Fans of The Apprentice have complained the show is morphing into a clone of Love Island filled with young wannabe celebs more qualified to get their kit off than run a business.
The BBC1 series, in which nine of the 16 hopefuls are in their twenties, was also blasted as “cringeworthy” and “car crash” TV, long past its sell-by date.
At least three of the contestants hoping to win £250,000 of Lord Sugar’s cash for their business have previously been in reality TV shows.
And many of them have posted swimwear shots on social media.
Kathryn Louise Burn, 29, emerged as the victorious project manager in Thursday’s first episode.
The online pyjama seller, appeared on The Island with Bear Grylls in 2017 and regularly posts pictures of herself in skimpy swimwear. Others sharing buff body shots include hotel worker Brittany Carter and bar owner Sophie Wilding.
Not to be outdone, male contestants, including strategist Akeem Bundu-Kamara and salesman Conor Gilsenan have also got in on the act.
Meanwhile, Navid Sol, who’s father is a millionaire has appeared in two reality shows – Channel 5’s When Rich Kids Go Skint and BBC3’s Eating with my Ex.
And this year’s oldest contestant, 48-year old American Amy Anzel, was on the first series of The Bachelor in 2002. In 2016 her theatre production company, Sunday Morning, went bust owing almost £1million.
Many fans moaned the first episode had them switching off. One said: “The Apprentice used to be good, when they had contestants who had some ability and tasks were interesting and varied.
“Now their selection process is geared to ensure a car crash every episode. It is simply too cringeworthy to even watch.”
Another said: “All look as if they’re auditioning to get on the reality TV gravy train. They’ve got their eyes on Strictly, Jungle, Celeb Masterchef, etc, the list of programmes for wannabes is endless.”
And a third said: “I used to love [it] but it jumped the shark years ago.
“None of them are any good, they just cast people they think will make good telly, either morons or people who could cause a row in an empty room.”
Asked if the show was now just for the young, Lord Sugar said: “No, not at all!
“We’re very, very fair in our candidate selection – people are there because they’ve got the right kind of acumen.
“People ask what would happen if I was a candidate and there’s an obvious answer to that: I would win. And I’m 74.”
And one diehard said: “Watching them jump through hoops for a chance to work with a cantankerous old git is television gold. Twenty more years please!”
