The Apprentice’s Karren Brady and Tim Campbell on the real Lord Sugar, ‘dire’ show tasks and a stern warning

“The second thing is, it’s very clear that the robustness of the process weeds out individuals who may not be in it for the right reasons.

“The brilliant production team presents us with a final list of candidates who we believe are really interested in the phenomenal prospect of getting Lord Sugar’s money and his mentorship, which I think is more important.

You’ve got to have a brain, you’ve got to have a business idea and you’ve got to have a viable proposition.

“You’re not going to get through just because you look good – there’s nothing wrong with looking good, but the reality is that in this show, if you come with a lovely suit and a lovely smile, it’s not sufficient to get you through.

“You’ve got to have a brain, you’ve got to have a business idea and you’ve got to have a viable proposition that Lord Sugar would think about investing into.”

Plus, of course, you’ve got to be able to withstand Lord Sugar’s famously forthright observations.

“I just think he tells it like it is,” says Tim. “He’s firm, but he’s incredibly fair in the boardroom.

“He was doing diversity and inclusion before anybody else was.

“He’s made it clear that his boardroom is all about people’s efforts and outputs, and I think that’s a great thing we should respect in both business and life.”

I’ve got to tell you, Alan really is very funny.

“I’ve got to tell you, Alan really is very funny,” adds Karren. “I love him personally. I’ve been on holiday with him.

“He’s been a very dear and long, long-time friend. At the time I went into the House of Lords, Alan was a Labour peer, and I asked him to walk me in.

“It’s unheard of for a Conservative peer to ask a Labour peer to walk them in, but he’s one of my closest friends.

“He’s so quick-witted. He’s great fun, but he doesn’t really go to events – you won’t see Alan in Hello magazine!”

“I’ve also seen his softer side with some of the candidates,” adds Tim.

“When they leave and he offers them an opportunity to connect with him later, that’s a heartfelt thing from him – he legitimately wants to stay in contact with people who have really impressed him throughout the process.”

“And when West Ham beat Spurs, he has a little tear in his eye!” laughs Karren [Lord Sugar supports Tottenham Hotspur FC and was chairman and part-owner of the club from 1991 to 2001].

Alan does The Apprentice because he enjoys it, he loves helping young people.

“Alan does The Apprentice because he enjoys it, he loves helping young people, he loves taking business into people’s living rooms, educating the group of young people.”

This series has had more than its fair share of cringe-inducing moments from the candidates – and eye rolls from Karren – so is it hard for her and Tim not to step in when it’s all falling apart?

“The advertising task was particularly dire this season,” says Karren. “I was thinking: ‘This couldn’t possibly get any worse.’

“But we don’t step in because Alan doesn’t want to give us a quarter of a million pounds.”

The Apprentice makes sense because of Lord Sugar. He is The Apprentice.

And would either of them take over from 78-year-old Lord Sugar in the boardroom if he chose to retire?

“No, I’ve always said to Alan: ‘When you leave, I leave,’” says Karren. “I do this show for him.

“I’ve been approached by the big reality shows, but I wouldn’t do any other TV as I have a full-time job.”

“Likewise,” says Tim. “The Apprentice makes sense because of Lord Sugar. He is The Apprentice.”

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The Apprentice airs on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.