It was crunch time on the latest episode of The Apprentice as Lord Alan Sugar had to pick his final two candidates. But before the successful businessman made any big decisions, it was all about the highly-anticipated interview stage.
Brittany Carter, Harpreet Kaur, Kathryn Louise Burn and Stephanie Affleck would see their business plans scrutinised by Lord Sugar's most trusted expert advisors. The four remaining candidates met with publishing pioneer Mike Soutar, interior design agency boss Linda Plant, media agency chief officer Claudine Collins and, Lord Sugar's associate Claude Littner, who made a brief, but worthwhile return to the BBC One show after having to pull out of his aide role on the 2022 series due to a bike accident.
While Brittany's plan was to bring a high-protein alcoholic beverage to the market, Stephanie wanted to expand her marketplace for pre-loved designer childrenswear.
READ MORE: BBC Dragons' Den viewers say episode should have 'come with warning' over Steven Bartlett comment
But it was Harpreet, who is looking for investment in her dessert business, and Kathryn, who wants to take her matching pyjamas for the entire family, including dogs, business to the next level, who found themselves in the final two. Viewers of The Apprentice, however, were not impressed with Lord Sugar's potential new business partners.
@TellerMarie tweeted: "Honestly still wouldn't invest in the either of final 2...My cat & I could come up with better businesses to invest in. My advice to Lord Sugar is to save his mone."
"Probably the two weakest candidates ever to get through to the final! I honestly don't care who wins this year and I've never been like this before #TheApprentice," @BermondseyBob commented.
@KirstyLBx fumed: "Actually can’t even be a***d with the final now. Steph was the only one left with a UNIQUE business. The other two are already on the market. Mutiple times in fact. F****d it @Lord_Sugar #theapprentice."
"Sorry but this has been the worst series and final. I wouldn’t be surprised if Lord Sugar just calls it a day and sends them all home," @sophie_pillow wrote.
@Strummer07 added: "Two of the poorest business plans ever to grace #TheApprentice go through to the final show !! Good luck with investing a quarter of a million £££ into either of them #LordSugar !! #MassiveRisks."
However, many others were praising Lord Sugar for his decision.
@Roo_88 said: "The best two are through in my opinion. Well done @Lord_Sugar #theapprentice."
"Well done girls @kaggzlouise and @harpsikaur! i’ve been rooting for the two of you for weeks now, i think you both absolutely deserved to be in the final. and congratulations to stephanie and @brittcarter__ for making it to the final four! #theapprentice," @mxnovaleigh tweeted.
@novembernoush commented: "@Lord_Sugar do what you did last time and choose two winners!!.. well done to #Kathryn and #Harpreet - I don’t mind who wins but I think they should both go through!.. they’re both great!.. #TheApprentice."
"The best top two ever absolute QUEENS #TheApprentice," @jacklikethis added.
Meanwhile, The Apprentice viewers were quick to agree on a change that needs to be made ahead of the final and it has something to do with Lord Sugar himself - and the reaction of his aides Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell.
"Nah can we talk about how all the experts in the boardroom nearly tore muscles from laughing at Lord Sugar’s jokes I promiseee his one-liners aren’t worth more than breathing air out of the nose #TheApprentice," @treasure_o3 said.
@Hana_mck1 tweeted: "Can someone PLEASE tell Lord Sugar he is not funny. He needs to stop with the s****Y jokes for every single comment #TheApprentice."
"The way Karen Brady over laughs at all Lord Sugar’s awful awful jokes….it’s like she’s scared of getting fired herself #TheApprentice," @Kirstilouise88 commented.
@_Miimz_x asked: "Do they laugh at Alan’s jokes because they feel obligated? #TheApprentice."
"Alan Sugar’s jokes are lame… the fake laughter is making my skin crawl #TheApprentice," @ZEAmmor added.
