Like so many others I know, I’m a bit addicted to The Apprentice. I didn’t start watching it until a series or two ago but now it’s definitely a favourite.
But, I have to say, it pisses me off.
I have spent my entire adult life working with business people, the last 10 years of that, before I launched Designed To A Tee, focussed on entrepreneurs. Supporting them, helping find them, matching them up to funding.
And if even one of them had acted like these idiots on this show? They would have been laughed at.
But forget them in general and let’s look at the women in specific.
Because they are an embarrassment. To professional women. To entrepreneurs. To people.
Most of them with out of control hair, stabbing each other in the back, enough make-up to stock Boots 100 times over and, most importantly, not an ounce of business sense between them.
And after Rebecca Slater’s firing last night? It’s obvious that that’s what Lord Sugar and his co-horts want.
She wasn’t fired because she cost the team the task. Without her, they really would have lost the task.
She was fired because she was dignified, professional and presented herself well.
In other words, boring TV.
So it beggars the question: are you really looking for a business partner Lord Sugar? Or are you looking for a male business partner?
Because with Rebecca gone? The only contenders left are male.
I am the last person to yell “sexism”. If the right person for the job is male? Go for it, hire a man.
But if they only people available for the job who might be able to do the job are male because the women are unprofessional, screaming harpies? Then the deck is stacked.
And I think this deck is stacked.
Stacked so that the winner will be male. Because they haven’t selected any competent women. Well, they did. But then they fired her.
So, what’s the deal, Lord Sugar? Do you want a business partner?
Or do you want a TV show?
Because it would appear you can’t have both.