January 30th 2025.
One of the Apprentice candidates recently had to say goodbye to their chance at a £250,000 investment from Lord Alan Sugar. The task involved the candidates going to Austria to sell bike tours to tourists, and unfortunately for one contestant, Lord Sugar decided to say those dreaded words, "You're fired," in the first episode.
The unlucky candidate, Emma Rothwell, a 29-year-old online gift store owner from Essex, shared her disappointment with Metro about her early departure. "I was just like, I've let myself down," she said. "I've let everyone else down. I just knew I had more to give and could have fought for my place more."
Emma had bigger aspirations than just winning The Apprentice for herself. She wanted to represent everyday individuals in business and prove that being cut-throat and ruthless is not the only way to succeed. "I just really wanted people to see that you can be a normal person and be nice in business," she explained. "That you don't have to be fighting or nasty. I wanted to represent the normal people among us who have gone into business, but I didn't get the chance."
Despite her early exit, Emma wants to make it clear that she is not a wallflower. She believes that the show's editing may have portrayed her as quiet and lacking energy, but that is not the case. "I think I was perceived as being quiet, but I wasn't. I was energetic. There was even a scene with me using a megaphone to sell the tours," she said.
While Emma may have been the first candidate fired from the show, she holds no grudges and understands that the producers are creating a TV show. "They do a cracking job at it," she said. "I was happy to go out a hero without making myself look like an idiot. I'd rather go out on a high."
However, Emma does have one suggestion for the show, which has been on air for 20 years. She believes that the first candidate should be fired in the second week to allow them time to adjust to the competition. "It's going to sound very self-serving," she joked. "But I wouldn't let anyone go that first week as it's so overwhelming. They do it on Strictly Come Dancing, you get that week of grace, so I don't understand why they can't do it on The Apprentice."
As for her future plans, Emma will continue to pursue her business, Quirky Giraffe, which she pitched to Lord Sugar during the show. The online shop, which she started in her boyfriend's garage in 2020 during the pandemic, has been thriving, and she has no plans to slow down. "I do think people forget that I'm a human and I'm going to see their pictures," she said. "We've had all sorts over the years. But I've never said no: I'm a very open-minded person."
When asked about the most hilarious customer submissions she's received, Emma couldn't help but giggle. "I've seen a few bottoms," she said. "And I've seen people with chickens on their head."
The Apprentice airs on BBC One and iPlayer on Thursdays at 9pm. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, you can get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing them, calling their hotline, or submitting through their website. They would love to hear from you.
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