The Apprentice: Episode Six

This week the two teams had to prepare an advertising campaign for the latest Amstrad 10 CD changer. Miriam headed up First Forte and Paul took Impact.

From the first Miriam's team worked well together and came up with the snazzy tag of 'The Jukebox is back' whilst Paul's team laboured and eventually came up with 'Get You Own'.

First Forte did an OK TV advert in the time available and a good press campaign and gave a confident presentation and the team were all committed to the idea. James voiced some doubts on camera, away from the team, but he need not worry. Paul made his TV commercial his baby and it was a weak 6th form project type attempt. He left Saira and Rachel to do the press and prepare the presentation. They could not agree in what direction to take so Rachel left Saira to do the press ad whilst she did a storyboard for the presentation. Rachel's mood board looked like the average five year old's collage and was embarassing to watch. Saira meanwhile left the 'Mac man' (or 'Mac person' as she preferred to call him) to his own devices and gave him very little brief whilst she re-arranged the meeting room. There was no communication between the two branches of Impact, like there was with First Forte.

It was no surprise that First Forte won the task and a set of bespoke tailoring. Paul chose Saira and Rachel to go back into the boardroom. Thisi was no surprise because (a) He has proved to be a mysoginist who is not happy with women in business; and (b) they were not working directly with him and thus it was easy for him to apportion blame. It was a tough call as all three had screwed up to some degree. Paul, because he had been a poor leader on this task, had been vague with his brief and failed to manage the team members when they were away with them. Saira, because she had badly prioritised her time, and had not been actively with the Mac Man on the press campaign. Rachel, becasue she had some advertising experience on her CV, yet failed to capitalise that and wasted her time on a kiddy style mood board. In the end he fired Rachel. Saira and Paul were close to being fired and I thought either of them could go initially. At the end Saira broke down and gave us the first tears of the series.