The Apprentice 2019 results: First candidate fired after task in South Africa

The Apprentice 2019 started tonight – but who was the first candidate to go home?

The new series kicked off this evening with sixteen brand new candidates from a broad range of backgrounds.

They all have one thing in common, a passionate desire to secure a £250,000 investment in their business plan and win a partnership with Lord Sugar.

This year’s series sees The Apprentice contestants put through challenges that are bigger and better than ever.

Lord Sugar has already invested £2million of his own money in eight businesses, and now he’s ready to take a gamble on a brand-new venture. The sixteen hopeful candidates will be whittled down over the next 12 weeks until only one remains.

For the first task, the candidates were sent to Cape Town and tasked with putting on tours around the South African city. They had to sell tickets and give clients an unforgettable experience. However if the tour doesn’t live up to expectation, clients can ask for refunds.

As is customary for the first task, the teams were split into men and women.

Scarlett Allen-Horton led the women’s team, who chose a winery tour, while Lewis Ellis was project manager for the men with a safari tour.

The Apprentice 2019 results

The women made a profit of £520.93 while the men made a profit of £476.19 once costs and refunds had been taken into account.

As winners, the women’s team got to enjoy their first night in The Apprentice house with a champagne reception while the men waited to face Lord Sugar in the boardroom.

In a heated boardroom, project manager Lewis decided to bring back Shahin Hassan and Dean Ahmad back for the final showdown, reasoning they had failed to sell enough tour tickets.

And it was Shahin who became the first candidate this year to be told, ‘You’re Fired!’

“You didn’t sell. It’s as simple as that. It’s with regret that you are fired,” Lord Sugar said.

The Apprentice 2019 continues Wednesday nights on BBC One.

You can watch episodes online and catch up via the BBC iPlayer.