The Apprentice is back on screens at the moment, with the current series providing all the usual hilarious mishaps and awkward disagreements.
If anyone can relate to how the current contestants feel, it’s last year’s runner-up, Rochelle Anthony, who came very close to bagging Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment.
When asked how she felt about the pressures and responses from being on a reality series, the 36-year-old replied: “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.
“But they’ve had their process for the past 18 years and they definitely know what they’re doing.
“But 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.
Rochelle made it to second place of last year's series
BBC
“And the BBC are very good with support every step of the way, with welfare check ins during the show airing.”
Some stars in the show complain about the heavy editing made to fit each episode into the one-hour time slot.
Addressing this, the salon-owner confessed: “I think the production team actually has such a hard job!
“They’re making a one hour long show based over three days with up to 18 different people.
Rochelle wished the contestants could have seen the episodes in advance
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.
“As much of what they choose to air can be frustrating, and they don’t show much of the good bits, I see why they keep each episode so open, so it builds up to the final.
“We can’t be mad, because it actually did happen and nothing ever can be used unless actually we said or did it.”
On her personal experience of public reaction, she explained: “I’ve received so many lovely responses, people in the street, via dm’s on socials and even to this day, still let me know how proud they are and that wanted me to win!
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The entrepreneur talked about the edits in the show
BBC
“I still feel really guilty as actual strangers truly backed me! I feel I let them down. But even the clients who travel miles to the salon make me happy they’ve finally found a stylist to do their hair.”
Reflecting on her time on the show, the hair enthusiast remembered what it had been like to live in the big house with her “rivals”.
“I always used to drive by Bishop’s avenue and say one day I want to live on this road,” she recalled.
“And it may have only been for 3 months, but I did it! It felt like a big sorority in uni, our days off in the sun were so lovely!
“I loved cooking for them all, and sitting at the big table and just chatting away, you get to know everyone on a deeper level, as we had no phones. It actually helped me bond with the other candidates as you have to work as a team in order to get to the final.”