The Apprentice (UK TV series)

] It was also mocked in the BBC impressionist programme "Dead Ringers", in which Sir Alan Sugar turns fired contestants into frogs and the candidates are portrayed as failed applicants of "Strictly Come Dancing" and "Big Brother" who are seeking their 15 minutes of fame. [cite web |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0313056/episodes#season-5 |title=Dead Ringers Episode Guide-Series 5, Episode 2|publisher=IMDb.com|accessdate=2007-05-18] Several parodies have been uploaded onto the popular video publishing website, YouTube, notably Michael Sophocles' overexaggerated celebration in Sir Alan's boardroom from Series 4.Rory Bremner did an impression of Sir Alan on the show Bremner Bird and Fortune, he was in the board room with the main London Mayoral candidates, Boris Johnson, Ken Livingstone and Brian Paddick, after all of the candidates failed to get a single vote according to his results, he hired himself for the job claiming "He would make a profit on City Hall"

In early 2007, the show was mocked in the television programme "Kombat Opera Presents The Applicants". [cite news |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article1464145.ece |title=How does sir like his TV? Overcooked? |accessdate=2007-05-18 |publisher=The Sunday Times |date=2007-03-04 |last=Gill |first=AA] The series has been lampooned on the Boleg Bros website, where it is shot in Lego. [cite web |url=http://www.bolegbros.co.uk/apprentice3/Index.asp |title=You're Fir3d |publisher=Steve and Mike Boleg|accessdate=2007-05-18] Paul Merton and Ian Hislop also parodied the show during a promotional advert for the 2007 and 2008 series' of "Have I Got News for You". [cite episode | title = Have I Got News For You: Promotional trailer |series = Have I Got News for You | serieslink = Have I Got News for You |airdate=2007-04-09 |series=33 |number=1]

In June 2007, shortly after the conclusion of Series Three of "The Apprentice", rival UK channel ITV began airing "Tycoon", described in "The Times" as "a shameless rip-off of The Apprentice". [cite news |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article1955417.ece |title=Last night’s TV |publisher=The Times |date=20 June 2007 |accessdate=2007-08-31] Mark Thompson, The BBC's director general, accused ITV of "copycatting" and said that "Tycoon" was "very like The Apprentice, and there's possibly a bit of Dragons' Den in there". [cite news |url=http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,,2117447,00.html|title='ITV are copycats,' says BBC|first=Tara|last=Conlan|accessdate=2007-10-17 |publisher=The Guardian |date=2007-07-03] The series followed "Dragons' Den" star Peter Jones' search for a new business tycoon. [cite news |first=Joanne |last=Oatts |title=Peter Jones and the 'Tycoons' |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/realitytv/a58129/peter-jones-and-the-tycoons.html |publisher=Digital Spy |date=2007-07-07 |accessdate=2007-08-31 ] It proved relatively unsuccessful and was removed from a prime time slot on Tuesdays after achieving fewer than 2 million viewers, over 2.5 million below the channel's average. [cite news |first=Neil |last=Wilkes |title=ITV yanks 'Tycoon' from prime slot |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a63023/itv-yanks-tycoon-from-prime-slot.html |publisher=Digital Spy |date=2007-06-27 |accessdate=2007-08-31 ] The final episode attracted just 1.3 million viewers.cite news |first=Neil |last=Wilkes |title=Series low for 'Tycoon' finale |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a67519/series-low-for-tycoon-finale.html |publisher=Digital Spy |date=2007-07-24 |accessdate=2007-08-31 ] The programme's winner, Iain Morgan, won a prize of over £200,000. [cite news |first=Daniel |last=Kilkelly |title=Iain Morgan is winner of 'Tycoon' |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/realitytv/a67431/iain-morgan-is-winner-of-tycoon.html |publisher=Digital Spy |date=2007-07-24 |accessdate=2007-08-31 ]

In an edition of "Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe", Brooker attacked "The Apprentice" by doing his own version of a similar programme, with Brooker taking on the role of a Sugar-like character, but dressed in a crown and gown. Instead of saying, "You're fired", he said, "You're fucked", at the contestants. [cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RsLY5b1GcI|title=Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe Special - Preview - BBC Four|publisher=BBC, on YouTube|date=2007-10-19|accessdate=2008-05-22]

Merchandise

The beginning of the third series saw the launch of a weekly podcast called "The Apprenticast", and a radio programme on BBC Five Live, both hosted by former Blue Peter presenter Richard Bacon and running for thirty minutes. [cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/programmes/apprentice.shtml?focuswin |title=The Apprentice on Five Live |accessdate=2007-07-23 |publisher=BBC Five Live] Both programmes featured former candidates being questioned by members of the public, comedians, and those who work in business. [cite web |url=http://www.somethinelse.com/project/theapprentice/18689.html |title=The Apprentice on Five Live |accessdate=2007-07-24 |publisher=Somethin’ Else] Critics have commented that Bacon's performance is better than that of Adrian Chiles, who presents the similar, but television-based, programme "" cite news |first=John |last= Plunkett |title= The Apprentice - series three, episode 11 |url= http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/organgrinder/2007/06/the_apprentice_series_three_ep_10.html |publisher=The Guardian |date=6 June 2007|accessdate=2007-07-24 ]

On 10 February 2005, Sir Alan Sugar released a book to coincide with the first series, called "The Apprentice: How to Get Hired Not Fired". [cite book |last=Sugar |first=Alan |authorlink=Alan Sugar |title=The Apprentice: How to Get Hired Not Fired |publisher = BBC Books |date=2005-02-10 |isbn=0563522380 ] On 16 February 2006, the book was revised with additional information relating to the second series. [cite book |last=Sugar |first=Alan |authorlink=Alan Sugar |title=The Apprentice: How to Get Hired Not Fired |edition=2nd edition |publisher = BBC Books |date=2006-02-16 |isbn=0563493372 ] An official magazine was first released on 23 May 2007.cite web |url=http://www.athomemagazine.co.uk/apprenticemagazine/ |title=The Official Apprentice Magazine |publisher= At Home Magazines |accessdate=2007-05-16] It includes items about business, interviews with candidates from the programme and other "Apprentice"-related features. [cite news |url=http://www.athomemagazine.co.uk/ss_viewarticlecall16.php?id=1046 |publisher=The Apprentice Magazine |title=The winner |accessdate=2007-07-14] [cite news |url=http://www.athomemagazine.co.uk/ss_viewarticlecall16.php?id=658 |publisher=The Apprentice Magazine |title=Time to shed some pounds? |accessdate=2007-07-14] [cite news |url=http://www.athomemagazine.co.uk/ss_viewarticlecall16.php?id=602 |publisher=The Apprentice Magazine |title=Where are they now? |accessdate=2007-07-14]

"The Apprentice" has included various pieces of classical and popular music throughout. Numerous pieces from film soundtracks are also used. Examples of the music used include the opening theme (which is "Dance of the Knights" from "Romeo and Juliet" by Prokofiev) and "The Boardroom", "You're Fired" and "Closing Credits" from "The Apprentice (Original Theme)" by Dru Masters. An official soundtrack was released on 4 June 2007. [cite album-notes |title=The Apprentice |bandname=Dru Masters |year=2007 |first=Dru |last=Masters ]

References

External links

*bbc.co.uk|id=apprentice|title="The Apprentice"