The Apprentice series 18 has well and truly kicked off as this year's crop of budding businessmen and women continue to be whittled down one by one.
The reality show has made big names of plenty of entrepreneurs, with Lord Alan Sugar providing a life-changing £250,000 investment into the business plans of the 17 previous winners.
The candidates face a gruelling process as they go through weeks of scrutiny by Sugar and his aides Karren Brady and either Claude Littner or Tim Campbell while they take part in a series of tasks.
With an hour to each episode, it’s not surprising moments shown in the weekly instalments are cherry-picked and edited, but last year’s runner-up Rochelle Anthony has explained why she wishes the contestants had more say on how things are aired.
The 36-year-old salon owner pointed out the editing can often lead to trolls labelling the candidates “dumb,” as she exclusively told GB News: “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.
Rochelle has spoke to GB News about how The Apprentice is heavily edited
BBC
“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.”
As she recalled the way in which the show tries to fit all the drama and successes into the one-hour slot, the hair stylist admitted: “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. 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.
Rochelle planned to expand her hair salon in the 2023 series of The Apprentice
BBC
“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.”
Anthony made it to the final two last year after impressing Sugar enough to make the final hurdle of the process against Marnie Swindells.
Swindells ended up winning the series after the business magnate decided to invest in her company, Bronx Boxing Club.
While she didn’t manage to win, Anthony has still been able to grow her business, The Dolls House Salon in Milton Keynes.
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BBC The Apprentice: Rochelle missed out on Lord Sugar's investment
BBC
When asked if the show changed her life, she replied: “Absolutely!! It’s changed me as a person! I have grown, learned so much about myself, and had some incredible doors open in social media and business. It’s been such an incredible experience, one I’m forever grateful for!”
She continued: “I already had my existing business, and I launched my academy teaching students how to do extensions with industry tips and tricks.
“I do them once a month and they are always booked out. I did a refurbishment. But it always was a three-storey super salon, and we’ve added more incredible businesses to it.
“I’ve always chosen quality over quantity, I just want to make sure it stays consistently great. And one day, I’d love to open one in the UAE.”