THE APPRENTICE fans have been left fuming as “serial loser” Phil Turner made it through to Week 9.
Phil has consistently been one of the worst candidates on this season of The Apprentice but has continually made it through each week, leading fans to believe the show is “fixed.”
What happened on The Apprentice this week?
This week, Lord Alan Sugar, 76, set the remaining ten candidates the task of creating an interesting and exciting advertising campaign for a brand new sustainable electric vehicle.
“You’ve got to create a brand name and logo, as well as a thirty-second advert,” he instructed.
Lord Sugar gave Team Nexus a campervan to target the leisure sector while Team Supream got the box van to target the business sector.
Because Noor hadn’t been a project manager yet, Lord Sugar insisted she headed up Supream, while Nexus voted for Paul to take the lead.
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However, Noor’s team, which also included Phil, Rachel, Tre and Foluso, became very unfocused under her leadership.
This led to expert Karren Brady calling Noor’s management “chaotic,” a sentiment echoed by fans.
While Noor focused on her video with assistance from Rachel and Tre, Phil and Foluso were left to name their company and create the logo.
Phil later claimed he had doubts about the “childish” logo in front of Lord Sugar but didn’t raise any issues to Foluso in their meeting, leading to fans calling him “incompetent.”
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However, according to Lord Sugar, it was Noor who really let the team down.
Lord Sugar teased a shock double firing
After meeting in the boardroom, Noor really dug her heels in about her video – which didn’t include anyone moving or driving the box van once, despite that being the thing they were selling.
“If I saw that van in that video, I would buy it,” she bragged to Lord Sugar.
But the business tycoon was so frustrated by her defiant attitude he said it felt like “banging his head up against a brick wall.”
In a shock move, Lord Sugar decided to fire Noor early, not feeling the need for her to pick two people to bring back into the boardroom with her.
After sending Noor packing, Lord Sugar then turned his attention to Phil, teasing a second firing.
“Phil. Eight tasks. Eight losses. Are you a serial loser?” Lord Sugar asked.
“At the moment, this is like a nightmare for you,” he added before giving the candidate a chance to defend himself.
“Lord Sugar, I believe I am easily one of the most capable people in this process,” he responded, which persuaded Lord Sugar to let him stay another week.
The Apprentice fans have lashed out at Lord Sugar, claiming the show is ‘fixed’
While The Apprentice viewers were happy to see the back of Noor, many felt Phil should have been heading home too.
Who is left in The Apprentice?
Those lucky enough to be still in with a chance of winning the £250K investment into their business are:
- Flo Edwards, recruitment consultant
- Foluso Falade, project manager
- Maura Rath, yoga company owner
- Dr Paul Midha, dental group owner
- Phil Turner, pie company owner
- Rachel Woolford, boutique fitness studio owner
- Raj Chohan, mortgage broker
- Steve Darken, management consultant
- Tre Lowe, music and wellness entrepreneur
The candidates who have been fired so far on series 18 are:
- Noor Bouziane, sales executive - WEEK EIGHT
- Virdi Singh Mazaria, music producer - WEEK SEVEN
- Sam Saadet, pre and post-natal fitness coach - WEEK SIX
- Onyeka Nweze, chartered company secretary - WEEK FIVE
- Jack Davies, recruitment director - WEEK FOUR
- Amina Khan, pharmacist and business owner - WEEK FOUR
- Dr Asif Munaf, wellness brand owner - WEEK THREE
- Paul Bowen, pie company director - WEEK TWO
- Oliver Medforth, sales executive - WEEK ONE
He seemed to survive Week 8 by the skin of his teeth, but fans think there’s more to it than that.
Tasking to X, formerly Twitter, after the episode, fans lashed out at The Apprentice, claiming Phil remaining in the series is “fixed.”
“Phil’s task failures being mentioned every time in the boardroom by Lord Sugar always has me sure he’s being fired. Convinced he’s the luckiest man alive,” one fan said.
While another suggested: “It’s so obvious why Alan Sugar isn’t getting rid of Phil, it’s because he already runs a business that is actually doing well.”
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A number of other fans piled on in agreement, implying that Lord Sugar might get a good return on his investment if it ends up going to Phil. But he’d need to stay in for a few more weeks before he could take home Lord Sugar’s £250k investment.
“Phil losing 8 in a row and still being there is special, let’s make it 9!” added another, who seems to be happy with the way things are going for Phil.