Karren Brady: The only thing I’ve ever learned from Apprentice contestants is how to run in those heels-Josh Stephenson-Entertainment – Metro

Karren Brady gets frustrated at the entrepreneurs on The Apprentice (Picture: Getty)

The business guru, 53, on Apprentice contestants, holidays with Lord Sugar and why we need the House of Lords.

You’ve appeared on The Apprentice for more than a decade now and the contestants are still making the same mistakes. Will they ever learn?

I know. I think what happens is that when the show started, it was a job. You were applying to be an employee of somebody. But now it’s for entrepreneurs and most entrepreneurs are not used to working with other people. They’re normally one-man bands, they listen to their own voice and they’re in charge of their own life. So when you get a team of those personalities, you get that clash.

It’s only when they realise that if they work together as a team and win the tasks, then no one gets fired. You’d think that is logical and they’d get it right from the get-go, but they don’t. Instead, it’s a lot of arse-covering and that’s often where it goes wrong. And it’s gone wrong like that for the 17th time. So it can be quite frustrating they haven’t watched the process.

Do you ever pick up any new tricks or tips from the contestants?

No. Definitely not, I’m afraid to say. I’ll tell you, one thing that amazes me is how the girls run around in those heels. That’s the only thing I learn.

Karren, Lord Sugar and Claude Littner, who was forced to step down from his role, on The Apprentice (Picture: BBC/PA)

Karren says she’s never learned anything from the show’s contestants, latest batch pictured, other than running in high heels (Picture: BBC/PA)

Would you have relished an opportunity like this when you were starting out in business?

Yeah, definitely. It’s not something I’ve thought about but it’s a wonderful opportunity. We’re now recruiting for the next series and anybody who’s thinking about it, give it a go. It is life-changing. Alan [Sugar] was telling me that five of the previous winners are now millionaires.

Claude Littner returned for the first episode but had to exit for the second. How’s he doing?

Unfortunately he had some medical issues, so Tim [Campbell] stepped back in. But Claude comes back for the interviews and I’m pleased to say he’s in good health now.

Tim Campbell has replaced Claude Littner owing to illness (Picture: BBC/PA)

That’s good to hear. You and Lord Sugar have a long friendship from the show. Do you stay in touch outside the series?

We go on holiday most summers together as families, me and my husband, him and his wife. Claude is always there. Nick Hewer is there. So we have a sort of Apprentice reunion and we have a lot of fun. We see each other in the house a lot. We keep in touch via WhatsApp calls. Yeah, we’re good friends.

Karren and Lord Sugar, pictured out for dinner in London, are good friends outside of the show (Picture: Blitz Pictures/Shutterstock)

I imagine when Lord Sugar’s team Tottenham play West Ham, where you’re vice-chair, it’s always a fun day?

Yes, absolutely. We always say friendship first, football second.

Do you think 2023 will be a positive year for the country? It’s all been a bit bleak…

Well, I hope so. Look, the government has helped people with their heating bills. Who knows if they will continue to do that going forward – I think they’re going to have to. You’ve got these endless strikes and wage demands, which you can see from both points of view, so I hope common sense prevails and people sit down and talk the issues through, because without communication you won’t resolve anything. The government should start communicating better and start listening a bit more, and actually start addressing some of the fundamental issues with wastage in the public sector.

The House of Lords is there to review legislation and iron out problems with it, says Karren (Picture: Shutterstock)

You’re a member of the House of Lords, an institution that comes in for criticism. Can you explain its benefits?

I think a lot of people completely misunderstand what the House of Lords is. It doesn’t make laws, it doesn’t block laws. Its role is simply to review legislation that comes down from the Commons. And the people who are put into the House of Lords are selected to go in there based on lifelong careers 
of advice and knowledge. They’re supposed to look at legislation and point out the unintended consequences, or how to amend that legislation to make it better.

More: The Apprentice

Working in the Lords may be a thankless job – but so is running a football club. Why do you put up with all the grief?

I love West Ham. It’s an honour and privilege to do it. Listen, you know, you don’t win every game, nobody does. We haven’t had a great season so far, despite being in Europe and spending a lot of money but it’s not the blame game. It’s all about rallying around. We always say at West Ham that you come as supporters and you leave as family. That’s how we like to think of it.

Karren’s dismayed that Gianni Infantino is going to run for another term as Fifa president without any challengers (Picture: Getty)

I’d like you to take over from Gianni Infantino at Fifa. Fancy giving it a go?

Well, you talk about thankless tasks, that is one. It’s incredible he’s going to run for another term uncontested. I cannot believe that no one is going to stand against him, after some of the decisions that have happened at Fifa. It’s quite sad.

The Apprentice continues on BBC One every Thursday at 9pm

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