The Traitors is sadly done and dusted for another year. Let’s face it – we needed it, didn’t we? I’m sure it’s not an exaggeration to say that the series has saved the reality TV genre.
However, we’re now reunited with an old terrestrial big boy – . Now, in its staggering 19th season, it feels like it’s been on our telly screens for eternity.
I was blessed to watch the first episode before it aired on One, and there were no surprises when the contestants were introduced to us individually.
Everything you’d expect from a typical Apprentice episode opener was right there. Swanky suits? Tick. Overconfident opinions about themselves? Tick. Karren and Tim looking suitably daunting? Tick, tick, tick.
But one thing that deeply troubled me was Lord Sugar’s very scripted jokes. The number of them was alarming, and I lost count within minutes.
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The Apprentice is back on our screens for a staggering 19th season (Image: BBC/Naked/Ray Burmiston)
The point is – the show was never this staged or deliberately unfunny. I can remember being terrified of Lord Sugar’s booming voice filling my living room – now he’s spurting out nonsense about air conditioning fans.
Perhaps it’s a new tactic to relieve tension in the boardroom, but I am already tired and weary after one episode. Lord Sugar is turning into the next Ted Lasso with the amount of one-liners he’s handing out.
They’re not even good jokes. The entire episode is filled with groan-worthy gags that struggle to land – mainly as they’re delivered in a desperate attempt to make us laugh.
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The Apprentice used to be my favourite time of year. I would spend 10 perfect weeks watching serious entrepreneurs fight tooth and nail to impress Sir Alan Sugar.
That’s not to say I don’t like a good-natured joke. I’ll roar with laughter if I see a contestant make a buffoon out of themselves – but Lord Sugar needs to tone it down on the cringeworthy one-liners.
As a loyal and dedicated fan, I’ll continue to watch the series, but I probably won’t care who wins or loses too much.
The Apprentice airs at 9pm on Thursdays on One and iPlayer