The Apprentice (British TV series) series 11

The Apprentice
Series 11
Promo group shot of Alan Sugar, Karren Brady, Claude Littner and the series 11 candidates
Starring
No. of episodes14
Release
Original networkBBC One
Original release14 October (2015-10-14) –
20 December 2015 (2015-12-20)
Series chronology

The eleventh series of British reality television series The Apprentice was broadcast in the UK on BBC One, from 14 October to 20 December 2015. Due to the 2015 General Election being held in spring, which Alan Sugar had ties to through his role in the House of Lords, the BBC postponed the series' broadcast until the middle of autumn. This series saw Claude Littner replace Nick Hewer as Lord Sugar's aide.[1] Alongside the standard twelve episodes, with the first two airing on consecutive days, the series was preceded by the online mini-episode "Meet the Candidates" on 6 October, with two specials aired alongside the series – "The Final Five" on 9 December, and "Why I Fired Them" on 16 December.

Eighteen candidates took part in the eleventh series, with Joseph Valente becoming the overall winner. Excluding the specials, the series averaged around 7.18 million viewers during its broadcast.

Series overview

As Alan Sugar had political ties to the 2015 United Kingdom general election due to his appointment within the House of Lords, the airing schedule for series 11 was postponed until the autumn, in order to adhere to the BBC's political impartiality rules. Due to Nick Hewer departing the programme following its tenth series, Claude Littner was brought in to replace him as Lord Sugar's aide, alongside series regular Karren Brady; Littner also served as an interviewer in the competition's penultimate episode.[2] In addition, Linda Plant makes her first appearance as an interviewer.

Eighteen candidates were selected to take part, and filming took place from mid-spring to early summer. The team names for this series were "Versatile" and "Connexus". This series is notable for being the first in which a project manager of the losing team was fired, and the only series to date in which a candidate (Selina Waterman-Smith) who was fired refused to appear on sister show You're Fired. The eleventh series also drew media attention over the departure of candidate Scott Saunders – while not the first to quit the show despite progressing to the next stage, media reports widely suggested that his sudden decision to leave caught producers by surprise.[3]

Of those who took part, Joseph Valente would become the eventual winner, going on to use his prize to start up and expand a plumbing business called Impra-Gas.[4] He would work together with Sugar to develop the company's business model for two years, before announcing his intentions to go solo and assume full control of the company in early 2017, with both men parting on good terms.[5]

Candidates

Candidate Background Age Result
Joseph Valente Plumbing business owner 25 Winner
Vana Koutsomitis Social media entrepreneur 27 Runner-up
Richard Woods Marketing agency director 31 Fired after Interviews stage
Gary Poulton Programme manager 34
Charleine Wain Hair and beauty salon owner 31
Brett Butler-Smythe Builder 28 Fired after tenth task
Selina Waterman-Smith Events agency owner 31 Fired after ninth task
Scott Saunders Senior account manager 27 Quit after ninth task
David Stevenson Sports marketing company owner 25 Fired after eighth task
Sam Curry Private tutor 23 Fired after seventh task
April Jackson Boutique owner 26 Fired after sixth task
Mergim Butaja Sales account manager 23
Elle Stevenson Operations executive 21
Natalie Dean Corporate account manager 25 Fired after fifth task
Ruth Whiteley Training consultancy owner 47 Fired after fourth task
Jenny Garbis Business management student 23 Fired after third task
Aisha Kasim Inventor and hair extensions specialist 30 Fired after second task
Dan Callaghan Fragrance retailer director 23 Fired after first task

Performance chart

Candidate Task Number
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Joseph LOSS IN WIN IN IN LOSS IN BR LOSE LOSS IN HIRED
Vana LOSS BR LOSE IN IN IN LOSS IN IN LOSS IN RUNNER-UP
Richard IN WIN IN IN IN LOSS IN IN WIN BR FIRED
Gary IN IN IN LOSS LOSS IN WIN LOSE BR BR FIRED
Charleine IN LOSS LOSS IN WIN LOSS IN BR LOSS LOSE FIRED
Brett BR IN IN LOSS BR WIN BR IN IN FIRED
Selina WIN LOSS LOSS BR LOSS IN LOSS WIN FIRED
Scott IN IN IN LOSE LOSS IN LOSE IN LEFT
David IN IN IN WIN IN BR IN FIRED
Sam IN IN IN IN LOSE IN FIRED
April LOSE LOSS LOSS IN IN FIRED
Mergim IN IN IN IN IN FIRED
Elle LOSS LOSS BR LOSS LOSS FIRED
Natalie IN BR LOSS LOSS FIRED
Ruth LOSS LOSS LOSS FIRED
Jenny LOSS LOSS FIRED
Aisha LOSS FIRED
Dan FIRED

Key:

 HIRED  The candidate won this series of The Apprentice.
 RUNNER-UP  The candidate was the runner-up.
 WIN  The candidate won as project manager on his/her team, for this task.
 LOSE  The candidate lost as project manager on his/her team, for this task.
 IN  The candidate was on the winning team for this task / they passed the Interviews stage.
 LOSS  The candidate was on the losing team for this task.
 BR  The candidate was brought to the final boardroom for this task.
 FIRED  The candidate was fired in this task.
 FIRED  The candidate lost as project manager for this task and was fired.
 LEFT  The candidate left the competition after this task.

Episodes

No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleOriginal release dateUK viewers
(millions)
1411"Fish Food"[6]14 October 2015 (2015-10-14)8.03
Lord Sugar searches for a new business partner from a pool of eighteen new candidates. For their inaugural task, each team must first purchase fish, before creating snacks with it to sell around London. Versatile opt for selling coley fish fingers and calamari and, while the former makes good sales, the latter is criticised for being low quality, with the team losing some stock due to a freezer malfunction. Connexus focus on selling salads and fishcakes and, while they make reasonable sales, the team face manufacturing issues, missing out on lunchtime trade; they also lack an effective pricing strategy. Versatile win the task, after Connexus barely break even. Of the final three, Dan Callaghan becomes the first to be fired for contributing to the production issues and for failing to make any sales.
1422"Advertising – Cactus Shampoo"[7]15 October 2015 (2015-10-15)7.41
This week's task is to create a new shampoo brand, complete with promotional campaign, before pitching their concept to industry experts. Versatile's target market is men, receiving praise for their TV advert and bottle design, despite issues with poor pitching and the experts criticising their digital billboard. Connexus' target market is women over 50, but experts dislike their presentation, TV advert and brand logo, despite praising their digital billboard. Versatile win the task, leaving Connexus to face questions over their performance. Of the final three, Aisha Kasim is fired for her dictatorial leadership.
1433"Cross-Channel Discount Buying"[8]21 October 2015 (2015-10-21)7.86
Lord Sugar gives each team a list of nine items to procure. One half of each team go bargain hunting in Kent, while the other half are despatched to France. Versatile's England sub-team manage good negotiation, yet their France sub-team fail to source bargains for their purchases. They also struggle to source one of the required items. Connexus fail to source two items, with the England sub-team overspending on one purchase, while their France sub-team experience in-fighting. Versatile secure victory thanks to strong negotiators, leaving Connexus to face scrutiny over their performance and lack of strategy. Of the final three, Jenny Garbis is fired for her lack of purchases, alongside her poor contributions to tasks.
1444"Pet Show"[9]28 October 2015 (2015-10-28)7.39
The teams head to the London Pet Show, each taking with them a selection of accessories and high-ticket items to sell to pet owners and visitors attending the event. Connexus opt for selling electronic cat toys, cat seat warmers, and large customisable cat beds and, while they manage good sales on accessories, their efforts are hampered by poor sales of the cat beds. Versatile opt for selling animal-themed balloons, T-shirts and dog bed sofas, receiving favourable custom on their accessories. Versatile manage to achieve high sale figures due to an efficient performance, leaving Connexus to face an in-depth review over their weaker figures. Of the losing team, Ruth Whiteley is fired for her lack of sales.
1455"Children's Book"[10]4 November 2015 (2015-11-04)7.40
Each team is tasked with creating their own children's book, including a written and audio version, and selling their creations to retailers around London. Connexus create a story about a dragon, but face issues from rushed production on the audio version, alongside concerns the literature is too complex for the task's specified age group. Versatile create a story about a bee, receiving good feedback on their creation and good sales from retailers, despite friction between some members of the team. In the boardroom, Versatile secure victory thanks to a last-minute sale, leaving Connexus to come under fire. Of the final three, Natalie Dean is dismissed for demonstrating a lack of maturity, poor pitching skills, and a weak track record in the process.
1466"Handy Man"[11]11 November 2015 (2015-11-11)7.67
Each team is tasked with running their own DIY business, securing work around London alongside contracts arranged by Lord Sugar. Versatile deliver poor quality work on jobs, and arrange a last-minute contract that pays little. Connexus make a good income and deliver good-quality work, despite wasting time on creating flyers; renegotiating the terms of one job; and doing unnecessary work for one contract. Connexus win the task, leaving Versatile to face criticism over their performance. Of the losing team, Elle Stevenson is fired for her non-existent leadership and dismal track record, Mergim Butaja is fired for his lack of maturity and experience, while April Jackson is also fired for her poor pricing strategy, and her lack of notable business skills.
1477"Discount Store"[12]18 November 2015 (2015-11-18)7.12
The teams are tasked with running their own discount shop in a Manchester shopping centre, reinvesting in products that sell well. Versatile focus on selling a mixed range of products, achieving good sales and investing in high value products, despite lacking a strategy and proper direction on the second day. Connexus focus on selling a variety of electronic items, achieving good sales on the first day, yet struggle to make more on the second day due to in-fighting. Versatile are praised for their strategy, securing them victory, while Connexus face questions around their performance. Of the final three, Sam Curry is fired for his lack of sales, his lack of presence in tasks, and demonstrating poor mathematical skills.
1488"Party Planning"[13]25 November 2015 (2015-11-25)6.92
Both teams become party planners, creating a fun-filled children's party on a £2,000 budget. Versatile create an outdoor activity party, but their performance is hindered by miscommunication within the team and poor negotiations when securing their chosen venues, while they also offer both a poor service and poor-quality gifts to their clients' guests. Connexus create a mini-Olympian party, negotiating well on venues and providing a quality service, yet face issues from in-fighting about the catering, and gambling on party bags that their client refuses to take. Versatile face criticism over their performance in the boardroom, after Connexus are praised for their well-received party. Of the losing team, David Stevenson is fired over his poor contributions on the task, alongside his lack of business tenacity and passion.
1499"Property Agents"[14]2 December 2015 (2015-12-02)6.98
Teams become property agents, selling mid- and high-end properties around London, making commissions on successful sales. Versatile sell properties being developed in Stratford and Lewisham, achieving sales on their mid-range properties, yet are hampered by a lack of information on the development of the high-end properties. Connexus sell properties in Canary Wharf and Clapham, achieving good sales of their high-end stock, but face issues selling the mid-range properties due to stumbling sales pitches and demonstrating a lack of knowledge on the properties' development. Although Connexus secure more commissions from their performance, the team are surprised when Scott Saunders chooses to leave over the heavy criticism of his overall performance. Of Versatile, Selina Waterman-Smith is fired from the process for her lack of sales, her immature attitude and her poor track record in tasks.
15010"Health Snack"[15]9 December 2015 (2015-12-09)7.07
Healthy eating is the basis of the next task, as each team comes up with a brand-new range of healthy snacks, pitching their creations to retailers. Versatile create a range of snack bars, but face poor feedback from consumer testing and retailers over the branding, the lack of nutritional information on the packaging, and the taste and texture of their snack. Connexus create a range of vegetable crisps made with dehydration and, despite good feedback on the flavours they offer during consumer testing, the retailers criticise the lack of the product's USP on the packaging and the overuse of olive oil in their snack's production. Lord Sugar expresses disappointment in the boardroom when neither team secures orders, leaving them all to face scrutiny over their performance on the task. Ultimately, Brett Butler-Smythe is fired for his poor leadership of his team, his poor pitching, and demonstrating limited business skills.
151SP–1"The Final Five"[16]9 December 2015 (2015-12-09)N/A
As the series finale draws closer, this special episode profiles the five remaining candidates. Discussing their backgrounds, experiences, personalities, and strengths and weaknesses, are the candidates' friends, family and colleagues, as well as Lord Sugar's aides, Claude Littner and Karren Brady.
15211"Interviews"[17]16 December 2015 (2015-12-16)7.47
After facing ten tasks as teams, the five remaining candidates now compete as individuals in their next task – a series of tough, gruelling interviews with four of Lord Sugar's most trusted associates. Each candidate faces scrutiny over their backgrounds, work experience, track record, and business proposals. Lord Sugar fires Charleine Wain for her inexperience and concerns about her proposal; Gary Poulton for his flawed proposal and failure to amend his corporate image; and Richard Woods for his evasive answers in interviews and questionable proposal. Vana Koutsomitis and Joseph Valente proceed to the finale, with Valente considered an ambitious businessperson with good expertise, despite financial concerns about his proposal.
153SP–2"Why I Fired Them"[18]16 December 2015 (2015-12-16)N/A
As the final looms, Lord Sugar takes a look back on the series so far. From an unexpected resignation and making disastrous health snacks, to shampoo branding and selling pet accessories, he relives all of the mistakes, doomed decisions, and other notable events that occurred during the process, and provides his reasons behind each firing.
15412"The Final"[19]20 December 2015 (2015-12-20)6.61
After facing a multitude of business tasks and a tough interview, the two finalists, aided by the fired candidates, launch their business proposals to an audience of business and industry experts. Joseph presents his plan for a new gas plumbing service, receiving good feedback from experts on his video advert, despite raising concerns over its name and logo design. Vana presents her plan for a new dating app with gaming features, with its advertising and logo design being well-received during her pitch, yet faces serious concerns over its target market and its financial strength. Joseph Valente is crowned winner, leaving Vana Koutsomitis finishing as runner-up.

Controversy

Selina Waterman-Smith

During and after filming of a series of The Apprentice, production staff are required to ensure that candidates partaking in that year's contest behave appropriately off-camera. However, Selina accused two other female candidates of bullying and also criticised the conditions candidates were kept in. She accused producers on Twitter during the series' broadcast of treating her as a "pantomime villain", and refused to take part in the sister show You're Fired after her dismissal.[20][21]

Richard Woods' health

As a rule for those applying to take part in The Apprentice, all medical information must be made available to production staff to assess if they can take part in the series without disruption. Following his involvement in the eleventh series, Richard Woods revealed in an interview that he had not disclosed certain information, allowing him to take part despite having suffered three mini-strokes and delaying a procedure to preserve the sight in his left eye. It was later stated that, despite his non-disclosure, production staff ensure all candidates nevertheless have access to good healthcare, and that the show's doctor had seen no issues with Woods taking part in the series.[22][23]

Ratings

Official episode viewing figures are from BARB.[24]

Episode
no.		 Airdate 7-day viewers
(millions)		 28-day viewers
(millions)		 BBC One
weekly ranking
1 14 October 2015 7.93 8.03 3
2 15 October 2015 7.22 7.41 7
3 21 October 2015 7.70 7.86 3
4 28 October 2015 7.25 7.39 3
5 4 November 2015 7.23 7.40 5
6 11 November 2015 7.57 7.67 4
7 18 November 2015 6.97 7.12 6
8 25 November 2015 6.65 6.92 6
9 2 December 2015 6.77 6.98 6
10 9 December 2015 6.91 7.07 5
11 16 December 2015 7.39 7.47 3
12 20 December 2015 6.52 6.61 10

References

  1. ^ Adam Sherwin (27 April 2015). "Apprentice series 11: Claude Littner to replace Nick Hewer as Lord Sugar's aide". The Independent.
  2. ^ "Claude Littner replaces Nick Hewer on The Apprentice". BBC News. 27 April 2015.
  3. ^ Daniel Welsh (30 November 2015). "'The Apprentice': Scott Saunders 'Quits Series, After Taking A Battering From Lord Sugar'". The Huffington Post UK.
  4. ^ Walker, Danny (21 December 2015). "The Apprentice winner Joseph Valente is a generous boss reveal staff, although they haven't seen him since win". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  5. ^ "Apprentice winners return to boardroom but Joseph Valente is missing after shock split from Lord Sugar". Daily Mirror. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  6. ^ "Fish Food, Series 11, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  7. ^ "Advertising – Cactus Shampoo, Series 11, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  8. ^ "Cross-Channel Discount Buying, Series 11, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  9. ^ "Pet Show, Series 11, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  10. ^ "Children's Book, Series 11, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  11. ^ "Handy Man, Series 11, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  12. ^ "Discount Store, Series 11, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  13. ^ "Party Planning, Series 11, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  14. ^ "Property Agents, Series 11, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  15. ^ "Health Snack, Series 11, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  16. ^ "The Final Five, Series 11, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  17. ^ "Interviews, Series 11, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  18. ^ "Why I Fired Them, Series 11, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  19. ^ "The Final, Series 11, The Apprentice – BBC One".
  20. ^ "Apprentice candidate Selina Waterman-Smith lashes out at the show – and says she won't go on You're Fired". BT.com. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018.
  21. ^ Danny Walker (29 October 2015). "'Hated' The Apprentice contestant Selina Waterman-Smith SLAMS the show saying that she's 'broken her contract' with the BBC". mirror.
  22. ^ "Richard Admits Medical Deception". NME. 16 December 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  23. ^ "Richard's Medical Lie". HuffPost. 16 December 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  24. ^ "Weekly Top 30 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
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