EVERYONE'S A WINNER
The Apprentice viewers furious as BOTH James White and Sarah Lynn win Lord Sugar’s investment
HISTORY has been made on The Apprentice with Lord Sugar crowning both finalists as winners - and viewers are furious.
Entrepreneurs James White and Sarah Lynn were each given £250,000 each from the multi-millionaire Lord after impressing him with their business plans for IT recruitment and confectionery.
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In a shock twist, when faced with the decision between the two candidates, Lord Sugar decided it was a dead heat, and picked both to be his business partner.
Viewers were left raging at the decision and flocked to social media to vent their spleens.
One wrote: "So Lord Sugar didn't a winner? No point in having a final then #TheApprentice"
Another said: "Well, I wasn't expecting that ending to #TheApprentice final!"
A third tweeted: "Fuming. Cop out. Waste of 10 week’s for me #theapprentice"
Throughout the final at London’s City Hall, both Sarah Lynn and James White had to overcome their nerves and pitch their business plans to Lord Sugar and his panel of industry experts, aiming to prove they have the potential to turn their businesses into big profit brands.
But, for the first time in 13 series, Lord Sugar decided to double his investment and go into business with both candidates.
In the final boardroom, Lord Sugar appeared undecided as he grilled both candidates on their business plans before asking for final guidance from his advisors Karren Brady and Claude Littner, saying: “It is quite obvious that there are two fantastically skilled people there.
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"Sarah is very eloquent, she knows her business inside out, although why she hasn’t done the commercial website properly, I don’t get.
"With James, a very, very crowded market, but he has proved that he can do it when he worked for someone.”
Claude said: “I think you have got a problem because, as it’s turned out, I think they’re both investable. With Sarah, I think you’ve got slow and steady, but with James I think you’ve got someone who’s going to go out and really go for it.”
Karren added: “But James is more risky. Sarah is an expert in her field; she spotted a gap in the market. She has all the skills an entrepreneur needs, but I mean, I don’t envy you.”
Lord Sugar fires three candidates during The Apprentice's semi-final
After hearing impassioned closing arguments from each candidate, Lord Sugar made his final decision.
He said: “James - crowded market, but I’ve had some experience with a similar person of a similar age who is making a lot, a lot of money.”
“Sarah - sweets. I don’t have any experience of your business, OK. I’m going to say that I’m a gambler and I’ve always been a gambler in business.”
“This particular year, I’m going to double my investment… I’m going to start a business with both of you.”
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After learning of his win, James said: “I have always, since I was a young boy, looked up to Lord Sugar as a businessman, and to now be his business partner is literally a dream that I’ve always had and for that dream to come true… it’s just very, very humbling.”
Why did Lord Sugar invest in Sarah?
“She’s a very steady business person who has already got a business going, has successfully run it and I think it’s ready to go like that!
"That’s the point, to scale it up. I have no idea about sweets, other than they break my teeth, but she’s the boss and all I’m going to going to do is make sure that we have the correct mentoring from a business point of view to make sure she stays on the right tracks.”
Speaking about her win, Sarah added: “It feels incredible. I’m just shocked and amazed and so proud that Lord Sugar found enough in both of us to make a double investment.
"The future is definitely sweet, and it’s going to be a great adventure.”
Why did Lord Sugar invest in James?
“He knows his business inside out.
"That’s what I think we found. When we spoke to him he knew all of the nooks and crannies – all of the speciality skills that are required in that business.
"I want to give him the opportunity now of becoming the boss.”
Speaking about his extra-large investment this year, Lord Sugar said: “Well, there I was. Torn, I just couldn’t choose between one or the other.
"The only fair thing to do was to choose them both. Thing is, it’s now going to cost me half a million pounds.”
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He added: “This is a historic moment I suppose, in the thirteen years we’ve been doing this. And it’s really because of what I said in the episode. I couldn’t make a decision, it had to be both of them! They were two genuinely great experts in their field and I’m looking forward to going into business with them.”
Both Sarah and James will be taking a break for Christmas before they discuss their new ventures further in the New Year.
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