The Apprentice (British TV series) series 9

The Apprentice
Series 9
Promo group shot of Alan Sugar, Nick Hewer and Karren Brady standing before the candidates for series 9
Starring	Alan Sugar Nick Hewer Karren Brady
No. of episodes	14
Release
Original network	BBC One
Original release	7 May (2013-05-07) – 17 July 2013 (2013-07-17)
Series chronology

The ninth series of British reality television series The Apprentice (UK) was broadcast in the UK on BBC One, from 7 May to 17 July 2013. This series saw the task format return to its original arrangement prior to the seventh series. The decision to return to this original format layout meant that Alan Sugar could now get more in-depth knowledge of the finalists' business plans, unlike in the past two series, through arranging the final task towards them promoting their idea to both himself and a large selection of industry experts. Alongside the standard twelve episodes, with the first two aired within a day of each other, two specials were aired alongside this series – "The Final Five" on 8 July, and "Why I Fired Them" on 11 July.

Sixteen candidates took part in the ninth series, with Leah Totton becoming the overall winner. Excluding specials, the series averaged around 7.34 million viewers during its broadcast.

Series overview

Applications for the ninth series began in Spring 2012, with the selection process of auditions, assessments and interviews held within mid-Summer of that year. After the sixteen candidates for the final line-up were selected, filming began in October 2012. Following the past two series, production staff and Sugar returned the format of the episode schedule back to the original layout, prior to the seventh series. This decision was aimed at making the final task focused on assigning the finalists of the series with creating a brand for their plan, and pitching their ideas to a large group of experts, regarding their plan's intentions, cost and pricing details, how it would expand, and other notable business details, thus providing more in-depth information for Sugar to have available than provided by just the Interviews stage. In addition, Sugar brought back the use of exotic filming locations, with the global economic recession coming to an end, by arranging for one of his tasks of this series to be held within Dubai. Alongside these changes, Matthew Riley left the programme after two series, leading to Sugar replacing him with Claudine Collins for the Interviews stage.

In the first task, the woman named their team as Evolve, while the men named their team Endeavour. Of those who took part, Leah Totton would become the eventual winner, and go on to use her investment towards opening up a chain of cosmetic skin clinics, with her first being opened on 22 January 2014. One notable matter that arose during filming, was the discovery that Jordan Poulton had violated one of the rules regarding his application to the show, which prompted production staff and researchers to improve their thorough checks on applicants in future series to avoid further issues.

Candidates

Candidate	Background	Age	Result
Leah Totton	Doctor	24	Winner
Luisa Zissman	Retail Entrepreneur	25	Runner-up
Francesca MacDuff-Varley	Dance & Entertainment Entrepreneur	32	Fired after Interviews stage
Neil Clough	Regional Manager – Soccer Centres	32
Jordan Poulton	Business Analyst	26
Myles Mordaunt	Marketing Agency Co-Founder	39	Fired after tenth task
Alex Mills	Company Director	22	Fired after ninth task
Jason Leech	Historian / Property Entrepreneur	29	Fired after eighth task
Natalie Panayi	Recruitment Manager	30	Fired after seventh task
Kurt Wilson	Health Drink Entrepreneur and Health & Safety Manager	26
Rebecca Slater	Pharmaceutical Sales Rep.	35	Fired after sixth task
Zeeshaan Shah	CEO of Property Investment Company	27	Fired after fifth task
Uzma Yakoob	Entrepreneur & Make-Up Brand Owner	32	Fired after fourth task
Sophie Lau	Restaurateur	22	Fired after third task
Tim Stillwell	Mexican Food Entrepreneur	23	Fired after second task
Jaz Ampaw-Farr	Literacy & Education Company Director	41	Fired after first task

Performance chart

Candidate	Task Number
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Leah	LOSS	LOSS	LOSS	IN	BR	WIN	LOSS	IN	BR	IN	IN	HIRED
Luisa	LOSS	LOSS	LOSS	WIN	IN	BR	IN	LOSE	IN	WIN	IN	RUNNER-UP
Francesca	LOSS	BR	LOSS	IN	IN	LOSE	IN	BR	IN	IN	FIRED
Neil	IN	IN	IN	LOSE	LOSS	IN	WIN	LOSS	WIN	BR	FIRED
Jordan	IN	IN	WIN	IN	IN	LOSS	IN	WIN	LOSS	BR	FIRED
Myles	IN	IN	IN	IN	WIN	IN	LOSS	IN	BR	PM
Alex	IN	IN	IN	LOSS	LOSS	IN	BR	IN	PM
Jason	WIN	IN	IN	IN	IN	LOSS	IN	PM
Natalie	LOSS	LOSS	LOSE	LOSS	BR	IN	FIRED
Kurt	IN	WIN	IN	BR	LOSS	IN	PM
Rebecca	LOSS	BR	LOSS	IN	IN	FIRED
Zeeshaan	IN	IN	IN	LOSS	PM
Uzma	BR	LOSS	BR	FIRED
Sophie	BR	LOSS	FIRED
Tim	IN	PM
Jaz	PM

Key:

  The candidate won this series of The Apprentice.

  The candidate was the runner-up.

  The candidate won as project manager on his/her team, for this task.

  The candidate lost as project manager on his/her team, for this task.

  The candidate was on the winning team for this task / they passed the Interviews stage.

  The candidate was on the losing team for this task.

  The candidate was brought to the final boardroom for this task.

  The candidate was fired in this task.

  The candidate lost as project manager for this task and was fired.

Episodes

No. overall	No. in series	Title	Original air date	UK viewers (millions)
113	1	"Container"	7 May 2013 (2013-05-07)	7.25
Lord Sugar begins a new search for a business partner for 2013 amongst sixteen new candidates. In their first task, each team is given a container of imported goods, selling its contents around London by finding the right market for each product. The men manage reasonable sales throughout the task, despite having a weak team leader and one member wasting time sourcing a customer. The women face serious problems from complete disorganisation in their performance and a lack of sales strategy, with one half of the team making several mistakes that reduce the chance of making sales. A review of each team's performance soon reveals that the men secured a higher profit than the women, who are left to face scrutiny over their respective loss in the task. Of the final three, Jaz Ampaw-Farr becomes the first to be fired for her inefficient leadership, taking the role when she was not qualified to do so for this task and her lack of strategy.
114	2	"Beer"	8 May 2013 (2013-05-08)	6.64
Teams find themselves given control of their own brewery, in which each must devise a brand new flavour of beer and sell their creation to potential customers. Endeavour opt for creating a beer with a chocolate orange flavour, managing production efficiently and making reasonable sales after reducing the initial price of the beer, despite a problematic member and an oversight ruining two initial pitches. Evolve opt for creating a beer with a rhubarb and caramel flavour, yet despite selling great quantities of their creation, the team have to rectify manufacturing issues caused by one member and choose a number of poor marketing locations. A review of their performance soon reveals that Evolve's manufacturing mistake was costly, leaving Endeavour to win the task despite Lord Sugar finding fault with some of the team leader's decisions. Amongst the losing team, Tim Stillwell is dismissed for his weak leadership and failing on a task connected to his business proposal.
115	3	"Flat-Pack"	15 May 2013 (2013-05-15)	7.22
Each team is tasked with creating a brand new, unique piece of flat-pack furniture, pitching their design to independent retailers and business customers. Endeavour focus on a design for a chair capable of converting into a table with shelves, securing considerable orders for their product, despite making mistakes in their pitches over its target market, alongside facing questions over its styling and the heights of its legs. Evolve focus on a design for a cube-shaped table with multi-functional sides, yet while they provide a well-received presentation and find their design praised for its easy construction, the concept receives few orders due to criticism over its originality and styling. Endeavour are complimented over the orders they receive, leaving Evolve to face questions over their flawed product. Of the final three, Sophie Lau is ejected from the process for her lack of presence, demonstrating no notable skills, and making no significant contributions on tasks.
116	4	"Farm Shop"	22 May 2013 (2013-05-22)	7.69
Sent out into the countryside, each team is tasked with running their own farm shop, sourcing produce from local farms to turn into products for them to sell. Endeavour focus primarily on selling milkshakes alongside a sideline of fruit and vegetables, yet while they enjoy good sales initially, the team face issues from disorganisation and problematic members disrupting the efforts of the others. Evolve focus on selling soups, jacket potatoes and buffalo meat products, making considerable sales with their choice, despite much of the team disapproving of their team leader's strict budget control. In the boardroom, Endeavour face questions on their poor performance, as Evolve learn that their leader's decisions helped to secure them a healthy profit. Amongst the losing team, despite criticism towards their product choice and the team's leader, Uzma Yakoob is eventually fired for being responsible for the team's loss, her sales tactics in the task, and her weak performance on tasks.
117	5	"Dubai"	28 May 2013 (2013-05-28)	6.88
Candidates find themselves heading to Dubai to shop around for eight items required by a new multi million-pound hotel, seeking out bargains with each of their purchase. Evolve focus on researching their items before seeking them out, managing to secure six items, but with little negotiations thanks to their team leader handling these, while wasting time having to wait for one purchase to be made for them. Endeavour focus on searching the city from the start, managing to secure four items due to the lack of strategy from their leader, paying for the same thing twice, and purchasing an item that did not meet the specifications set out by the hotel. When they return to the boardroom, Evolve secure victory after Endeavour's mistakes cause them receive considerable fines that increase their total spend. Amongst the final three, Zeeshaan Shah is fired for his dictatorial leadership, along with his failure to bring back those who contributed to the team's loss, based on the accusations he receives from the other two.
118	6	"Away Day"	5 June 2013 (2013-06-05)	7.29
Each team is tasked with providing a unique corporate away day, managing costs with their client's £5,000 budget, while ensuring they provide a satisfactory service. Endeavour focus on offering an army themed away day, after ditching their initial concept, managing their costs and providing a variety of activities to partake in, despite having to make a partial refund due to disorganised planning and preparations and offering an unstructured event. Evolve focus on offering a school themed away day, yet the smoothing running of their event is compromised by having to make a partial refund due to the choice of activities they offer, with their costs being high due to the use of an expensive motivational speaker. Endeavour manage a better performance, leaving Evolve to face scrutiny over their service in the boardroom. Amongst the losing team, Rebecca Slater is fired for suggesting the ideas that contributed to her team's loss, and for demonstrating no other skills than selling.
119	7	"Caravan"	12 June 2013 (2013-06-12)	7.81
Teams head to the Motorhome & Caravan Show in Birmingham, with each selling a new form of caravan trailer alongside a line of caravan accessories to visitors at the event. Endeavour focus on selling retro-styled campers, roof-top boat boxes and hooded fold-able chairs, yet their accessories prove to be less popular and thus difficult to sell, while their choice of trailer makes no sales due to a lack of interest from visitors. Evolve focus on selling collapsible campers, electric bikes and children's camping kits, managing favourable sales due to the popularity of their accessories and a strong salesperson, despite the high prices they charge. Endeavour lose the task on sales figures, after Evolve win with their choices. Amongst the losing team, Kurt Wilson is fired for his awful leadership, the choice of products, his lack of sales, and his previous performance in tasks, while Natalie Panayi is dismissed for her poor excuses, her failure to secure the popular accessories, and her unimpressive track record.
120	8	"Online Dating"	19 June 2013 (2013-06-19)	7.48
Each team is tasked with creating a brand new online dating concept, complete with TV advert, and pitching their concept to industry experts. Endeavour focus their concept at targeting young business-people, producing a well-received advert, despite questions being raised on the advertising's tone and the design of their dating website. Evolve focus their concept at targeting over-50s, though the team were thrown into chaos when the chosen leader dropped out of the role and left another to take it over, resulting in their creation being poorly received after the experts criticise it featuring an incomplete website, and a poorly produced advert that focused on the wrong target market. Based on feedback from the experts, Lord Sugar deems Endeavour's concept the best, leaving Evolve to face a review of their performance. Amongst the losing team, Jason Leech is fired for abdicating as the team's leader during the task, failing to show assertiveness, and for demonstrating an unsuitable personality for business.
121	9	"Ready Meal"	26 June 2013 (2013-06-26)	7.30
Making a brand new type of ready meal is the basis of the next task, with each team seeking out orders from retailers upon pitching their creation to them. Endeavour design a brand aimed at children, yet while the taste of their meal is well received, they receive few orders due to criticism over the design of their packaging being deemed inappropriate for their target market. Evolve design a brand aimed at adult and featuring a fusion of two cuisine styles, yet despite criticism over the bland taste of their meal, they secure reasonable orders due to positive feedback on the appealing concept and packaging they create. In the boardroom, Evolve win the task with the order total they achieve, leaving Endeavour to face scrutiny on the flaws of their meal concept. Amongst the final three, Alex Mills is dismissed for allowing himself to be convinced to go with a concept that was unpopular, making bad gambles, and demonstrating a lack of expertise and focus that his proposal required from him.
122	10	"Stall-to-Shop"	3 July 2013 (2013-07-03)	7.53
Both teams each receive £150 to start a new business with, selling whatever products they wish to offer over two days on the advice that they reinvest profits on products that are good earners. Endeavour lacka strategy for the task, having no focus on what products to sell, gambling on a product that fails to find a buyer, and making few sales, despite making some profit on a few pieces during the first day. Evolve focus on a clear strategy of selling fashion accessories, making good sales and performing well throughout both days, with the exception of the second day when they drop prices and choose a product that fails to sell. In the boardroom, Endeavour face criticism over their performance and lack of strategy on the task, after Evolve accumulate a strong income with their sales. Although the losing team is deemed equally responsible for the loss, Myles Mordaunt is ejected from the process for his poor and indecisive leadership, his bad decisions throughout the process, and for offering an unappealing business proposal.
123	SP–1	"The Final Five"	8 July 2013 (2013-07-08)	3.39
As this year's series of The Apprentice draws closer to its finale, this special episode takes a look at profiling the true story behind the five remaining candidates. Discussing their backgrounds, experiences, personality, and strengths and weaknesses, are a selection of each candidate's friends, family and colleagues, as well as Lord Sugar's aides, Nick Hewer and Karren Brady.
124	11	"Interviews"	10 July 2013 (2013-07-10)	8.24
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 member faces scrutiny over their backgrounds, work experience, track record, and business proposals when questioned by interviewers. Feedback to Lord Sugar, alongside observations by his aides, leads him to dismiss Jordan Poulton for offering an illegitimate proposal, Neil Clough for an unsuitable proposal, and Francesca MacDuff-Varley for offering a proposal with flaws in its financing structure. Of the remaining two, Leah Totton is praised for her academic background and business skills, despite concerns on her proposal, while Luisa Zissman is given credit for her past business success, despite issues with her proposal, behaviour and motive for the investment.
125	SP–2	"Why I Fired Them"	11 July 2013 (2013-07-11)	N/A
As the final looms, Lord Sugar takes a look back to the tasks he set for this year's series of The Apprentice. From making beer and new ready meals, to bargain hunting in Dubai and selling caravans in Birmingham, he relives all of the mistakes, doomed decisions, and other notable events that occurred during the process, and provides his reasons behind each firing he made amongst the candidates for the process, which ultimately whittle them down to the two finalists for this series.
126	12	"The Final"	17 July 2013 (2013-07-17)	6.74
After facing a multitude of business tasks and a tough interview, the two finalists, aided by old friends, face the task of presenting their business proposal to an audience of business and industry experts, detailing key areas in it – its name, its goals, its target market, and its business structure. Luisa works to present her plans for an online bakery trade website, which is well received, despite her not being prepared for her presentation and facing raised concerns over her target markets. Leah works to present her plans for a cosmetic surgery chain, providing a smooth presentation, but faces concerns over the brand name, her pitching style, and her target market. Based on feedback from these presentations, Lord Sugar deems that Leah Totton will be his new business partner for 2013 for providing a proposal with lucrative rewards, leaving Luisa Zissman to finish as runner-up due to giving a weaker presentation, offering unappealing profit margins, and raising concerns over how focused she would be with her proposal. Notes: This episode was originally broadcast as part of a two-hour crossover special with the programme's sister show, You're Fired. After the crossover special, this episode was broadcast separately in subsequent repeats.

Controversy

Jordan Poulton's application

As part of the format's rules since the seventh series for applications to The Apprentice, the producers make clear that any participants who enter the contest must not include any company(s) to their business plan if they do not have either ownership or co-ownership. When Jordan Poulton applied for the programme, production staff hadn't properly checked his application, which showed that he had named a company in his business plan that was not his, a fact that was not noticed until the interviews stage of the contest, when Claude Littner discovered the staff's oversight. Although Poulton's involvement in the programme was broadcast, despite this oversight, he later admitted on Twitter, while thanking his supporters, that he had been "naive" and apologised for "wasting everyone's time".

Ratings

Official episode viewing figures are from BARB.

Episode no.	Airdate	Viewers (millions)	BBC One weekly ranking
1	7 May 2013	7.25	7
2	8 May 2013	6.64	8
3	15 May 2013	7.22	4
4	22 May 2013	7.69	2
5	28 May 2013	6.88	2
6	5 June 2013	7.29	2
7	12 June 2013	7.81	3
8	19 June 2013	7.48	4
9	26 June 2013	7.30	5
10	3 July 2013	7.53	5
11	10 July 2013	8.24	1
12	17 July 2013	6.74	2

Note: During the 2-hour final, the show was shared with The Apprentice: You're Hired, and as a result the figures are lower than usual. The first hour was the main show whereas the second hour was You're Hired.

Specials

Episode	Airdate	Viewers (millions)	BBC One weekly ranking
The Final Five	8 July 2013	3.39	29
Why I Fired Them	11 July 2013	—	—

External links

• The Apprentice at BBC Online