Sir Alan: ‘The Apprentice? I’d have walked it’
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Those people hoping for an episode of The Apprentice in which Sir Alan Sugar gets out of the boardroom and competes against the teams in one of the tasks will have to wait a little longer, sadly – but the grizzled former bugler has said a younger version of himself “would have walked it”.
Speaking to the Radio Times, Sir Alan added that he didn’t think personality is crucial to business success. “Yes, it’s important, but it’s not the biggest element of being successful – as I clearly demonstrate,” he said. “Likeability isn’t always a necessity in the cruel world of business.”
That "cruel world" will be claiming another victim or two this week, with the five remaining hopefuls being grilled by some of Sir Alan’s henchmen before Sunday’s final.
The one-time windscreen wiper salesman also explained his use of the phrase “with regret”, which he has taken to using when firing contestants.
“People often think that ‘with regret’ means I’m reluctant in my decision, or that the candidate warranted a place in my organisation,” he said. “It simply means that they’re a nice person and the term ‘regret’ is just there to soften the blow of being fired.”
In other news, Adrian Chiles, who hosts The Apprentice: You're Fired! on BBC Two - and, we should probably add, has no insider knowledge of the eventual winner - says he’s backing Yasmina Siadatan to win.
“She’s only been in the boardroom on one occasion,” said the presenter. “So even when she’s been on the losing side, she’s almost never been blamed for it. I think that says more than anything.”
Adrian does know his stuff – could it be time for a last-minute flutter on Yasmina?
by Will Parkhouse, Tuesday 2 June 2009
Source: Radio Times
