Would you like Sugar with that?

In a break with my latest offerings I would today like to say something about The Apprentice which is currently showing on BBC1 in the UK. It is inspired by the US show of the same name staring one Donald Trump. I prefer the  version from over here but it is just possible the editions of the US version have been edited for our consumption. So much so that all is really seen over here is Mr Trump laying the scene, the teams scrapping and then scrapping in the "boardroom" ( a studio set).

A part of me enjoys the UK apprentice because I am an armchair psychologist and I enjoy watching how people interact together in the situations they find themselves.

Commanding people has never been a natural role of mine. When I used to play a lot of cricket I found myself as captain a few times and generally found it an unhappy experience. Managing expectations, trying to make decisions that ensure a victory etc.

What interests me in the Apprentice is how everyone interacts during the tasks. There is a degree of conflict which makes for great TV. Producers love a scrap and they love jeopardy.

I sometimes balk at the way contestants seem to deliberately sink the ship in a fit of pique and then survive the shootout in the boardroom.

So what I was wondering was, just how much choice does Lord Sugar get in the choice of "Apprentice"? Especially as he has just had a court case about a previous winner suing him for unfair dismissal. Does he know who he wants at the beginning? Or perhaps a couple of likely's and a bunch of no hopers to stir things up with?