Funny how different the contestants were in earlier series

[Oliver_W]

I've been watching a lot of older series of the Apprentice this summer (I forgot that's where Katie Hopkins came from!) and it's interesting how the contestants back then are different to more recent ones.

It's not quite a "C4 v C5 Housemates" thing, but back then there were a lot more Billy Big Bollocks types and fewer quirks and weirdos, newer ones seem to have generally more ... Personality?

I guess it's because virtually anyone can have a business idea, but it takes a certain type of person to rise to the top of the business world, which is where the older ones were from?

[Smithy]

Suppose in the older ones they were looking for a job, which anyone can do, now they’re looking for an investment in a business

[Oliver_W]

Suppose in the older ones they were looking for a job, which anyone can do, now they’re looking for an investment in a business

Yeah I think it's a combination of the end goal (job v investment), the recruitment (a lot of the earlier ones left high-flying jobs to go on the show), and also it eventually became a viable launchpad to attempt to gain fame, so I guess people might join for that purpose?

[Strictly Jake]

I think luiza zissman was on of the ones that started it. Bags of personality they knew we like searching people like her so they cast more people with that sort of personality. Whereas it was more just one big job interview to work for Alan sugar at the start and now it's a reality TV show.

I miss the apprentice hope it's back this year