With Lord Sugar on the cusp of choosing his new business partner, this programme provides a chance to look back on the candidates who fell before the final hurdle, and the tasks that tested them to the limit.

From making beer and selling caravans to thinking up an online dating concept, this year's budding business partners have been pushed to breaking point. Lord Sugar takes us through the best, and worst, decisions made by this year's candidates, and explains how each week he decided who would hear the fateful phrase 'You're fired!'.

Why I Fired Them

Nick Hewer

Karren Brady

Lord Alan Sugar

Mark Halliley

The Final and You're Hired

Interviews

Week 1: Container is the first episode of the reality television series The Apprentice (UK) - Season 9.

Week 1: Container

Week 2: Beer is the second episode of the reality television series The Apprentice (UK) - Season 9.

Week 2: Beer

The candidates must come up with a unique piece of flat-pack furniture, before producing prototypes and pitching their products to retailers.

Flat-Pack

The fight for Lord Sugar's £250,000 investment continues with farmyard fun, as this task sees the candidates open their own farm shops. The hopefuls swap their high heels and city brogues for wellies as they set off to source stock from farms across the South East. One team decides to specialize in pricey buffalo produce, while the others try to churn a profit from premium milk. The teams divide to search the Home Counties for farm fresh produce, but some are left high and dry when they are sent shopping on a shoestring; and there is trouble for others as they find out - with minutes to spare - that stock levels are dangerously low. On sales day, the candidates set up shop in trendy east London; one team finds their takeaway's soups and spuds tricky to shift, while the other team finds there is an appetite for milkshakes. One candidate takes a gamble by using the task to prove their business idea for Lord Sugar works. In the boardroom, even the winning team gets a telling off.

Farm Shop

The candidates face an early start, as a pre-dawn call informs them that they are off on a business trip to Dubai. Bags are quickly packed, and then the teams are straight off to Gatwick and the UAE. In the almost-finished foyer of a new multi-million pound hotel, the candidates discover their task: find and secure items needed for the hotel at the lowest possible prices. One team tries to use local knowledge to their advantage by scouring the souks for bargains, while others want to track down items fast and they head for a mega mall. But in the heat of Dubai, it's not long before the candidates start to sweat; mistakes with measurements leave one team with a big problem, while waiting time costs others dearly. Negotiation skills are pushed to the limit, and identifying the items proves tricky as some of the candidates get lost in translation.

Dubai

Called to Guildhall in the City of London, the candidates are given their latest task: putting on a corporate away day for two major clients. With a budget of 5,000 pounds, they must put on a team building event for a day, but the fun and games start early when one team spends so much time thinking through themes that they are late to meet their client. The teams set off in search of food and activities, but by mid-afternoon panic sets in for some as they realise they don't have enough to fill the day, and they wrestle with whether to make a last minute booking that could prove risky. The next day, the teams must put on their events; one decides on an army theme, but they come under fire when the rain sets in.

Away Day

The candidates are called to the Tower of London, where Lord Sugar tells them that their latest task is to sell products at the Motorhome and Caravan Show, and they are left with no doubt that he expects them all to impress. Half head off to test drive camping accessories and win over suppliers, but when both teams choose the same products, there is disappointment in store for some. Both project managers head straight to the show to select a high ticket item worth thousands, but matching products to punters proves a tricky task and piles on the pressure for both teams. On sales day, the teams divide, with half pushing must-have accessories, from electric bikes to rooftop boats, while the rest try to pull off showstopping sales of top end trailers. With high end products topping out at £17,000, every minute counts in the last minute push for a winning sale.

Caravans

There is love is in the air this week as the candidates are called to London's busiest registry office in Marylebone Town Hall.They learn that this week's task is to come up with a new online dating concept backed up by an original advertising campaign. One of the candidates from the losing team is fired by Lord Sugar at the end of the show.

Online Dating

The candidates are called to the restaurant at the top of the Gherkin in London, where they learn that their latest task is to create and brand their own ready meal. At the end of the show one of the candidates from the losing team is fired by Lord Sugar.

Ready Meals

The candidates receive an early morning call, telling them to gather in the sitting room of their London townhouse. Still in their pyjamas, the teams are briefed on this week's task: to grow a business from scratch in 48 hours. Starting with £150, they must source stock for a market stall, then buy more of their best sellers, before opening shops the next day. Before sending them off, Lord Sugar mixes the teams up and decides that, for this task, the boys should compete against the girls. After deciding what to sell, they head straight out to source stock. One team settles on fashion, while the rest plump for homeware - but while some get off to a flying start, others lag behind. Stock sorted, the teams get selling from their stalls. Will their chosen stock fly off the shelves? The next day the teams sell from shops built from converted shipping containers in London's trendy Shoreditch.

Stall to Shop

As this series of The Apprentice draws to a close and the tension mounts, this programme profiles the remaining five candidates.

Revealing the true stories behind the super confident egos, we discover what really makes these budding business men and women tick.

Parents, friends and employees, along with Lord Sugar's trusted aides Nick Hewer and Karren Brady, discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the final five personalities, and look back over their journey in the process. Plus we hear from their fans back home, and find out just who are the Final Five.

The Final Five

The candidates receive an early morning phone call from Lord Sugar, who tells them they have 24 hours to brush up on their business plans, before being interviewed by four of his trusted advisors.

The next day, business plans in hand, it's off to the Institute of Directors. Lord Sugar explains that his advisors will be scrutinizing their plans and credentials, before feeding back to him.

The nerves kick in straight away for the Final Five, as the anxious candidates are called in one by one to meet Lord Sugar's hand-picked hit-squad.

Armed with CVs and business plans, the advisors waste no time in taking the candidates to task. Egos are attacked, book-cooking uncovered, and personalities pulverised. There are anxious moments for some, and extraordinary things uncovered as the candidates are pushed to the limit.

In an emotional boardroom, Lord Sugar receives some surprising news, and someone feels the full force of his fury, before a shock exit leaves everyone open-mouthed.

In the fight to make the final, dreams come crashing down. Only two can make the grade, as the rest all kiss the investment goodbye as they hear the words 'You're fired!'.

With just two candidates left battling it out for the £250,000 investment, the finalists receive a call telling them to travel to events venue One Marylebone. There they are met by Lord Sugar, who informs them that their final task is launch their businesses. They must come up with brands and launch campaigns before unveiling them at an event. There is a race to recruit old candidates as the finalists build their teams; the next day, it is straight down to business building brands. There's trouble in store for one candidate when their chosen name proves unpopular with the public, and others see red over what colours to use in their logo. As the finalists fight it out, there are surprises in store and anxiety abounds.

British version of the reality competitions series that sees young entrepreneurs compete in several business tasks, attempting to survive the weekly firings in order to become the business partner of one of the most successful businessmen.

Why I Fired Them

Seasons20

Season 9 Episodes14

Cast4

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Episode Summary