 'I had kind of set a goal going into the process that I really wanted to make the interview stage, and I was laser-focused on getting there.' Khan said she was not confident she would make it to the final five due to the losses she had faced. 'I thought he was going to fire me because obviously at that point that was my eighth loss and compared to everyone else, I had the most losses', she said. 'So even though I felt confident, like for example, in task 10, I actually thought I did well as an individual because I had the highest sales, and I kept level-headed and I contributed. 'But then he was talking about the overall performance within the series and then I was scared that my losses would be the reason why I don't get any further. 'So, when he finally said that I'd got to the final five a tear did come out! I remember Amber-Rose and Chisola burst out crying. I was really happy with them.' Chitambala said she felt 'grateful' and 'blessed', while Franklin called it 'the best thing'. Dargan expressed his confidence and said: 'Going in I wasn't going in there to even get to the final five, I'm going in to win. 'So I expected this from the minute I applied to be on the show, to be honest.' He added: 'As the process went on, I became more confident, I became more aware of what Lord Sugar was looking for in a candidate. I knew I'd make the final five, without a doubt.' Last week's episode saw Max England fired, with Lord Sugar saying he had 'made quite a lot of mistakes' after the candidates faced a high-pressure TV shopping task. Lord Sugar will select the two finalists in with the chance of securing the business tycoon's £250,000 investment in next week's episode. Last year, fitness studio owner Rachel Woolford, who launched her boutique gym business North Studio during Covid, won the series. The Apprentice airs Thursdays at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Paul O'Grady's husband shares heartbreaking video of star 20 minutes before he died
The husband of Paul O'Grady has shared a poignant video of the beloved TV presenter taken just 20 minutes before his passing. The much-adored TV legend, known for his work as Lily Savage and hosting ITV show For The Love of Dogs, sadly died in March 2023 due to sudden cardiac arrhythmia at the age of only 67. His widow Andre Portasio posted a moving video on Instagram that was recorded shortly before Paul's unexpected death. READ MORE: BBC The Apprentice star favourite to replace Sara Davies on Dragons' Den READ MORE: BBC star dies aged 43 after 'condition worsened' following diagnosis Read more Midlands TV star who worked alongside Anthea Turner dies In the video, Paul can be seen sitting in his armchair, holding one of his cherished dogs and looking cheerful as he expressed his thanks to his supporters. Andre captioned the Instagram post with: "It's incredible how our minds can shield us from the pain of loss in moments of shock. "Today, my iPhotos reminded me of a lost video I recorded of Paul just 20 minutes before he sadly passed - what became the last recording he ever made to camera. "In this bittersweet moment, you see him as the genuinely kind man he was, expressing heartfelt gratitude to everyone for supporting his book, which he recorded for an award ceremony he couldn't attend." Andre added: "It's hard to believe it's been two years since his passing. "All the while, he's surrounded by his beloved dogs. We miss you dearly @paulogrady. Happy heavenly birthday! #paulogrady." Paul had been set to receive an award for his recent book 'Eddie Albert and the Amazing Animal Gang' and recorded a heartfelt video in lieu of attending the event. In the emotional video footage, Paul said: "Hello everybody, I'm Paul O'Grady and I just want to say a massive thank you for reading my book, and also for voting for it. "I'm absolutely delighted with my award so thank you very much. "And by the way, this is Eddie, this is my dog. Aren't you? You're famous. "And Butch in the book is based on this little one. You're being very quiet today aren't you? "Anyway, once again, thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Look after yourselves." EastEnders star Michelle Collins commented: "This is unbelievable, so sad makes you realise what a wonderful person he was life can be so fragile we have to really embrace it like paul did , such a loss wish there were more like him x". Fans also shared their sadness, with one writing: "It is scary to think that he passed away just after this video. He was loved by so many of us and cannot imagine how you are coping without him." Another commented: "Him being gone is still so surreal. The only human ever allowed over rainbow bridge. Our pets will be safe with him."
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Apprentice candidate: ‘Really hurtful' remark by Lord Sugar prompted me to quit
Apprentice contestant Dr Jana Denzel has said a 'really hurtful' remark from Lord Alan Sugar prompted him to quit the BBC One show. The cosmetic dentist, from London, took part in series 19 of the business show which sees contestants compete for Lord Sugar's £250,000 investment. Dr Jana left the show in episode five after weeks of doing well at negotiating and getting deals and, in his last task, was the project manager, making Easter eggs. His team lost the challenge, which saw him make a simple, chocolate treat aimed at children and, before the results were revealed, he said he is 'not sure I wants it as bad as them', and wants to 'step away from the process'. As Dr Jana departed, Lord Sugar said: 'It's been a pleasure having you here … you seem a stand-up fellow, I wish you well.' He told the PA news agency that he thought he 'performed really, really well', until episode four when 'Lord Sugar said to me, 'You've been really, really quiet since the last few weeks'. 'And that just registered in my head. I was like … and I did say this as well, but I didn't get a chance to speak … 'I've been one of the best performing candidates here for the last few weeks, I've been really giving it 100% and all of myself. But you just say that I've been really, really quiet is really hurtful'. 'That moment onwards, I looked at him and I was like, You know what? Maybe this just isn't a great fit, then, because if I'm positively contributing and giving 100% of myself, and you're saying, 'I'm really, really quiet, and you haven't seen much from me', then I don't think this is going to work. 'So, I actually made my decision in that boardroom at the end of episode four, and I said to the producers as well, I don't think this is (going to) work … or be a great fit for me … because I don't like how that was going down.' READ MORE: BBC The Apprentice: Most successful winners revealed' I won the Apprentice - not all the contestants are idiots' The son of Sri Lankan refugees, who built a dental practice in Harley Street, Dr Jana admitted in 'hindsight' he could have spoken up more in boardrooms, but also maintained that Lord Sugar has access to the records of who led which negotiation. During the third task, where the candidates were challenged to buy a list of items for Lord Sugar at a good price, he said he 'was the only person to get my thing for cost price', later giving the flower seller a pound extra as he thought the businessman would be unhappy with such a low price. Dr Jana's idea was to have 'cosmetic dentistry clinics that we were going to scale up using his commercial property', and thinks that he has found investment after 'renting my rooms' from Dragons' Den investor Steven Bartlett. He said Bartlett put him in touch with his then investment manager, Danny Gray, whom he is working with on 'not only scaling the dental clinic, but we're looking at all (the) healthcare product market', to get products in chain pharmacies. 'We've been working on some pretty cool stuff, and that's all thanks to Stephen,' he added. The dentist, who boasts a BSc in biology with psychology, a degree in dentistry, and a postgraduate diploma in restorative and aesthetic dentistry, said he is also talking to The Apprentice producers about other shows, and added that he needs a' little bit of time before I jump back on the TV screen again'. He said he wants to be a representation to 'people who come from similar backgrounds as me, growing up in a refugee home', and especially in his community, the Tamils. 'I'm the first person from that community on the show like this, and that community has gone behind me, and I feel in some aspects, I've let them down by leaving so early,' he added. Candidates have left the show early before, including children's nursery owner Shama Amin and Glasgow-based theatre school owner Reece Donnelly over the last few years.
