The Apprentice (British TV series)
| The Apprentice | |
|---|---|
| File:Sir Alan Sugar.JPG | |
| Created by | Mark Burnett |
| Starring | Alan Sugar |
| Production | |
| Producers | talkbackTHAMES Mark Burnett Productions |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC Two |
| Release | 2005 – present |
| Related | |
| The Apprentice (US version) | |
The Apprentice is a British reality television programme, in which contestants attempt to get hired for a high-paying job working for Sir Alan Sugar. Over the course of a number of weeks, contestants take part in different activities, with each week the person who performs least well told that they "are fired". The programme is derived from the US show of the same name (but with Alan Sugar instead of Donald Trump).
The first series aired in 2005 and ran for twelve episodes, and a second series commenced in February 2006. Both have been produced for the BBC and were shown on BBC Two at 9:00pm on Wednesday evenings. It then was announced that there will be a third series of the programme in 2007, and is likely to have a fourth series in 2008.
The Board
Along with "the boss", Sir Alan Sugar, two advisors follow the contestants during their weekly activities: Nick Hewer and Margaret Mountford.
Nick Hewer is a former Public Relations officer. He first came across Sir Alan when his company was chosen to represent Amstrad in 1983. Nick’s role was as a PR manager, working with the media and press. He also became an integral part of Amstrad’s company management.
Margaret Mountford has worked with Sir Alan for over 20 years, as one of his main advisors. A former solicitor and partner at law firm Herbert Smith, she met Sir Alan while doing his legal work for Amstrad’s flotation on the Stock Exchange. She retired in 1999 and started at Amstrad as a non-executive Director.
Series One
The first series of the UK's version of The Apprentice television programme aired in 2005. It lasted for twelve episodes and was produced by the BBC and shown on BBC TWO in the United Kingdom on Wednesday nights at 9:00pm.
Series Two
The second series of The Apprentice began airing on 22nd February 2006, on BBC Two. Sir Alan Sugar continues to serve as the boss where he assigns the teams specifically designed tasks. Nick Hewer and Margaret Mountford also return as Sugar's advisers and observe the teams in action.
Candidates (in order of firing):
- Ben Stanberry
- Nargis Ara
- Karen Bremner
- Alexa Tilley
- Mani Sandher
- Jo Cameron
- Samuel Judah
- Sharon MacAllister
- Tuan Le
- Syed Ahmed
- Paul Tulip
- Ansell Henry
- Ruth Badger
- Michelle Dewberry (the eventual winner, and Sir Alan's new Apprentice)
Music
The Apprentice has used the following pieces of music amongst many others:
- Series 2 Opening Theme - Dance of the Knights from Romeo and Juliet by Prokofiev
- Incidental Theme - Black & White X 5 (from The Thomas Crown Affair) by Bill Conti
- Incidental Theme - The Gravel Road from The Village (Soundtrack) by James Newton Howard
- Incidental Theme - First Sleep from Solaris (Soundtrack) by Cliff Martinez
- Incidental Theme (first used in Series 2, Week 9) - Drive Away (End Theme) from Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (Soundtrack) by Thomas Newman
- Jo Cameron's exit theme from Series 2, Week 6 - God Moving Over the Face of the Waters from Everything is Wrong by Moby
- Syed Ahmed's exit theme from series 2, week 10 - Comptine d'un autre été from the soundtrack to Amélie, by Yann Tiersen
- The Boardroom, You're Fired and Closing Credits - The Apprentice (Original Theme) by Dru Masters
External links
- The Apprentice — official BBC website
- Amstrad Site