Margaret Mountford will make her return on The Apprentice final tonight and one person glad to have her back was her former co-worker Nick Hewer.

The pair acted as joint advisors to Lord Alan Sugar in previous series’ of the BBC One reality TV show, until she decided to step down and concentrate on her phD and was replaced by younger businesswoman Karren Brady.

Speaking to The Daily Mail, PR expert Nick admitted that he misses Margaret and hasn’t managed to build such a close relationship with her replacement.

“Ah, the blessed Margaret. I think she’s very special,” Hewer said. “It may have something to do with the length of time I’ve known her… It may be because we’re nearer in age. It may be because we’ve shared experiences when working for Sugar.

“But Karren’s no slouch. We have a cordial relationship… We’re different ages and from different backgrounds. Karren’s got her children, her husband, her own set.

“Margaret and I used to go out to dinner because both of us were kicking around London on our own. We were two lonely old people with white hair and we bounce off each other quite well mentally.”

Mountford announced her decision to step away from TV work after the fifth Apprentice series in 2009, because she wanted to pursue her PhD in papyrology.

Commenting on her decision, Hewer added:

“I think Margaret genuinely had to get on with her PhD. I don’t think she was as attracted to the money as much as me. She made a lot more as a lawyer than I did.”

Margaret is set to make a bit of a fool of Northern Irish candidate Jim Eastwood tonight, as she blasts him for his constant use of clichés.

View the original post The Apprentice 2011 Final: Nick Hewer doesn’t connect with Karren Brady as he did with Margaret Mountford! on Unreality TV

Vincent Disneur

Vincent Disneur is so conceited that he has suggested Karren Brady may have fancied him, as he competed on BBC’s Apprentice.

The 29 year old sales manager from Cantebury told The News Of The World that he had to warn all the show’s female candidates that he was married while they lived together in the London mansion, in case they fell for him while he competed for the chance to work with Lord Alan Sugar.

Obviously believing that no-one is immune to his charms, Vincent added that even Karren enjoyed his flirty nature, when she observed his team during tasks.

He said:

“I am hot stuff, an attractive man, and I had to be careful not to break any hearts during my time at The Apprentice.

“From Day One, I made sure the girls knew I was married and romance was not on the cards.

“I do flirt but it’s a business skill. I know Karren had a pop about my flirting but secretly I think she loved it.”

Karren found the whole suggestion preposterous laughed:

“I find it highly amusing Vincent thinks I fancied him! He’s delusional. I’ve told my husband and he can’t stop laughing either.”

View the original post The Apprentice 2011: Vincent Disneur thinks Karren Brady fancies him! on Unreality TV

Karren Brady says the format change on this year’s ‘The Apprentice’ will attract more “driven” contestants.

The winner of the 2011 series will be awarded £250,000 from Lord Alan Sugar to set up a new business with him and viewers are told to expect more experienced individuals who aren’t as sales-driven as previous hopefuls.

Karren, Alan’s assistant on the show, said: “I think somebody who wants to own their own business has a different sort of personality to somebody who wants to work in somebody else’s business.

“I think that you’ll find that they’re far more driven individuals that have invented things, have run their own businesses and have managed businesses.”

The businesswoman went on to describe how the show will differ from previous series, with the tasks particularly focussing on making money from scratch.

She continued to Digital Spy: “The tasks will be all geared to starting up a business, setting up a business, coming up with an idea for a business. It’s going to have a really different feel about it, because it’s going to be focused much more on how you make money out of an idea.”

The 41-year-old executive also talked of the upcoming ‘Junior Apprentice’, saying she’s confident the show will continue to get high ratings despite other reality TV shows such as ‘The X Factor’ airing.

She said: “Obviously, they’ll be on different nights… when you’re staying at home to watch TV, I think you get used to a pattern of sitting down as a family to watch and you enjoy it.

That’s why ‘The X Factor’ is so popular and that’s why ‘The Apprentice’ is so popular, really. Being the junior one, it is really great family viewing.”

In previous seasons of ‘The Apprentice’, candidates have competed for a job within one of Alan’s companies.

View the original post Karren Brady is looking forward to The Apprentice 2011 on Unreality TV

Dragons’ Den star Duncan Bannatyne has suggested that show bosses sack millionaire James Caan from the lineup and replace him with Apprentice star Karren Brady.

Bannatyne has insisted that the BBC needs only him and Peter Jones on the show, adding that the rest of the panel including Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis are completely replaceable.

He told The Sun:

“Only me and Peter are integral to the show. Anyone else could go.

“James Caan never gelled with the rest of us and it’s got nothing to do with him starting later in the programme.

“I hope he doesn’t come back. I know they’re wanting to change things and mix it up, and I agree it needs it. A couple of dragons could do with being cut.”

He added: “Karren would be good in the Den. They’ve said they want more women. Deborah gets a lot of criticism. It really doesn’t seem to bother her.”

Duncan and James famously feuded last year after Bannatyne hit out at Pakistan-born Caan for having an ‘unfair’ business advantage because he has non-domiciled tax status. James hit back saying: ‘I do not apologise for my country of origin, Pakistan.’ He added that he would not invest with anyone who had a criminal record – a reference to Bannatyne serving a sentence in military prison when he was a teenager in the Royal Navy.

However, in this latest interview, Duncan claims that he and James are good friends….that explains why he is trying to oust him from the popular TV show! He said:

“We wind each other up and the rows in the Den are real. One argument was so bad they didn’t show it. But we are good friends.”

Duncan also admitted that he doesn’t think Theo Paphitis will be returning to the show.

He said: “He’s launching a big new lingerie company next year and he’s going to be very busy with that so I can’t see him returning, but I hope he does.”

View the original post Dragons’ Den: Duncan Bannatyne wants Karren Brady to replace James Caan on Unreality TV

The Apprentice star Karren Brady has told Hello magazine that she regrets going back to work so soon after her baby was born.

It seems that Karren was back at work just three days after having her daughter, Sophia, who’s now 14.

Karren told the magazine, “It was a mistake and most people would look on it with shock, as they should.

“When you’re young and in a career, you don’t think it will last a lifetime…

“You think it will slip through your fingers if you take time out.”

And Karren, who’s the vice chairman of West Ham football club revealed that she’s only been on holiday three times in the last 15 years.

She said, “On the rare occasion I did go away, I’d always be working, on my laptop or BlackBerry, and almost never left the room.”

View the original post The Apprentice: Karren Brady regrets working so soon after baby’s birth on Unreality TV

Karren Brady will make her Apprentice debut, as she takes her place at Sir Alan Sugar’s side for the upcoming Junior Apprentice series.

The soccer boss joined was hired by Sugar last year after Margaret Mountford left the show. Brady, who was appointed West Ham United’s vice chairman in January, will make her first appearance when the junior version of the show launches on May 12th.

The series will see 10 young contenders, five girls and five boys aged 16 to 17 years old, compete to become the winner of the title of the first Junior Apprentice.

Multimillionaire and self-made businessman, Sir Alan Sugar left school at 16 with no money in his pocket and no qualifications but, against the odds, he battled his way to the top.

Now he’s on the hunt for teenagers aged 16 to 17 who have the same potential, with drive, determination and raw business talent.

Candidates from all social backgrounds are being encouraged to apply – whether they are straight A students, from grammar or public school or have no academic qualifications.

Sir Alan said: “It is my long held belief that we should be doing more to promote enterprise amongst young people, as the future of our economy relies on them.

“I passionately believe that the key to business success lies in hard work and common sense and that we should encourage our young people as much as possible.

“Understandably, the contestants won’t have any previous business experience, but all I want to see from them is an entrepreneurial aptitude and an enthusiasm to succeed.”

View the original post Karren Brady joins BBC’s Junior Apprentice on Unreality TV

The BBC have replaced Sir Alan Sugar’s right hand woman, Margaret Mountford with Karren Brady .

Mountford announced her decision to leave The Apprentice during the last series of the show, claiming that she wanted to dedicate more time to academic studies.

T

Brady is currently the chief executive of Birmingham City Football Club and is already familiar with the show, having been chosen as team leader on a celebrity version back in March 2006. She also takes part in the interview round of each series, putting contestants through their paces and reporting back to Sir Alan.

“Lord Sugar has decided to appoint Karren Brady, who has appeared in The Apprentice before,” a Talkback Thames spokeswoman said.

View the original post The Apprentice: Karren Brady replaces Margaret Mountford on Unreality TV

We recently wrote that Margaret Mountford was leaving The Apprentice and today is has been reported that soccer boss Karren Brady, is favourite to take over the role.

The Birmingham City managing director already participates on the show during the interview stage, when she vets the hopefuls and passes her findings back to sir Alan Sugar.

An insider told The Sun: “Karren is as astute as Margaret – but with added sex appeal.”

Sir Alan’s adviser Nick Hewer has said he would be happy if either Karren or Celebrity Apprentice contestant Michelle Mone got the job.

He said: “I like them both very much. I’d be very happy to work with either of them.”

View the original post Karren Brady New Apprentice Guru? on Unreality TV

To raise money ten celebrities battle to build businesses that call for discipline, teamwork, creativity and hard work. Succeed and the team survives.

Fail and their celebrity status won’t save them, because the following day Sir Alan’s infamous boardroom beckons… and someone will get fired.

The Celebrities taking part in the show are:

* Danny Baker
* Karren Brady
* Jo Brand
* Alistair Campbell
* Cheryl Cole
* Rupert Everett
* Ross Kemp
* Maureen Lipman
* Piers Morgan
* Trinny Woodall

View the original post Comic Relief Does The Apprentice: The Celebrities Are… on Unreality TV