The Apprentice aide Karren Brady has defended the comments she made during season 17’s interview episode.
The interview stage is known to be tough, as the candidates are grilled by Lord Alan Sugar’s advisors over their business plans.
However, Brady received negative backlash this season for her comments, which saw her call out contestant Megan Hornby for not referring to her as a “Baroness” and making Victoria Goulbourne cry.
Brady has now insisted he wasn’t trying to upset the candidates, telling The Express that “resilience” is critical for running a successful business.
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“The contestant got upset because I told her that of all the candidates, I was the most disappointed in her business plan. That was the truth,” she said.
“I didn’t say anything to her that was mean. I just said that out of everyone, I was the most disappointed that her business plan was a letdown.”
Brady continued: “You know, when you forget to put the staff costs in, your stock costs, you get your rent costs wrong, it’s not a great way to start. It is never deliberately set out to upset anybody, I would never want to do that.”
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Her comments came after Lord Sugar admitted he’d been shocked at how harsh his advisors came across in the episode and would look to make changes to the format in the future series.
“I think we need to tone that down a bit. I found it hard to watch,” he said in an interview with The Times.
“I don’t think it’s entertaining. It used to be entertaining. All the previous boardroom [episode] 11s were entertaining. This one was very harsh. I agree with you.
“Believe me, it won’t be happening again.”
The Apprentice airs on BBC One, with spinoff series You’re Fired airing immediately afterwards on BBC Two.
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