Apprentice Candidates Engage in Heated Boardroom Confrontation
Two contestants from the BBC's entrepreneurial competition show The Apprentice were reportedly scolded by producers after a fierce battle in the boardroom over who should face elimination. The altercation, described as "World War Three" by sources, began during the boardroom deliberations and spilled over as the candidates returned to the BBC house where they reside during filming.
Verbal Bust-Up Between Levi Hague and Lawrence Rosenberg
Levi Hague, aged 33, and Lawrence Rosenberg, 28, were involved in a verbal bust-up as they prepared to face Lord Sugar again following a failed task. According to reports from The Sun, the duo squared up to each other, with shouting and swearing erupting in an ongoing row about "loyalties" as tensions ran high. The conflict was sparked when one candidate allegedly gave the impression they wouldn't bring the other back into the boardroom but then went back on their word.
An insider revealed: "It all came to a head at the house, one candidate was shouting and swearing at the other and producers had to speak to them both afterwards." A production source added: "The Apprentice is a competitive show, so moments of tension are not unusual on occasion. Viewers will see a moment where things get a little heated between Lawrence and Levi, but it was quickly resolved, with both returning their focus to reaching the end of the process." MailOnline has contacted Fremantle, the production company behind The Apprentice, for comment.
Lord Sugar Defends Show's Relevance Amid Renewal
This incident comes as Lord Sugar, the 78-year-old British businessman who has fronted the BBC show for over half a century, defended its relevance and confirmed its future. In an interview with Radio Times, ahead of the 20th series, Lord Sugar insisted that The Apprentice remains a hit with teenage fans and has been renewed for three more years. He stated: "Every single year I get a new generation of youngsters, 13- or 15-year-olds, tuning in. The 15-year-old of 20 years ago is now 35. If you said to him, 'Do you watch The Apprentice any more?' you'll get, 'No, it's s***. He talks a lot of b*******. He doesn't know what he's talking about'. But the new 15-year-olds are so in awe of it. And the show has created an awareness for business that's done a great service for young people."
Reflecting on the show's longevity, Lord Sugar said: "It's not down to me but we have agreed another three years. I guess there'll come a time when either I'm a bit knackered or viewers are phoning in and complaining that I'm like Joe Biden and losing the plot. The BBC will spend a few grand on some market research people and ask, 'Should we get rid of Lord Sugar or what?' But, at the moment, I love doing it because it's really about starting a business from scratch with young people." He also criticised modern consumer culture, suggesting it distracts young people from building businesses, and emphasised the importance of work ethic.
Recent Triple Sacking Shakes Up Competition
In a related development, the 20th series of The Apprentice recently witnessed a landmark triple sacking during an episode where candidates were tasked with organising a corporate away day in Egypt. After Megan Ruiter's team incurred a loss of $290 due to raw food and wet clothing issues, leading to 50% of clients requesting refunds, she brought back Carrington Saunders and Andrea Cooper to the boardroom. In a shocking move, Lord Sugar fired all three candidates.
When asked if she deserved to be fired, Carrington Saunders responded: "No, I don't, to be honest. I don't think I deserved to be fired. I made a mistake. The show isn't based on your cooking skills, it is based on your business skills. So, that's upsetting and also because I actually can cook! However, I suppose that the refunds were so high, it does make sense to an extent, but I don't think I really deserved it, no." Andrea Cooper added: "I don't think the reasoning for me being fired was accurate. I don't think I were negative. I'm not a negative person. I'm a very positive person. I feel that a lot of inexperienced people in business see it as being negative when actually it's just about being a business person. Really it's about profit and loss, trying to save money, trying to do other things that are a lot cheaper or free."
Megan Ruiter, the project manager, commented: "I think it's a tricky one. I think I deserved it in a sense, we did have a loss. I was the PM, there was a lot of fault on me, and I was a lot to blame. I was managing the task, so it's not ideal. But then also, I feel like I wasn't necessarily to blame for the refunds. If it wasn't for the refunds, we actually would have won the task and that amount of money that we secured from the client - that was down to myself, and for knowing the experience that I've got within the events industry."
The Apprentice continues to air on BBC One and iPlayer, with the show approaching its 25th anniversary as it remains a staple of British television, inspiring new generations of entrepreneurs despite occasional on-set tensions.
