The BBC's festive offering of The Celebrity Apprentice has ignited a fierce debate among its audience, with a significant number of viewers claiming they turned off their televisions just minutes into the broadcast. The first of two Christmas specials, aired in aid of BBC Children in Need on Monday, December 29, failed to win over a portion of its audience, who quickly took to social media to voice their discontent.
Viewers Vent Frustration on Social Media
Shortly after the episode began, platforms like X (formerly Twitter) became a hub for criticism. A common complaint centred on the lineup of famous faces, with many viewers expressing that they found the celebrities unrecognisable. One user lamented the apparent lack of star power, questioning if the show had struggled to book well-known names. Another compared it unfavourably to other hit reality shows, suggesting it wouldn't reach the same heights.
The sentiment was echoed by others who admitted they were "really struggling to recognise any of the 'celebrities'" on screen. The confusion extended to comments about contestant Tom Skinner, with one viewer noting Lord Sugar himself seemed to voice a popular question about his celebrity status. For some, the stress of watching the teams' efforts proved too much, leading them to declare they were switching off.
Chaos in Lapland: The Task Unfolds
The episode transported twelve celebrities to a wintry Lapland setting. Lord Sugar divided them into two teams tasked with creating, branding, and selling a Christmas biscuit. Under the watchful eyes of aides Karren Brady and Mike Soutar, the teams had to develop a recipe, a marketing strategy, a jingle, and an advert before pitching to retailers.
The teams were as follows:
- Team One: Tom Skinner, Matt Morsia, Shazia Mirza, Angela Scanlon, Sarah Hadland, with project manager JB Gill.
- Team Two: Charlie Hedges, AJ Odudu, Jake Wood, Kadeena Cox, Eddie Kadi, with project manager Rob Rinder.
The initial brainstorming session descended into what Karren Brady described as absolute chaos. She expressed her bewilderment, stating she had never witnessed a brainstorm where "six people [were] all brainstorming their own idea, no-one listening to anyone else."
Biscuit Blunders and Divided Opinions
Despite the rocky start, the teams pressed on. JB Gill's group created 'Gary the Penguin', a gingerbread biscuit with a controversial bubblegum and white pepper flavour combination. Meanwhile, Rob Rinder's team opted for a vanilla and Christmas pudding flavoured biscuit named 'Jolly McTrouble', though their baking efforts resulted in slightly burnt offerings.
Not all feedback was negative. A contingent of viewers found the show highly entertaining, praising the casting and the hilarious dynamic between celebrities who appeared to dislike each other. One fan singled out Angela Scanlon for being particularly funny, proving the programme's ability to polarise its audience from the very first scenes.
With their products made, the celebrities enlisted help to film adverts and record jingles. The outcome of their sales pitches to retailers was set to be revealed in the second part of the special, airing on Tuesday, December 30. The Celebrity Apprentice remains available for streaming on BBC iPlayer.
