BBC The Apprentice fans have pointed out “clues” suggesting aspects of the the show are “fake” after eagle-eyed fans spotted a few inconsistencies.
The business reality show, now in its 18th instalment, is currently in the middle of a new series, with Lord Alan Sugar set to pick his next business partner from the hopeful entrepreneurs.
The latest episode saw a backlash on social media as viewers found it hard to believe the candidates are woken up in the early hours of the morning and given just “20 minutes” to get ready but appear at the task soon after looking glamorous.
In the most recent episode, the group were informed they had the small window of time to meet Sugar at Battersea Power Station after being being called at 4am.
Some fans also noted that while the candidates are forced to wake up in the middle of the night, they are always seen getting into the cabs when the sun is out.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, many flooded the site with complaints about the programme's “pretending”. GB News has approached BBC for a comment about the backlash.
The show sees candidates given just 20 minutes to wake up and leave for the day's task
BBC
One penned: “No way not having that! How these women shower, dress, makeup and hair in 20 minutes ,oh come on! #TheApprentice.”
“Still pretending they get ready in 20 minutes #TheApprentice,” another wrote, while a third added: “How long do they think we are gonna believe that the cars will be outside in 20 minutes #TheApprentice.”
“So they are woken up at ‘4am’ in the pitch dark. The cars will be there in 20 minutes and when they arrive it is broad daylight. Incredible. #theapprentice,” someone else argued.
“Ring!Ring! It’s 5am. Lord Sugar wants you to wake everybody up, 13 of you have a shower, put on makeup, dress, preen your hair and drive across London to meet him, all in 20 minutes. What b*******! Why take us for such fools? Patronising b******* #TheApprentice,” a fourth fumed.
The Apprentice candidates are awoken with a phone call in the middle of the night
BBC
“There’s absolutely no way they’re given 20 minutes to get ready! It’s “pitch black” when they’re woken up and brilliant day light when they get in the cars. I definitely spend more time ranting at the TV when watching #TheApprentice these days than I ever used to,” another fan explained.
Another echoed these views, sharing: “Just caught a glimpse of #TheApprentice and one the guys gets a phone call at 4AM and it’s still dark to say the cars will be outside in 20 minutes, 20 minutes later there walking out and it’s broad daylight, someone’s got timing well out of sync!” (sic)
"They’re making a one hour long show based over three days with up to 18 different people," she explained.
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Fans pointed at clues suggesting some aspects of the show are "faked"
BBC
“So it must be so hard to cram everything in. It's also meant to be entertainment, it would be so boring if everyone did well every week."
The 36-year-old added: "I did on occasion look back and wish we were forewarned about each episode and had a watch party prior to airing, so we could actually see what made the edit as we watched when the show aired.
"It would have helped us prepare for the kind of comments the general public would make.
“It leaves us open to criticism by calling us dumb. But they were very vocal about the way the show goes, I just truly don’t think anything can prepare you."