Interviews The Apprentice

This is an unbelievable opportunity.

Lord Sugar is in the market for a brand-new business partner.

This process is not about a job. It's about me ploughing £250,000 into a business.

There are people in this room that are hungry for this deal.

Here to do battle for his backing, 16 ambitious entrepreneurs.

You told me you can do things, you lot. You can't. You're all a bloody waste of space.

At stake, a quarter-million-pound investment

and a 50/50 partnership with a business icon.

I believe actions speak louder than words.

This is rubbish. This idea is rubbish.

It's a deal worth fighting for.

Will you be quiet, you silly shit?

16 potential business partners.

Caravan, caravan!

-Hold me tight!

-Get in!

Twelve tough weeks.

-You can't change project manager.

-You can.

-I'm really worried.

One life-changing opportunity.

You're fired. You're fired. I don't want to see your face any more - you're fired.

-Previously on The Apprentice:

-I want to see if you can grow a business from scratch in 48 hours.

-It was back to basics...

-Good luck.

-..and boys versus girls.

-I look like roadkill!

-Luisa had a head for low-cost fashion.

-Nice look, isn't it?

-While the boys took a punt on pricey ceramics.

-This will be a hard slog.

-Jordan gambled on a piece of pottery...

-It's £76.

-..but failed to flog it.

-Maybe you should go to more craft-y shops.

-In the boardroom...

-Very well done.

-..finally, an all-girl win.

Jordan dropped a bombshell...

-If you and I go into business, there's another person.

-So there's three in this partnership?

-Yes.

-What bleedin' world do you live in?!

-Neil found himself under fire.

I do have this concern that your limitation is to sales.

-But Myles took a direct hit.

-Myles, this task, I'm not sure you got it. You're fired.

Thank you. I've learned a lot.

And he became the eleventh casualty of the boardroom. Now five remain to fight for the chance to become

Lord Sugar's business partner.

8am.

One week to go.

Last chance to win a place in the final.

-The last boardroom, that was a close call.

-Intense.

I must admit, I've never felt as nervous as I did.

You've proved your worth. We've worked hard to get here.

It really has stepped up another level.

TELEPHONE RINGS

- Hello? - Neil, for the next stage of the process

you're going to be interviewed by my advisers. You've got 24 hours to brush up on your business plans.

Be prepared for your interviews tomorrow.

OK, thank you, Lord Sugar. Bye-bye.

Lord Sugar's aides will be interviewing us tomorrow. Then it's up to him.

-I'm scared.

-I'm absolutely dreading this.

We've been showing we're capable. Now we can show our business is capable.

For the final five, 24 hours to brush up on their business plans.

With the best record in the process, but questions over his proposal, business analyst Jordan Poulton.

I know Lord Sugar has some concerns and confusion around my business,

but I'm excited to get the opportunity to clarify it.

I'm not worried that anyone's better than me. I am, by far, the best investment opportunity in this group.

Next, entertainment entrepreneur Francesca MacDuff-Varley.

I've started three businesses from scratch. I think if you have

a shadow of doubt, you will crack.

On a winning team five times, she's played fair all the way.

The time for game playing is done with.

The people interviewing us know what they're talking about. If you play games, good luck with them.

Never afraid to ruffle feathers, multiple business owner Luisa Zissman.

I am used to ruling the roost.

I don't think being a strong woman is a bad thing at all. I stand by that.

If you're weak, I'll have you for dinner. He should invest in me.

I have two successful businesses in that industry and they're all in profit.

Regional sales manager Neil Clough, the only candidate to lead a team three times.

From week one all the way through to where I am now,

my objective has been to win. Not to get to the final five. I'm here to win.

I'm really confident in my plan. It's thought through.

I'm going to drive a very successful business.

Doctor and emerging businesswoman Leah Totton.

I'm very passionate about the business plan I'll be pitching.

The profit potential is phenomenal. I think of all the candidates, I'm the one

who has blossomed the most. I came in with the least experience

and I'm as strong now as the others.

8am.

After ten gruelling tasks,

today for the first time business plans will be dissected.

The Institute of Directors.

Meeting place for the bosses of British industry.

Good morning.

Now when I first met you, at the beginning of the process,

you gave me a brief idea of what your business plan was all about.

They all sound reasonable ideas, but I'm not going into business with just anybody.

You need a very, very good plan and I need to know you are the right calibre of person.

So I'm going to put you in front of four of my very trusted advisers.

And, trust me, there's no pulling the wool over their eyes.

They will report back to me

and two of you are going to go through to the final. And three of you will be fired.

Hand your business plans over to Nick and Karren and off you go.

Thank you.

How's everyone feeling?

-I think we're all nervous.

-A true warrior wants a good fight.

This is our chance to showcase our business, smile, walk out with head held high.

If we all have that kind of attitude, we'll have a lovely day.

Fran, you're quiet.

Backgrounds are checked, business plans analysed,

credentials scrutinised.

Now time to face four of Lord Sugar's toughest taskmasters.

Claude Littner, Lord Sugar's former global troubleshooter.

His job today - uncover the pitfalls in potential partners' plans.

You say you're a ruthless firer and hirer. One chance and you're out.

Yeah, similar to Lord Sugar, really.

Don't compare yourself to Lord Sugar. Don't compare yourself ever to him.

No-nonsense Margaret Mountford,

long-standing adviser to Lord Sugar,

with a forensic skill for spotting genuine ability.

You say, "I've experienced huge success and utter defeat. I've walked in the footsteps of kings."

The schools that I've been to and the jobs that I've done...

You studied the greats in history, cherry-picked their knowledge

-and your role model is David Beckham?

-I stand by that.

Yes.

Straight-talking Claudine Collins, running one of the UK's leading media agencies.

Her job today - expose the real people behind the self-promotion.

Out of everybody's CV that I've read, you came across as... a bit boring.

There's no real kind of spark.

Absolutely not.

I've had some amazing experiences, I've travelled the world and I'm not boring, so...

Returning to put the candidates through their paces, Mike Soutar.

-How do I address you? Is it Dr Leah?

-You can call me Leah.

-Pioneer of Britain's free magazine industry.

-Tell me about the business plan that you are presenting.

I plan to open a string of medical cosmetic clinics. I will offer anti-wrinkle injections,

facial fillers and skin peels.

-What would you do with this?

-I'd suggest three areas of Botox.

Your glabella area, forehead and crown lines.

You could also have some filler to soften your nasolabial fold.

That would cost you just under £300. For the filler, I imagine you'd need over one syringe.

I'm so pumped up, I want to do them back to back because I'm ready for it.

-OK, guys, wish me luck.

-Good luck, Neil.

-LEAH:

-I think Neil will definitely be able to sell himself.

-Yeah.

-I think he'll do fine. He's great under pressure.

-So much self-belief.

-LUISA: He does have a lot of self-belief.

-He's his own favourite product!

My business plan is an online estate agency business where the vendors do their own viewings

-and it's all online-based.

-It would appear that, "It all stems back to when I finally sold my house

-"after two years on the market."

-There's nobody better to sell your house than you.

-I've got to challenge you on just that basic premise.

-You've been in sales.

-Mm-hm.

You probably can sell your house.

Many people do not have that kind of skill. You've got to market it, set the price, negotiate...

I really take on board what you're saying, but I have to challenge it.

He has one mode - it's Neil. And there's nothing else. It really is off-putting.

But I really do think that could get him into the final, you know. I really do think.

My business plan isn't just about selling your own house. It's actually to be a national estate agency

-and get estate agents to advertise their properties on it.

-Hang on.

-There are large, well-established companies in that space.

-Yeah.

-They'll go to the market leader.

-I'm going to compete with that.

-You've got no chance.

-I have.

-You don't.

-I definitely have.

-The market's full.

-I believe in it.

I don't know if I'm not explaining it clearly...

I hope I'm explaining it clearly how ludicrous the whole idea is.

-It's something that I know.

-Something you know? That's crap.

-Here he comes.

-I like being challenged on things and defending myself. I thrive off it.

I would love to go in there again.

Oxford graduate. Good intellectual achievements.

-Tell me what you did at Oxford Entrepreneurs.

-I wanted to be an entrepreneur.

When I got to Oxford, I realised there was an entrepreneur society. I took on a number of roles

-and became president after university.

-As a full-time job?

-A full-time job, yes.

It's like running your own business. If someone has an idea, I'd work on strategy, marketing,

and come up with a creative vision.

-A lot of success stories.

-Thank you.

I'd like to go through in more detail your career progression.

I started my first business with £5,000 I borrowed. I had nothing.

-I made myself into a businesswoman. No one taught me.

-Nothing indicates that you can run a big business.

You've been in this current business for 10 years. You've got a very small, little business.

-Where are we on turnover and profit?

-Em...I don't know to split it up for you...

-"Year One I made X..."

-Not to hand without looking at them, I'm afraid.

You should know that. You should know your numbers.

Let's... Don't let me down here. What honest business... This lookalike thing,

-you've been involved for 10 years.

-Yes.

-You must have numbers on that.

-We turn over £50,000-£60,000 profit.

-No, hang on.

You can't turn over profit.

-We make around £2,500, £3,000 profit per month.

-So if I take three and multiply by 12, I get £36,000.

-Yeah.

-I have to say that these numbers don't quite stack up

with your claim that you made as part of your application of a turnover of £5 million.

I...

It was just a number. Number five came into my head.

It's just farcical.

Oh...!

-Was it bad?

-It wasn't the highlight of my career.

Was it as bad as you thought it would be? Or worse? It was worse, wasn't it?

It would appear that you've got some successful businesses. Certainly the online one. £1.5 million turnover.

-Yes.

-Then we move on to the cupcake shop. Have you got any profits?

-Last year the turnover was just over £100,000.

-And then you formed another company.

-The online baking website.

-Turnover £40,000 a month?

-Yeah.

-Very nice.

So why change your life? You've got it made.

Cos I always want more.

-Have you found this process easy or hard?

-I found it a lot harder than I expected.

-It's been the game playing on a personal level.

-The tactics.

-That's what I felt the most unease with.

-Do you feel ready to prove something after the last boardroom?

-Absolutely.

I'm sure Lord Sugar's going to be watching very closely.

-If he doesn't deliver a good interview, no one's going to.

-He'll thrive off it.

From the age I can remember, I've always felt I was more intelligent than everyone else.

And I knew there was some thing I could do with that ability that would be meaningful.

I have this ability inside me that I don't know what to do with.

Business is the way you get "success" so why not learn about that?

And eventually I'll show everyone that I'm able.

-I'm going to move on. You talk a lot about the Oxford Entrepreneurs.

-Mm.

You more or less say it's down to you that the first batch of businesses was acquired by Google.

One of the co-founders of the company said, "Jordan helped a lot with getting us office space

-"and supported various events."

-I think I did a little bit more.

I have to be honest. You talk about yourself a lot as an entrepreneur.

Are you really? It comes across that you jump onto other people's ideas.

-No, that's unfair.

-So what have you started from nothing?

The only real "business" I've run for myself was trading on eBay when I was a teenager.

-OK. So trading on eBay.

-Yeah. For myself. I'll admit that.

The longer the day goes on, you've got to retain your stamina.

"Yay! Great. Two under my belt," but I've got two more to go.

I actually think it gets easier as it goes on.

The lady with a brain like Einstein who got a C, D and D in AS Levels.

Yeah, I flunked my AS Levels.

"People look at me and assume I'm a bimbo with hair extensions, fake boobs and nails."

Yeah.

-Obviously, that comment was very tongue-in-cheek.

-Do you think it's sensible to be tongue-in-cheek

when you're completing an application for someone to make a £250,000 investment?

I don't think there's anything wrong with having personality in business.

-You spent a couple of years on this.

-Yeah.

-It's a bit perfunctory.

-It's simple, but I believe effective.

I'm really passionate about my plan and driving that business.

The main gap is that people want to pay less commission, but they have the hassle of doing the viewings

and being there when the person comes round, which I think is a very bad idea.

I'd like to have a nationwide fitness and dance environment for people.

"What's the most interesting thing about you? My shoe collection."

I'm passionate about shoes. And I think it's something that would pique someone's interest.

Right, well, we can agree to differ on that one.

-You're working full-time as an NHS doctor in A&E.

-Yeah.

-So why do you want to go into business with Lord Sugar?

-First of all, I need the money.

-Does he have experience in anything to do with medicine?

-Well...no. But I do.

-Tell me, in a nutshell, your idea.

-Sure. It's an online platform and the idea is

it will allow hobbyists and brands to create mobile games easily.

You state that your business partner and you complement each other perfectly.

He focuses on technology delivery, you on all commercial aspects. Are you talking about Lord Sugar?

-No, I've been working with another person. He's the technologist.

-Right.

-I'm the creative visionary.

I'm the person worrying about strategy and sales and marketing.

-This process is to find Lord Sugar a business partner, but you already have a partner.

-Yes.

OK, let's talk about your business.

The business I'm pitching is to create a new baking brand - cake tins, glitters, sprinkles.

I'm confused. It talks about you being a manufacturer as well as a wholesaler.

-That doesn't make any sense.

-As well as a retailer. Your business plan is half-baked!

I think writing a business plan is definitely not one of my strong points. Face to face I'm stronger.

I feel there is a need for this. I've got first-hand experience. They're family-run businesses.

They just don't have the knowledge or the scope to expand, modernise with regard to online stock ordering.

That's why I'm pitching this business. I'm saying this is a problem and this is my solution.

-Luisa, I think you're crazy. You have experience of this marketplace.

-Yeah.

You have really good examples of how this works and you haven't mentioned them in your business plan.

Yeah.

-It wasn't great, your business plan.

-It wasn't.

I'm the first to admit that I have much less business experience than the others.

-So what is your anticipated profit in year one?

-£265,000.

-You're never going to do that.

-I will.

-265,000 in year one?

My rent will be £30,000 a year, a receptionist I'm paying £16,000.

I'll have a cleaner for £8,000. I'll probably do that myself, if need be.

I was intrigued to see that you say you can solve

-a Rubik's cube in under three minutes.

-Yes.

Well...let's just see, Jordan, what you're made of.

OK.

Your time starts now.

It includes everything bar electricity.

Now I'm going to employ someone, probably a nurse practitioner, as a clinical manager.

That's two minutes.

-Ah, the pressure's got to me. I made a mistake.

-You've still got time.

Nnngh!

After four months, I will then leave the clinic.

She will also have doctors or nurses trained in aesthetic medicine to do one five-hour clinic a week...

-You speak very quickly.

-Sorry. I've got so much I need to explain.

I'm the combination of business flair with a successful medical career.

For a £300 treatment, you'll make approximately £149 gross profit.

That's very interesting. Very interesting.

-That's your time up.

-Oh!

-I'm sorry.

-I made a mistake, I'll admit it. It's the pressure.

It's not a problem sometimes to crumble under pressure.

Let's move on to your business plan. You create software, allow advertisers to make games.

On the basis that this is a technological platform, isn't your business partner the brains?

-He brings the real value to the business.

-Without Steve Jobs, there's no Steve Wozniak.

-So you are Steve Jobs?

-He channelled that ability to create products into an overarching company.

-That's where I think I come in.

-Isn't it true that your business partner already had this company?

Yes, he started it before he met me and he had said, and I believe him -

we haven't exchanged the actual equity documents - that he wants me to be an equal partner.

In the business plan itself, you describe yourself as a co-founder of the company.

-Companies House lists two founders.

-Yeah.

-Neither of whom is you.

-You said, "I will do anything to win."

-Yeah.

-You do seem obsessed with winning.

Unfortunately, that is the way I go about things. If I have a bad period,

I have to make sure the next period is better than any I've had before.

Where does this innate ambition and competitiveness come from? It's a huge amount of pressure on you.

I think it is. And probably nobody puts more pressure on me than myself.

When my father passed away, I was 18 and I didn't take a day off work.

I saw that as weak.

-That's not weak.

-That's the type of person I am.

-You also said that one of your biggest regrets

-was not making it as a professional footballer.

-At the time, my dad was really pushing me

to be a football player.

-It's not a regret because you didn't make it?

-I let my dad down, yeah.

And I don't think I can ever change that so that's my biggest regret.

I failed with the somebody that I've got the utmost respect for, who's not here to say, "Well done."

I'm sure he'd be very proud.

I hope so.

Was that really hard?

Ah...

Neil, you're quiet for once!

I think she really wants to understand the person.

It was, "Cut the business. Let's talk about you."

Gosh. She won't like me. When in doubt, smile and pout.

Your old boss, you said, was a total idiot and taught you so much about how not to manage people.

Well, yeah, she was an idiot.

People have said that you're manipulative.

Your husband even said you can be very stubborn.

There are worse traits I could have, to be honest.

Being stubborn...

and having self belief I don't think is a bad thing.

If you ask any of the remaining candidates, one of my strongest points they'd all say

-is I get on with people really easily.

-I have asked people

and the one thing that did come out was the manipulation, game-playing, the unprofessional...

I'm not unprofessional. I have a big personality.

It's not nice to be told you're manipulative, intimidating. No one wants to hear that.

But I feel like I have changed throughout this process from the criticism I have got.

OK. That's good.

She was tough.

Like, you know, "The candidates have said you are manipulative, argumentative." It's been said

-that I'm a game player.

-Things have been said...

-I know you've said those things about me.

-Not all of those things!

-But they are points you felt.

I hope you've seen my change.

I think you're in trouble with this plan. You're not an estate agent.

-And your unique selling point is that you want people to sell their own homes.

-Yeah.

You expect estate agents to pay to go onto that website.

-I can't see it working like this.

-I believe it can.

-I'm looking for evidence.

-The evidence is there.

I absolutely know that I can make it work.

You do comment on your looks constantly.

You stated twice that you're more glamorous than all the other people and your hair is more voluminous.

When asked what's the worst lie you've ever told, it's that you're a dress size six.

What do you think that says about you?

I'm a 24-year-old woman. Of course, my looks are important to me.

Do I feel I'm obsessed with my own image? No.

But your whole business is about people being judged on their looks.

You're potentially going to make money out of maybe young girls not feeling good about themselves,

coming in, thinking they don't look good as they are and want to look like all the celebrities out there.

Not at all. I am an extremely moral person.

I'm very ethically aware and I would totally challenge that point.

If you're tarring me with an unethical brush,

you need to tar every cosmetic surgeon currently working in the UK.

I think what I'm hearing is the guy who sits there,

who has no self-doubt, who has to believe that this will work.

I know how to make it successful and I believe that I will.

You're going to keep hearing me say it because I truly believe it.

And you'll keep hearing me say I think you're in trouble with this business plan.

Hello. I'm Jordan.

I know you are.

It transpires that, actually, this isn't your business.

Mm-hm.

"Mm-hm?" What does "mm-hm" mean?

-There are three parts to the answer, I think.

-Hang on a second.

-You are not a shareholder in this business.

-Correct.

Correct. Therefore, you've got no right to negotiate

or give away a part of a business that you do not own.

-Mm-hm.

-Furthermore, and this is what I'm very upset about,

having waded through these pages, when I got to page 45 in your 52-page diatribe here...

..you're only prepared to yield 15.39% equity.

-That's not the deal. The deal is 50% for £250,000.

-Mm-hm.

You've got no right to be here. You're feeding on somebody else's idea, somebody else's business.

-You're a parasite.

-Can I defend myself before I leave?

Frankly, I think this interview is terminated.

You can leave now.

Was that one of the toughest interviews you've ever had?

Hmm. One of them.

If Lord Sugar said that he could see the prototype entrepreneur inside you...

-Yeah.

-..but didn't want to invest in this business, how would you change the business plan?

-He will see I can make this business a success.

-What changes would you make? What's your Plan B?

This is the one I'm passionate about and this is the one that I want him to invest in me.

The more I think about it, the worse I think it's gone today. Don't you?

After having been through what I think is by far the worst part of the entire process,

I would be gutted if I didn't win.

If I did the same again, I'd do it exactly the same way because I think I answered everything the right way.

I am more than happy for today to be over.

-I could do another one.

-You could?!

I'd rather give birth again than do this.

Welcome again into the boardroom and thanks for all the work and effort that you've put in

in appraising these five people.

I can't wait to hear what you've got to say, because at the end of today, two will go forward into the final.

So, where shall we start? What do you think about Luisa?

Now, she has been a handful in the last ten weeks, I have to say,

but she has pulled in some results and that's why she's still here.

-She's very streetwise, she's very bright. I have no doubt that she'll make a success.

-Yeah.

But there's a "spoilt child" syndrome that comes out sometimes.

She called one of her old bosses "a total idiot" and I think you would have your hands full.

Is this one too hot to handle, a bit too sharp for her own good?

I think she might be. The business plan is not really a fully formed plan in any way.

But what she wants to do is create a brand. It's not a bad idea for any kind of baking.

-There's definitely a market for that.

-A one-stop shop for bakers?

The market gap is that the people delivering that at the moment are too slow and always out of stock.

Her business is a viable business.

Who is her customer? The small baker or the individual?

Her main target is other retailers who want to stock this particular product.

What she wants is your black book of contacts, so you can ring up supermarkets.

-Quite rightly so. I can pick the phone up.

-Alan, it's the chequebook she wants.

-I'm not going to spend hundreds of thousands on hundreds and thousands!

-You may end up doing that!

So, would you like to talk to me about Francesca?

She wants to open these dance studios in the centre of towns and places like that.

-She's identified what is a real craze at the moment.

-Yes. It's not a daft idea.

So, I'd be Lord of the Dance, would I?

She probably would need your help more than any of them, actually,

to deliver this, but I had so much respect for her because she is a real self-starter.

What's this figure on her CV here, Claude?

It says, "Turnover - five million."

She admitted that was a number that was just plucked out of her head.

If I can just say something about her, she has got experience in the area she wants to go into.

That's a very positive thing, but I'd be concerned

about you investing a significant amount of money with her. I'm not sure she can scale it up.

Cloughie...

Neil Clough, who has been an exceptional candidate...

Sadly, the business plan is inconsistent in many places

and it's not really a fully formed plan in any way.

-Tell me what it is.

-He's going to have people who want to sell their houses by themselves.

They'll do the viewings, they'll do everything.

He'll do this for a smaller percentage of the normal fee.

So he wants to deal directly with the vendor of the house?

That's one of his areas. Alongside that, he wants to introduce estate agents into his business.

There's a massive contradiction.

If you was an estate agent, why would you want to put your property on a website

which is trying to stitch you up also?

All it is is an advertising website, it seemed to me.

But he's spent ten weeks being very determined and forceful.

You could see how intense the guy is.

Yet he'll let himself down, from what I'm hearing, with this thing here.

He wants it, I felt, more than anybody else. He was so passionate, so driven.

I think his incredible amount of self-belief is the thing that gets in the way

of him listening to advice.

He can't for a moment feel that he is wrong. He can't retreat from any single part of his plan.

It's complete and utter naivety. You're saying you all suggested to him that this is not acceptable?

He seemed very wedded to his idea and it would have been nice if he'd taken counsel on this.

This is disappointing, this is disappointing. This is naivety.

Let's talk about our doctor, Leah.

Leah aims to start up a string of facial aesthetics clinics,

offering non-surgical treatment.

Lunchtime facial fillers? Sounds like a big sandwich to me!

LAUGHTER

-That's the business I'd be going into?

-Yes.

-That's already raised some eyebrows!

You can't raise your eyebrows!

That's the problem.

I think at the end of the day, the young girls and the young men that want it done

will first of all go by recommendation

-and then it's the price?

-Yeah.

She's very competitively priced, so I think she's done her homework.

I found her probably the most cold.

She wants to be taken seriously, so she feels she has to have this kind of professional air.

Leah is a really credible person to be suggesting this as a business.

Not only has she got very good margins associated with what she...

-You smoothed out the wrinkles in her business plan?

-I tried to.

I think she's a super-smart woman.

It's a fashionable business. I have a concern on the moral side of it.

If I got involved in this business, doctors will have to be in charge as far as I'm concerned.

All right. What do you make of Jordan?

His business plan is something to do with an immersive mobile experience.

I thought that's when you dropped your phone in the loo or something!

Sadly, I have to report to you that I had to throw him out.

-Really?

-He doesn't own the business. He doesn't have any stake in the business.

The company is already in existence and he is not one of the owners, directors, shareholders.

I see his name nowhere.

Last week in the boardroom, he said that he had somebody who designed the technology.

-He implied this person was a techy person.

-He didn't want to leg him over.

-That's right.

If I was interested in this idea, I'd have to not talk to him, but to the people that own the business.

How do I know what they'll say? They might say, "You can't have anything."

Jordan is a very driven individual, but he is not an entrepreneur.

He takes credit for other people's successes.

In here, he talks sometimes... He saved his life last week.

He's intelligent, he's articulate, so I would expect him to put up a good show.

I've now got to get on and talk to these candidates, but you've been very helpful, so thanks a lot.

Thank you.

SIGHS DEEPLY

It's been an interesting debate. What do you make of that Jordan?

His problem has been the same throughout this process. He doesn't do anything on his own.

-He doesn't actually have a product of his own to offer you.

-Right.

PHONE RINGS

-'Could you send the five of them in, please?'

-Yes, Lord Sugar.

You can go through to the boardroom now.

Well, I have spoken to my advisers

and a lot of interesting stuff has come out.

And some of you, as you know, are in the last chance saloon, anyway.

Yeah?

So, I'll start with you, Jordan.

The reason you're still sitting here is because I am a technology man, as you know.

What I heard from the advisers was that your business plan

is not really your business.

That's not the case, Lord Sugar.

-It IS the case, isn't it?

-It's not. It's my vision.

Claude told us you're not a shareholder of this business.

I've had a gentlemen's agreement with this person that I would be part of this company.

Cut the crap here.

You want me to invest in another business that's already been going that you don't even own yourself?

I've got nowhere further to go, really, with this business plan of yours, Jordan.

I've got nowhere else to go.

Jordan...

-You're fired.

-OK, thank you for the opportunity, Lord Sugar.

I...

I think that shows you how serious I am here

before I part with my money.

You know? Business is business.

Now, Luisa, you're already successful. You've already got three businesses.

Somebody who's got a mini-conglomerate, which is what you've got,

you can't focus on four things at once.

If we went into business together, I'll give you my 100% commitment.

I don't want to hear any more about the 100 and 110 per cents.

I want a straight answer here

because trust me, there are people in this room that are hungry for this deal.

OK? That are prepared to devote themselves to this new business, right?

And not to be deflected with anything else.

You've got to be brilliant for me to choose you

if you think I'll allow you to mess about with three other businesses on the side.

Me having three other businesses in the sector I'm proposing to go into is only of benefit to you.

The industry is made up of small, independent, predominantly family-run businesses

that don't have the scope or vision or knowledge, so we can create a new brand

-that has a constant supply for the demand that's out there.

-Hmm...

Now, Francesca, how do you think you've done in this process here

because I haven't personally seen any sparks of brilliance from you?

Out of the four of you sitting here now, you are the one who I think played it the safest, so to speak.

I don't feel like I play it safe. My disposition is not to shout and jump up and down.

No, I take that point. Shouting and screaming is not the be-all and end-all. Got it.

But it's just a feeling that I have.

Francesca, I've observed you closely for the past ten weeks.

Sometimes you've struggled with the ruthlessness of the process.

I wonder whether you'd be able to carry that forward into business?

I'm a very fair person. Sometimes I've struggled with those things,

but that's nothing to be ashamed of in business.

I've got to a point in my life that I know who I am, I know where I'm going

and I'm driven from something that not everyone has and that is the survival instinct.

Leah, normally, scientists and doctors and boffins

are the worst people in the world for business.

Why am I to believe that you are unique

in the sense that you're the first doctor that can turn their hand to business?

I have already demonstrated that I can. I've trained privately in aesthetic medicine.

-Have you learnt a lot through this process?

-So much.

When we first met you, you took a lot of time to come into your own and engage.

I think we see someone a bit different in front of us today.

I'm probably the person that has taken the most from it and has learnt the most.

I've learnt loads about myself and I have shown I have a genuine ability in business.

This is Lord Sugar going in the face-straightening business. Where do we stand on the moral ground?

This has repeatedly come up and I'm a bit confused by it.

I don't know why. You might be young, but you're not stupid.

We've seen some horror pictures of people that over-indulge in this.

Some professional somewhere has taken their money.

I am the most legit person you will ever meet.

-You'd turn people away?

-Of course.

-You'll turn them away and say, "I'm not taking your money"?

-Yes, 100%.

-Hmm...

Neil... Neil, I'm going to be very, very honest with you here.

Very, very honest because I think you all deserve me to be honest with you at this late stage in the process.

I am bitterly disappointed with your business proposal.

I know that ten weeks ago when I first met you,

I just flipped through all of you very quickly, "What's your idea?"

And you said something about estate agents.

But it don't work.

And I'm shocked. I tell you, I am totally, absolutely shocked

because if I didn't care about you, if I didn't think you was any good, I couldn't care less, to be honest.

Yeah? It don't work. It don't make sense.

It does. It does make sense.

This business plan isn't just off the back of a fag packet. I have thought this through. It's simple.

You have not thought it through. Don't dig yourself a bigger hole.

-OK.

-Cos that ain't been thought through.

On the one hand, you are saying, "I'm going to allow individuals not to use estate agents

"and to sell through my website their property like I did with my own."

If you'd stopped there, I'd have had some respect for it.

But on the other hand, you say, "I also want estate agents to come on my website.

"The same guys I'm screwing over here, I want you to spend some money with me." I don't get it.

No, I take that on board. I believe in that business plan.

-I also believe that I can drive that to make it a success.

-It is a shame that you're still believing in it.

I'm asking for the opportunity to...

I know, but I may as well put that £250,000 into a slot machine.

Right? I may as well just stand on London Bridge and chuck it over London Bridge.

That's how bad it is. My advisers spoke to you about a contingency plan.

Yet you are absolutely adamant that you want to go for this thing.

-I believe this is the one I know I can make a success.

-No, you can't.

Neil, stop saying that. You can't.

You cannot. It does not work, mate.

Me, I would not have a bat in hell's chance of starting from scratch in this business.

There, that's how good it is(!)

It's sickening for me to sit here and think that someone that has been as powerful as you

ends up the right man, you know, but the wrong plan.

It's disheartening for me, yeah?

-And you won't move away from it.

-I'm absolutely convinced that I can make a success of the business.

-No.

-I just wanted that opportunity.

-No, no, no.

You can't, mate. I'm sorry.

You can't.

Neil, if this was all about giving someone a job, I'd give you a job tomorrow.

Right? But coming into business with me, I'm afraid not, my friend. I'm sorry.

I'm disappointed and I'm sure even Nick and Karren will be disappointed, but, Neil...

It is with regret that I have to say to you that...

-You're fired.

-Thank you for the opportunity.

What I'd like to do now, actually, is to have a final chat

with Karren and Nick

and I'm going to come to some conclusions as to who the finalists will be.

-Off you go.

-Thank you.

It is a shame his business plan was flawed.

Well, I'm sorry for you, Alan, because I know you're genuinely disappointed.

I feel like I've let not just Lord Sugar, but obviously my family and my wife down.

I'm absolutely heartbroken by it.

It's the first time I've ever had a tear in my eye and it won't be the last one tonight

because I put absolutely everything in to try and win this.

I'm the right man without a plan and that is really gutting.

The girls in the final three are very different characters,

-but what unites them is that they each have got a very credible business plan.

-That is true.

Three bright businesswomen. Luisa is a clever lady. Three successful businesses - that's a good record.

As far as Francesca is concerned, she's a very stable person.

She's very focused, very business-like, a very likeable person.

It's always the same. Late in the day, somebody comes streaking up on the rails

and this year, her name is Leah.

Extraordinary.

-Can you send the three of them in?

-'Yes, Lord Sugar.'

-Thank you.

Lord Sugar will see you now.

Well, ladies, you've all done extremely well to get this far.

There's no question of that. But one of you has got to go today.

Leah, where I need really convincing

and I believe you when you say that you are a very ethical and responsible person,

but do you understand the severity of something going wrong?

I have huge professional integrity. I won't Botox any Tom, Dick and Harry to make a few quid.

-Why should I expose myself to this big risk? I'm being honest with you.

-No, I...

-It is a tremendous risk.

-I know. I do take that on board.

-I like a fight myself.

-I don't.

-I like a fight, but do I need the aggravation?

-No, you definitely don't.

I have trained for far too long to risk my registration on making a quick buck off someone's face.

You can talk as fast and as long as you want, but you can do far more damage than one of her cupcakes.

-That's all I can say.

-But I'll also make far more money than selling a few of her cupcakes.

-Agreed.

Francesca, how do we scale this business up? How are you going to make this big?

The dance fitness industry is booming, the likes of Zumba, Bokwa, Boogie Bounce.

Village halls are packed with 75 to 100 people. A massive market of people are willing to pay.

-It's not just one studio. It becomes a chain and it grows as a brand. That's how it scales up.

-Hmm.

And, Luisa,

my worry about you is that you're somebody who likes to get her own way

and maybe is a little bit of a game player. What do you say about that?

I'm very strong-willed, I'm a very strong woman and I know what I want in life.

When I want something, I go and get it. It's why I'm sitting here now.

I have proved to you I can work well in a team.

If you asked the two ladies here, they'd say I can work in a team.

-Can she work in a team?

-Yeah, 100%. Yeah.

Yeah...

I think at the beginning I felt that Luisa was playing games.

At this point, she isn't playing games and she's here now on merit.

This is one of the most critical points in this process.

Leah, you have got that unusual quality of being a good business person,

but at the same time, a scientist and a doctor

which is a very unique combination, I have to say.

On the moral aspects, you've done a good job of explaining it to me.

It's in my head now that I have to worry about how I would handle it, but it is a concern.

It is a concern.

Francesca, clearly you have the enthusiasm and the drive and the personality

to run one of these places.

But I haven't seen much inspiration and leadership skills

and it hasn't been explained to me how it can scale up, you didn't do that too well.

And, Luisa, there is a growing market for this.

My worry with you is you.

Do I need the aggravation of somebody who is not going to listen,

doesn't like it when they're told to do something else?

Not really.

You know, not really.

But he'll tell you, he knows me for a long, long time.

He knows I'm a little bit of a devil, a little bit of a gambler and a risk-taker.

And as a gambler, the challenge and the excitement of the prospects

of what is being proposed to me by...

..Leah...

I'm going to say, Leah, that you're in the final.

OK?

Thank you.

Um...

Francesca...

The... The dance studio...

has got legs.

Luisa...

It's a consumer product and I've done a lot of work in the consumer industries.

A difficult decision here, ladies.

One which, you know, I might live to regret.

But...

Francesca...

-You're fired.

-Thank you for your time.

-I wish you the best of luck.

-Well done. Good luck.

Oh, my God!

-I can't believe it.

-Ladies, congratulations. You're in the final.

-Off you go.

-Thank you so much.

HE CHUCKLES

Well, interesting...

Two very different characters. Both girls could make money for you.

A good entrepreneur spots a gap in the market, as Luisa's done, or an emerging market, as Leah's done.

Both are very, very big risks for different reasons.

But life is all about risks. Let's see how they do in the final.

I can't tell you how pleased I am that your new business partner is going to be a woman.

I'm obviously gutted I didn't win,

but the final three, all girls, I'm really proud of myself.

-I literally can't believe it!

-Nor can I.

Oh, my God!

-Wow! I can't believe it!

-Nor can I.

May the best woman win.

Now two remain.

Lord Sugar's search for his next business partner continues.

Next time...

Your final task this week is to launch your business.

-Two candidates.

-Imagine that on a billboard!

-I think it's boring.

Guys, I need you both to be quiet now.

-One investment.

-Do we have a stethoscope? Can you get one?

-It's triumph...

-Good luck, yeah?

Thank you all for attending this evening.

Come on...

And tears in the final showdown.

You're going to be my business partner.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd