On the subject of Celebrity PR

The boardroom battle to become Lord Sugar’s next business partner begins

On April 30th, 2013 admin wrote on the subject of Celebrity PR,Reality TV PR,Television Industry PR,Television PR,The Apprentice.

LONDON, 30th April 2013: Award-winning and critically acclaimed series The Apprentice returns on Tuesday 7th May 2013 at 9pm on BBC One for a ninth season, as Lord Sugar and his advisors put 16 new candidates through the toughest business test going.

Viewers will be treated to a double dose of boardroom drama as the second episode airs on Wednesday 8th May, with the series then continuing on Wednesdays at 9pm on BBC One.

16 determined candidates will compete to stay out of the firing line for 12 weeks in a bid to win Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment. They must demonstrate business sense, creativity and leadership in order to impress Lord Sugar, Nick and Karren, but only one applicant will triumph and become Lord Sugar’s next business partner.

This year, the candidates will reveal their business ideas right from the start of the process, not only creating an additional level of competition between the applicants but also challenging them to prove they have the skills to succeed in the business they are pitching to Lord Sugar. Will those planning a catering business come out top in a food task? Or those pushing a sales–based business succeed in shaking hands on the best deal?

The Apprentice Series 9 - Candidate group shot - Immediate Release

This year’s budding business partners come from a diverse range of careers and backgrounds, from catering, leisure and recruitment to property, medicine and academia.

East End boy and entrepreneur, Lord Sugar started from modest beginnings to build a global business empire worth millions.

He says: “This process is not about a job, it is about me ploughing £250,000 into a business. This is an unbelievable opportunity. For me to choose you, you’ve got to be brilliant.”

Lord Sugar is once again joined by his trusted advisors Karren Brady and Nick Hewer, who are on hand to observe the candidates throughout the process and report back on the successes and failures within each task.

As Lord Sugar greets the candidates in the boardroom for the first time, he explains what he expects from them in order for them to succeed from week to week:

“As you can see, I’ve got a pile of CVs here – it’s full of the usual BS. You know, ‘I’ll give 110%, I’m the greatest entrepreneur since sliced bread, failure’s not an option, I think outside the box, inside the bleeding box.’ All those usual clichés. I’m sick and tired of all that rubbish to be perfectly honest with you, because I believe actions speak louder than words. And it’s going to be actions that I’m going to judge you on. Now the aim of this process is to get your business plans in front of me. The tasks are there to test you and take you through every facet in business.”

The first task kicks off at midnight with Lord Sugar asking the candidates to sell a shipping container load of goods to London’s trade in just one day. From novelty items to household necessities, each team must find suitable buyers for their different product lines and the team that makes the most money from the day’s sales will be declared the winner. Split into boys vs. girls, which team will avoid a trip to the Losers’ Cafe in their first week? It’s a super-sized straight-forward selling task but Lord Sugar throws in a surprise twist right at the beginning, proving that the candidates can never be certain what to expect from the multi-millionaire tycoon.

The candidates will be put through their paces every week by a range of challenging tasks from creating and branding their own flavoured beer and selling caravans, to putting together a corporate away-day for some very big clients. At the end of each day they will go home to their luxury town house in Central London, enjoying a taste of the high-end lifestyle that a successful business can make a reality.

But, as always, it ends in the boardroom. After each task, the losing team will return to face Lord Sugar and battle it out to keep their place in the process, before one candidate will hear the infamous words ‘You’re Fired’.

The ever-popular companion show ‘The Apprentice: You’re Fired!’ will also return to air immediately after the main series on BBC Two. Host Dara O Briain will reflect on the fired candidate’s time on the show, asking for their insight on their best and worst moments, as they are interrogated by a panel of business experts and celebrity fans.

The official Apprentice website – bbc.co.uk/apprentice – will host candidate biographies and information about the series alongside preview clips of upcoming episodes. Also hosted on the site, The Apprentice super-fan, TV and radio presenter Matt Edmondson will catch up with each fired candidate for a weekly high pressure post-exit interview with a difference in Matt Edmondson’s Awkward Conversations. This year, YouTube superstars The Brett Domino Trio will join forces with Radio 1’s Dan and Phil for a one-off video introducing the new candidates in three minutes of catchy, original pop music, featuring excerpts from the candidates’ audition tapes.

You can catch up with all The Apprentice action on the official Apprentice Twitter (@bbcapprentice) and Facebook (facebook.com/BBCApprentice)

The Apprentice is a Boundless production for BBC One. Cate Hall is the Executive Producer; Francesca Maudslay is the Series Editor and Jo Wallace is the Executive Producer for the BBC.

After the first episode on Tuesday 7th May, The Apprentice will air on BBC One on Wednesdays at 9pm, from 8th May.

MEET THE GIRLS

Apprentice Senior 2012-414

Francesca MacDuff-Varley
Age: 32
Occupation: Dance and Entertainment Entrepreneur
Lives: Leeds, UK
A classically trained dancer, one of Francesca’s first jobs was teaching baby ballet at her local dance studios. She is now is the founder and director of a dance studio, a professional dance agency and a lookalike agency. She describes herself as determined, driven and fun, and quotes Debbie Moore and Arlene Phillips as the business figures she is most inspired by, for their creativity and vision. She cites being a hard-worker as her greatest strength, though admits she can be a ‘control freak’ at times.
She says: “I’m prepared to fight to the death to become Lord Sugar’s business partner.”

Jaz Ampaw-Farr
Age: 41
Occupation: Literacy and Education Company Director
Lives: Milton Keynes, UK
Married mother-of-three Jaz began her career as a teacher and is passionate about children’s education and learning. She believes her strengths to be her tenacity and determination, while her weakness is that she has no time for those that don’t share her business vision. Her interests include stand-up comedy and lifestyle photography.
She says: “I’m half machine. I can process things at a speed that is out of this world!”

Leah Totton
Age: 24
Occupation: Doctor
Lives: London, UK
Born in Northern Ireland, Leah now lives in London and is kept busy by her work as a practising doctor. She is passionate about medicine and health and says her friends would describe her as caring, kind and professional, though she can be too ambitious.
She says: “I’m very hard working and feel I can bring youth, vibrancy, enthusiasm and a touch of class to any business I’m part of.”

Luisa Zissman
Age: 25
Occupation: Retail Entrepreneur
Lives: St Albans, UK
Mother-of-one Luisa describes herself as confident, logical and outspoken and cites her greatest business achievement to be the ability to create new jobs through the success of her businesses. She lists her favourite business brands as Christian Louboutin and Virgin Atlantic for their strong brand identities. Her first job was as a Saturday girl in an estate agent and she now owns her own cupcake shop, baking website and electronics business.
She says: “I have the energy of a Duracell bunny, sex appeal of Jessica Rabbit, and a brain like Einstein.”

Natalie Panayi
Age: 30
Occupation: Recruitment Manager
Lives: Rickmansworth, UK
Natalie’s first job was as a pub waitress and says her dad is her business inspiration, as he built his success from nothing through his strong work ethic. Her passions include fashion and money and she is also a trained jazz singer and qualified make-up artist. She says her friends would describe her as headstrong, determined and caring, though one of her most annoying habits can be interrupting people.
She says: “When it comes to business, I am the complete package and when it comes to sales, I’m the best.”

Rebecca Slater
Age: 35
Occupation: Medical Rep
Lives: Wigan, UK
Rebecca would describe herself as authentic, generous and adventurous, though says she can be very impatient. Now working in medical sales, her first job was in a Post Office shop. She lists Alex Polizzi and Mary Portas as business figures that inspire her because they are willing to take on any challenge.
She says: “I’m a pretty tough person. I don’t let people walk all over me in life or in business. And if somebody crosses me, it’s game over.”

Sophie Lau
Age: 22
Occupation: Restaurateur
Lives: Bristol, UK
Malaysian-born Sophie says her greatest strengths are creativity and the ability to ‘think outside the box’, but her weakness is mental arithmetic. She first worked as a catering company waitress and at the age of 19, began running her own restaurant whilst still studying as a student. She is passionate about food and describes herself as innovative and intelligent.
She says: “I don’t have a multi-million pound business but what I do have is the raw talent, the drive and the competitive streak.”

Uzma Yakoob
Age: 32
Occupation: Entrepreneur and Make-Up Brand Owner
Lives: London, UK
Uzma describes herself as confident, creative and spiritual, though says she can lack patience. She has set up a non-profit organisation to help women reach out to one another in times of need and lists being nominated for an Asian Women of Achievement Awards as one of her greatest business achievements. She says the brand she is most inspired by is MAC, because they have created a product that most women think they can’t live without.
She says: “If I believe in something, I will go to the end to make sure it’s done.”

MEET THE BOYS

Apprentice Senior 2012-492

Alex Mills
Age: 22
Occupation: Company Director
Lives: Cardiff, UK
Alex says his greatest strengths lie in design and calculations and he describes himself as passionate, hardworking and determined. He began his working life as a housekeeper in a hotel and started his first company at 19. He is inspired in business by brands such as Tom Ford and figures such as James Caan, and enjoys playing the guitar and sport shooting in his spare time.
He says: “I’m an old head on young shoulders. I believe that I’m the new breed of businessman that this process requires.”

Jason Leech
Age: 29
Occupation: Historian and Property Entrepreneur
Lives: London, UK
Born in Athens, Jason says he has never been ‘formally employed’, instead remaining self-employed and a student throughout his career to date. His hobbies include gardening and croquet and he lists his passions as knowledge and language. He cites himself as a devotee of Question Time and says that the brands he has the most respect for are John Lewis/Waitrose and American Express, as they stand for quality and high-standard customer service.
He says: “Some people might come to this process with a game plan. I just feel my effortless superiority will take me all the way.”

Jordan Poulton
Age: 26
Occupation: Business Analyst
Lives: London, UK
Jordan says his first experience in business was at the age of six, selling his family’s litter of kittens in the playground. He describes himself as optimistic, charismatic and calm under pressure, though he thinks he can also be unforgiving and finds it difficult to ask for help. He enjoys going to technology events and recording his own podcasts and is passionate about encouraging young people to start their own businesses.
He says: “I’ve worked in third world countries and first world countries. I know what it’s like to struggle to feed kids and I know what it’s like to fly in a private jet.”

Kurt Wilson
Age: 26
Occupation: Health Drink Entrepreneur and Health & Safety Manager
Lives: Liverpool, UK
Kurt says his friends would describe him as intelligent, argumentative and ambitious. His first job was washing dishes as a kitchen porter and he says his greatest business achievement to date is running his own smoothie business after suffering many knock-backs and rejections.
He says: “I’m an alpha male; I always get my own way and know how to make people do what I want.”

Myles Mordaunt
Age: 39
Occupation: Marketing Company Co-Founder
Lives: Monaco, Monaco
Myles has lived in Monaco for the past 10 years and says that people would describe him as passionate, charming and determined, but he can be too much of a perfectionist. He was a professional racing driving for a short period of time and he now works in luxury brand marketing. He says the business figures that most inspire him are Bernie Ecclestone and Richard Branson, for their vision and commercial power.
He says: “I’m business perfection personified.”

Neil Clough
Age: 32
Occupation: Regional Manager – Soccer Centres
Lives: Altrincham, UK
Neil says he would be described as focussed, determined and driven by those that know him well, though his weaknesses include being overly competitive and very opinionated. He is a Manchester United supporter and plays football regularly in an amateur league, having played semi-professionally in the past. One of his first jobs was in telesales, which he cites as the role that kicked off his career.
He says: “I’m here to win. If that means being tough and making tough decisions, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

Tim Stillwell
Age: 23
Occupation: Mexican Food Entrepreneur
Lives: Birmingham, UK
Tim lists his passions in life as food, travel, business and money, and the achievement he is most proud of is launching a business while still studying in his final year at university. He describes himself as happy-go-lucky, energetic and with a ‘never give up’ attitude, though admits he can lack focus. Moving up from his first job on a paper round to starting a leaflet distribution service before founding his catering company, Tim now wants to use business as a vehicle to bring new culinary experiences to people.
He says: “I’m definitely a team player. I’m not a lone ranger in any sense of the word.”

Zeeshaan Shah
Age: 27
Occupation: CEO of Property Investment Company
Lives: London, UK
Zeeshaan, who grew up in Pakistan, believes his greatest strengths are that he is an eternal optimist, street-smart and well-connected. He says his weaknesses would include bossiness and that he can’t do something if his heart isn’t in it. Starting his career as a part-time waiter, he believes his greatest business achievement is still yet to come.
He says: “I’m a ‘Great’ of my generation. I’m an innovator and leader in business. I take inspiration from Napoleon; I am here to conquer.”

About The Apprentice

BAFTA Award-winning business series, The Apprentice, has previously had eight successful series as well as three series of the Young Apprentice.

As well as a wealth of loyal fans, The Apprentice has received critical acclaim and won numerous awards including a BAFTA in 2006 for Best Feature. It has also walked away with top TV gongs including accolades at the BPG TV Awards, Televisual Bulldog Awards, National Reality Television Awards and TV Choice Awards as well as nominations at the National Television Awards, BAFTA Craft Awards and BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards. The show has also received a Press Guild Award for series 6 and a TV Choice Award for Best Reality Show for series 7. In 2012, Young Apprentice won a BAFTA in the Reality & Constructed Factual category.

Last year, The Apprentice transmitted on BBC One over a 12 week period, with nearly seven million viewers tuning in to watch the final episode in which Ricky Martin became Lord Sugar’s new business partner.

It’s a one-of-a-kind interview process that is one of the toughest and most intense in the business and, with this year’s candidates as determined as ever to become Lord Sugar’s business partner, series 9 promises to be the most unpredictable yet.

The Apprentice series eight saw heavy-hitting wrestler Ricky Martin throw down in the boardroom and come away with Lord Sugar’s investment.

Series seven introduced the nation to Jedi Jim and his boardroom mind tricks, as well as being the first series to feature a business partnership with Lord Sugar as the winner’s prize, rather than a job offer.

Series six saw candidate Stuart ‘The Brand’ Baggs take metaphors to a new level revealing that he was not ‘a one trick pony’ but was, in fact, ‘a field of ponies’.

In series five, for the first time ever, The Apprentice saw one candidate pull out before the first task had even started.

Other highlights of past series include Lorraine Tighe’s ‘premonitions’, the romance between Kate Walsh and Philip ‘Pantsman’ Taylor, the brash defences of Claire Young and the boardroom bluffing of Jenny Celerier.

The memorable catchphrases from some of the candidates have put smiles on the faces of millions of viewers, including Melody Hossaini’s “Don’t tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon”; Edward Hunter’s “Roll with the punches”; and Ricky Martin’s “I truly am the reflection of perfection”.

The business theatrics of Michael Sophocles and his kosher meat gaffe has made him one of the standout characters of the previous eight series, while the floundering failures of school teacher Noorul Choudhury had the nation screaming at the TV as he escaped the firing line on many occasions. Sandwich-seller Rocky Andrews failing in the catering task, Lee McQueen’s pterodactyl impression and, not forgetting, Raef Bjayou’s ability to “speak to prince or pauper” have all had the nation glued to their screens for the past eight years.

There have been two Comic Relief specials and one Sport Relief special of The Apprentice, all featuring stellar celebrity line ups. The Apprentice has spawned a number of columns and blogs in the national press and has been spoofed by comedians including French & Saunders, Charlie Brooker, Harry Hill and Dead Ringers.

In 2007, the BBC Two show Kombat Opera spoofed The Apprentice with Kombat Opera Presents…The Applicants. In 2009 renowned YouTube artist Cassette Boy created Cassette Boy vs The Apprentice, which has attracted over 4.7 million hits on YouTube to date.

About Lord Sugar

After leaving school in Hackney aged 16, Sugar started selling car aerials and electric goods out of a van he bought for £50. In 1968, he founded Amstrad, and now, over 40 years later, he has an estimated worth of £730 million, and was ranked 85th in the 2010 Sunday Times Rich List.

A former Chairman of Tottenham Hotspur FC, Sugar sold his Amstrad empire to Sky in July 2007. Sugar’s other companies include AMSCREEN, which offers digital screen media advertising networks, AMSAIR, which offers business and executive jets to a number of high profile clients around the world, AMSPROP, a property investment firm and VIGLEN, a manufacturer specialising in computers, networks and solutions.

In 2000, Sugar was knighted for his services to business and he holds two honorary Doctorates of Science degrees, awarded by City University and Brunel University respectively.

Having previously sat on the Business Council for Britain and fronted a campaign promoting the benefits of apprenticeships, in 2009 he was named as Enterprise Champion and appointed to the House of Lords as Baron Sugar of Clapton in the London Borough of Hackney.

In 2010, Lord Sugar released his autobiography, ‘What You See Is What You Get’ and in 2011 he released ‘The Way I See It’.

Lord Sugar is a philanthropist who donates to a number of charities including Great Ormond Street Hospital and Jewish Care.

About Nick Hewer

Former PR impresario Nick Hewer started off in public relations in the mid 1960s. Heading up his own PR company for over 30 years until its sale in 1997, Nick built an impressive corporate client list which included many British and international companies and organisations.

Nick first came across Lord Sugar when his PR company was chosen to represent Amstrad in 1983. Soon taking care of his profile across all business and personal dealings, Nick became a trusted ally and firm friend to the tycoon, playing an integral part in the management structure at Amstrad.

Friends throughout their careers, Lord Sugar laid on a dinner at The Dorchester for Nick and 100 guests to celebrate his official retirement. Says Nick: “Alan is a very generous friend. The best thing about working for him was there was always something going on – he has vibrancy about him.”

Nick’s career has taken him all over the world and he has a lifelong passion for world travel. He has driven a 20 year-old Renault 4L solo from London to Mongolia for charity and has taken part in the Children in Need trek from Istanbul to Almaty in Kazakhstan. As a patron of Hope and Homes for Children, Nick helps promote the British charity and has worked for them in Romania, Rwanda and Sierra Leone. He has a home in France where he indulges a passion for old tractors.

Nick’s much loved dry wit and legendary facial expressions have taken him through eight series of The Apprentice and have also seen him appear on comedy panel shows such as Would I Lie To You? and Have I Got News For You. In January 2012 he became the presenter of Channel 4’s Countdown and recently appeared in the documentary Nick Hewer: Countdown to Freetown, also on Channel 4, in which he embarked on a mission to tow an industrial saw and generator to the capital of Sierra Leone to present to a young carpenter.

About Karren Brady

Karren Brady began her career at Saatchi & Saatchi when she was 18 years old and swiftly moved onto London Broadcasting Company as a sales executive. She joined Sport Newspapers Ltd in 1988 and became Director within a year.

Karren is known as the first woman in football. She was Managing Director of Birmingham City Football Club from 1993 to 2009 and during that time turned the Club’s fortunes around. She took over Birmingham City FC when it was in administration, and in her first year at the helm, the Club recorded a financial trading profit. In January 2010, Karren was appointed Vice Chairman of West Ham United FC.

Karren has attracted much media attention in her career, and was the subject of an hour long documentary Inside Story – The Real Life Manageress shown on BBC One. She has hosted her own TV show, and has also presented shows on ITV. Karren has written four books and her autobiography ‘Strong Woman: Ambition, Grit and a Great Pair of Heels’ was released in March 2012.

Karren is a columnist for The Sun newspaper and also writes for the popular lifestyle magazine Woman & Home. She is a judge of the Cosmopolitan Women of Achievement Awards and is an Ambassador for the Stroke Association, WellChild and Wellbeing of Women. Previously on the Board of Mothercare PLC, Channel 4 Television and Sport England, Karren currently holds the position of a non-Executive Director of Arcadia. She is an honoree Fellow of the Institute of Sales and Marketing and in 2010 was awarded an honorary Doctorate from the University of Birmingham.

In March 2006 she was chosen as the Project Manager of the girls team on BBC One’s The Apprentice, for Comic Relief, where she led her team to a resounding victory over the boys, raising over £750k for charity.

In 2010, following appearances as one of Lord Sugar’s interrogators in the final interview round of The Apprentice, Karren replaced Margaret Mountford as Lord Sugar’s aide on the series.

Karren has won various awards including Business Woman of the Year, Cosmopolitan Woman Of The Year, the Spirit of Everywoman Award, Britain’s Most Influential Woman Award as well as two National Reality TV Awards for her role in The Apprentice.

About Boundless (part of FremantleMedia UK)

Encompassing factual entertainment, factual features and specialist factual programming, including The Apprentice, Young Apprentice, You’re Fired, Escape To The Country, Great British Railway Journeys, Grand Designs and Four Rooms, Boundless is FremantleMedia UK’s factual label. FremantleMedia UK is the UK production arm of FremantleMedia, the global production and content business of the RTL Group, Europe’s largest television and radio company. FremantleMedia UK, comprises of a group of labels, Talkback, Retort, Boundless, Thames and Newman Street, which produce some of the UK’s most successful shows – the Group has aired over 450 hours of programming on terrestrial TV in the past 12 months alone.

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The Finger of Fear is back

On April 12th, 2013 admin wrote on the subject of Celebrity PR,Television Industry PR,Television PR.

The Apprentice Series 9. Coming Soon to BBC One.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/theapprentice

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Daredevil Jonathan Goodwin, performs a death defying stunt on the EDF Energy London Eye

On March 5th, 2013 admin wrote on the subject of Celebrity PR,PR Stunt,PR Stunts,Publicity Stunts,Television PR.

Two minutes to escape hanging from a burning rope high over the Thames

LONDON, Tuesday 5th March 2013: Daredevil Jonathan Goodwin, performed a death defying stunt on the EDF Energy London Eye this morning – trapped in a straitjacket, with only minutes to escape a burning rope hung from one of the famous landmark’s capsules.

For full photo selection click here

JONATHAN GOODWIN 01

The stunt was filmed for his new television show, The Incredible Mr. Goodwin which starts on Watch this Thursday 7th March at 9pm.

Crowds were tense as the professional danger man struggled to release himself from the burning rope positioned more than 200 feet in the air as, with seconds to spare, the flames appeared to engulf Mr Goodwin’s jacket.

JONATHAN GOODWIN 07

Just as things were heating up on the South Bank, the escapologist threw his jacket to the ground to rounds of applause from stunned onlookers.

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Goodwin, born and raised in Pembrokeshire, South Wales, has been described as a modern-day superhero, somewhere between Harry Houdini and Superman.

Over several years working as a professional danger man, the thirty-two year-old has travelled the world in order to place himself in the most extreme and life-threatening situations.

Jonathan Goodwin said, “Danger is a part of my profession and the adrenaline I get from each stunt I do drives me on to the next. Pushing the limits is exciting and I hope I have left the crowd with a memorable experience.”

You can see what other extraordinary situations he gets into during the new five-part series on Watch.

In a nail biting first episode, astonished onlookers watch as the fearless Mr Goodwin climbs up one of London’s tallest buildings – unaided.

He performs a death-defying stunt underneath a super-sized SUV, which puts him within inches of the rushing road surface and fast-spinning wheels, plus manages to trigger a bear trap without losing an arm.

Press Contact: Taylor Herring PR

More about the show HERE

 

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Taylor Herring launch Cactus Kitchens with Michel Roux Jr

On January 4th, 2013 admin wrote on the subject of Celebrity PR,Event PR,Food and Drink PR.

Cactus Kitchens have hired Taylor Herring to handle the launch of the brand new cookery school, which opens 17th January 2013.

The state-of-the-art cookery school is the brainchild of Amanda Ross, the Managing Director of Cactus TV, in partnership with world-renowned chef Michel Roux Jr, proprietor of London’s famous 2 Michelin star restaurant Le Gavroche.

Located above the set of Saturday Kitchen at Cactus TV’s bespoke studios in Clapham, London, Cactus Kitchens will offer unique cookery experiences led by the top chefs on television, including Michel Roux Jr himself, Ken Hom and Monica Galetti.

As the company behind many hit TV food shows including the enduringly popular Saturday Kitchen, The Roux Legacy, The Roux Scholarship and Madhur Jaffrey’s Curry Nation, Cactus TV is perfectly placed to bring the talent of Britain’s top TV chefs together to offer a range of unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime foodie experiences.

With bookings for classes available now at www.cactuskitchens.co.uk, Taylor Herring will stage a national campaign to launch the cookery school, alongside Michel Roux Jr and Cactus TV’s Amanda Ross.

James Herring commented: “From the Saturday Kitchen Cooking Experience with the show’s popular guest chefs to the Michel Roux Jr Experience, and with sessions hosted by Ken Hom, Monica Galetti and Adam Byatt to name a few, Cactus Kitchens is the first cookery school to house such a range of the nation’s favourite foodie talent under one roof!”

Cactus TV is an independent production company run by husband and wife team Simon and Amanda Ross. Productions include Saturday Kitchen for BBC1, Hairy Bikers Food Tour of Britain for BBC2, Madhur Jaffrey’s Curry Nation, The Roux Legacy, Rachel Allen, The TV Book Club, Galaxy British Book Awards, ITV Crime Thriller Season and 8 years of the Richard & Judy show live from Cactus studios.

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Legendary sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf X returns to Dave

On October 4th, 2012 admin wrote on the subject of Celebrity PR,Event PR,Television Industry PR,Television PR.

LONDON, Thursday 4th October 2012: Space battles, quantum entanglement, and love triangles with snack dispensers, are just some of problems facing the boys from the Dwarf as they return in a brand new series. Red Dwarf X, the 10th series of the legendary sci-fi sitcom, tonight on Dave.

Following a exclusive screening event for fans, held in Leicester Square last night, the wait for the series is finally over.

Credit: Lia Toby/WENN (via)

Red Dwarf X returns with 6 x 30 min stand alone episodes, recorded in front of a studio audience and reunites the much loved original cast of Chris Barrie (Rimmer), Craig Charles (Lister), Danny John-Jules (Cat) and Robert Llewellyn (Kryten).

The brand new series, written and directed by Doug Naylor, begins with the Dwarfer’s mining ship still creaking though the wastelands of unchartered deep space, but the posse soon stumble upon the mysteriously abandoned SS Trojan.  As they inspect the ship Rimmer receives an SOS distress call from an old foe and is suddenly faced with the dilemma of his life.

Throughout the six part series Lister grapples with the problem of being his own father, gets involved in a love triangle with snack dispensers 23 and 34, while Kryten and Cat become quantum entangled forcing them to do everything in unison.  The posse also find themselves marooned in 23 AD where they rescue a famous historical figure with a beard.

The series final episode finds the boys surrounded by a Simulant War Cruiser and its fleet of attack ships.  Armed with only two forks and a pencil sharpener, the Dwarfers begin to wonder whether this is the beginning of the end.  Only one man can save them.  Unfortunately that man is Arnold J Rimmer.

Red Dwarf X will air exclusively on Thursdays at 9pm on Dave, and Dave HD, from Thursday 4th October.

About Dave

Satirical and edgy, Dave is the home of witty banter.  Featuring the best in contemporary entertainment including Suits, QI, Mock the Week and Have I Got News For You, Dave also showcases popular original series, such as Argumental, Dave’s One Night Stand, Dara O’Briain’s School of Hard Sums, Alexander Armstrong’s Big Ask and Jo Brand’s Big Splash, all laden with the biggest names in British comedy. Where to find Dave: Sky channel 111, Virgin TV channel 128, Freeview 19.

 

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Let the battle of the beauties commence

On June 26th, 2012 admin wrote on the subject of Celebrity PR,Reality TV PR,Television Industry PR,Television PR.

A-list judges. Glamorous girls. Tears and tantrums. Bigger dramas.

Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model is back on Sky Living as the eighth series of the fiercest fight in fashion gets underway.

Alongside an esteemed and internationally elite judging panel, host Elle Macpherson will put this year’s crop of modeling hopefuls through the paces like never before to find that special girl worthy of the taking the Top Model title.

Joining Elle for a third year, renowned designer Julien Macdonald will be casting his style-eye over the girls’ poses and poise alongside two new Top Model judges – fashion designer and TV personality Whitney Port and international supermodel Tyson Beckford.

From an exotic Boot Camp to the Top Model house and beyond, the contestants must impress this high fashion four every step of the way to keep their place in the competition and prove themselves a worthy Top Model.

After putting their best fashion foot forward at the auditions, the 20 selected girls are offered an early taster of the supermodel lifestyle when they jet off to Dubai’s luxury Atlantis Palm hotel for their first encounter with the judges, and an early round of photo shoots, catwalks and challenges that will determine which of them moves into the Top Model house. With the stakes high, it’s not long before tensions take over, with clashes, conflicts and even a threatened walk out….

For the girls that avoid falling at the first fashion hurdle, the jet setting will continue – world class destinations that await include Paris, where the girls get the chance to flaunt their Parisian chic, and Toronto, the setting for this year’s hotly contested finale.

Assisting the panel in critiquing the girls each week, the series boasts its most exciting and fashion-savvy list of guest judges to date. Hailing from all areas of the fashion industry, this year’s eliminations will see international supermodels Andrej Pejic, Paul Sculfor and Erin O’Connor, singers Alesha Dixon and Mel B, and Pussycat Doll Kimberley Wyatt, models Tali Lennox, Poppy Delevigne, British photographer Nigel Barker and People’s Revolution creator Kelly Cutrone – all giving their expert opinion on which contestants have the poise and perfection to go all the way.

Alongside the guest judges, this year’s series will see a number of fashion favourites offering the girls their guidance for the weekly challenges, including The Saturday’s Mollie King, and fashion blogger and Face of Forever 21 Bip Ling.

With photoshoot themes ranging from broken dolls and tarantulas to gentleman’s clubs and Parisian romance, and challenges including the all-important go-sees, television adverts and adrenalin pumping activities not for the faint hearted, this year’s model hopefuls will have to push themselves to the limit to show they can shine in any situation.

For the winner, following in the footsteps of last year’s victor Jade Thompson, the prize package will include a contract with international agency Models 1, a cover and feature within Company magazine and a contract with Revlon cosmetics, for whom Elle herself is a global ambassador. She will kick start her fashion career by fronting an international campaign with high street über-brand Miss Selfridge.  In addition, the chosen girl will begin her jet-set model lifestyle with a luxury holiday to The Atlantis Palm in Dubai and a brand new Peugeot RCZ.  Previous series winners have taken part in campaigns for Swatch, Sony and ASOS, as well as being photographed for Russian Vogue.

Exotic locations, extreme shoots and intense challenges – who will panic under pressure and who will flourish in the spotlight?  The race to become Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model is on.

Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model is on Mondays at 9pm on Sky Living, from 9th July

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Apprentice star Nick Hewer is on a mission to save the small family farm

On June 26th, 2012 admin wrote on the subject of Celebrity PR,Television Industry PR,Television PR.

LONDON: Tuesday 26th July 2012: Small family farms are in trouble. In order to survive they need to diversify and find additional ways to make money, but this needs strategic planning and business expertise.

In The Farm Fixer (starts BBC TWO, 9th July), trouble-shooting businessman and Apprentice star Nick Hewer turns his attention to struggling farmers.

Nick Hewer said; “The small family farm is the backbone of the UK countryside. I wanted to use everything I had learnt, over the past 40 years of business, to help them come through this difficult time.”

But his task is not an easy one. Farmers are notoriously stubborn and can be set in their ways and Nick’s direct, no-nonsense opinion is met with some wariness.

In this series Nick invests his time, knowledge and expertise to help five farms.

From projects as diverse as harvesting seaweed to brewing beer, producing flavoured pet water to entertaining cruise ship groups, Nick encourages the farms to move into areas of business completely new to them. He helps them to develop new products, create brands and find customers.

Nick begins his journey in Northern Ireland. His mother is originally from Bangor, Co. Down, and his Irish connections were further bolstered by his education at a school in Co. Kildare.

As in many rural areas of the UK, Northern Ireland is full of small farms that have been passed down through the generations.

But modern farming practices have changed. To succeed, especially with acreage under 200, takes imagination and a lot of hard work.

Although the journey is bumpy at times, Nick has one mantra that he applies to every business situation; “doing nothing is not an option”.

The Farm Fixer is a Waddell Media Production – and airs on BBC 2 from Monday 9th July at 6.30pm

For review copies and further information please contact Taylor Herring PR


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Tiësto plays exclusive UK concert to launch ŠKODA Citigo

On May 31st, 2012 admin wrote on the subject of Car PR,Celebrity PR,Event PR.

World-renowned DJ and producer, Tiësto, is set to play a special, intimate, free show at Birmingham’s LG Arena on 1st June to celebrate the launch of the new ŠKODA Citigo.

Mixmag’s “Greatest DJ of All Time” celebrated the launch of the Citigo at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year and is now embarking on a series of Europe-wide concerts hosted by the car’s manufacturer, ŠKODA.

Tiësto, having twice sold out Victoria Park (London) to a crowd of 25,000, will land in the West Midlands on 1st June and bring an unforgettable performance to an audience of 5,000 – who won the chance to attend by entering a draw for free tickets via the ŠKODA Facebook page app.

A lucky few will also win a Meet and Greet with Tiësto in person.

Supporting Tiësto on the night will be Toolroom Records boss Mark Knight with whom Tiësto collaborated on the 2011 hit “Beautiful World”.

“The new Citigo is youthful and fresh and this partnership with Tiësto fits perfectly with our positioning of this new car” commented Helen Bainbridge, ŠKODA National Communications Manager.

“We’re really excited about this event and believe it will appeal to a new, younger audience for ŠKODA in the UK.”

In addition to the UK performance, Tiësto will be playing a series of exclusive ŠKODA dates across Europe, in the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, France and Italy throughout the summer. More details are on facebook.com/skoda.

Press Contact: Taylor Herring PR +208 206 5151

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Do you have a hidden talent?

On April 25th, 2012 admin wrote on the subject of Celebrity PR,Television Industry PR,Television PR.

How far can natural talent really go and what if it could change your life?

Launching this week Hidden Talent is a new six-part Channel 4 series (Tuesdays at 9pm) which discovers people with extraordinary hidden talents they never even dreamed they had.

Hundreds of randomly selected people are put through a series of test to identify those with hidden abilities and nine participants discover if they can go from being a total novice to a top class performer in record time.

Overseen by scientists and academics, over 900 people from all around the country undergo testing, and a number are found to have special physical, mental, sensory or creative talents – of which they were totally unaware.

The Hidden Talent experts then take them on, training and developing them to face extraordinary challenges and push their newly discovered Hidden Talent to its limit, a process which could even change the rest of their lives.

Presenter Richard Bacon follows each of their progress – uncovering the amazing science which enables these individuals to achieve what others can only dream of. These talents range from latent linguistic skills that allow an individual to become fluent in a foreign language in just a few months, to the mammalian diving reflex enabling some people to hold their breath for up to four minutes and dive to a depth of 60 metres without scuba gear, or even an extraordinary sense of direction that makes someone a human Sat-Nav, capable of finding their way through an uncharted wilderness.

The tests carried out on potential contributors are designed to assess aptitude rather than skills or knowledge, so viewers can also take part through specially designed interactive tests on the Channel 4 website. Mirroring those in the series, these absorbing and fun challenges are devised in consultation with the series’ experts and give viewers the opportunity to uncover their own Hidden Talent – ranging from memory games and humming tasks to being a human metronome.

Developed and produced by Silver River, in association with American Express, this series explores how remarkable we are as human beings and reveals just what we could really capable of, using our Hidden Talent.

Press Contact: Taylor Herring PR

 

 

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The Apprentice returns to BBC One

On March 13th, 2012 admin wrote on the subject of Celebrity PR,Event PR,Television PR,The Apprentice,Uncategorized.

16 potential business partners. 12 tough weeks. One life changing opportunity…

LONDON, Tuesday 13th March 2012: BBC One’s multi award-winning and critically acclaimed business entertainment series The Apprentice returns for an eighth series on Wednesday 21st March, as the latest line-up of budding business partners faces Lord Sugar in the battle for boardroom supremacy.

From across the UK and Ireland, this year’s selection of entrepreneurial hopefuls have come to London to face the biggest challenge of their careers – fighting it out in a business battle over 12 tough tasks to impress multi-millionaire tycoon, Lord Sugar.

(l-r – back row) Jade Nash, Duane Bryan, Maria O’Connor, Tom Gearing, Ricky Martin, Bilyana Apostolova, Stephen Brady, Adam Corbally
(l-r – front row) Azhar Siddique, Jane McEvoy, Laura Hogg, Jenna Whittingham, Gabrielle Omar, Michael Copp, Katie Wright, Nick Holzherr

The candidates’ CVs reveal everything from a professional wrestler, a show jumper and a shark diver to entrepreneurs in fields as varied as architecture, beauty, bridal, technology, fine wine and greengrocery.

Selected for their burning passion for business and naked ambition, only one can succeed in proving they have the commercial insight and business sense to be worthy of entering into a partnership with Lord Sugar as the winner of The Apprentice 2012.

In business, times are tough and investment is hard to come by. The 16 ambitious applicants are determined to win the backing they need, but to get funding they’ll face the fight of a life time. On offer, 40 years of experience and a quarter of a million pounds.

From market stall to market leader, Lord Sugar is a global success story. Willing to invest when others won’t, he’s now on the hunt for a new business partner. Once again he is putting his money on the line, offering the winner both the opportunity to be his partner and an investment to the value of £250,000 founded on the basis of their business idea.

Failure is not an option and errors will not be excused as Lord Sugar wastes no time in informing his 16 possible partners of his high expectations:

“This is not about a job anymore and I’m not looking for a friend, if I wanted a friend I’d get a dog. I’m looking for a partner, the ‘Marks’ to my ‘Spencer’, the ‘Lennon’ to my ‘McCartney’. This is about me investing £250,000 into a business with one of you and I’m expecting you, as the so called entrepreneurs, to make the money for me.”

“Some of you may come here with preconceived plans of how this is going to play out. Let me give you a warning, don’t try and hide. We’re not playing ‘Where’s Wally’ here. I’m not looking for Lord Lucan, I’m looking for somebody who is going to put themselves forward and show me that they have got the aggression and business acumen to be my partner.”

To help him keep an eye on how the candidates perform over the 12 challenging tasks, Lord Sugar will be aided once again by his trusted advisors Nick Hewer and Karren Brady.

It will be the candidates’ plan and Lord Sugar’s money, but in order to get it a punishing selection process awaits.This year’s candidates face a series of demanding tasks, each designed to push their skills to the limit.

Although the candidates will live in a lavish four storey Bayswater townhouse and be given a taste of the high-flying life they dream of, the weeks ahead will be anything but glamorous as they roll up their tailored sleeves and embark upon weeks of hard graft with only one of them emerging victorious. Their rivalry and competitiveness will be unearthed as the 16 challengers vie for the chance to go into business with one of the world’s most renowned business moguls.

Episode one follows the candidates as they are split into two teams, boys versus girls, with Nick and Karren closely monitoring their every move. Appropriately, in the first task the prospective candidates must start with a blank canvas. The teams are set the challenge of starting their own print businesses. They must buy £500 worth of bare materials, from mugs to mouse mats, create designs to print on to them and then sell their unique products to the public. The decision of what products to choose and which customers to target is theirs but only one factor will be considered in the first boardroom showdown – who has made the most profit?

Series eight will see personalities clash and tempers soar as the cut-throat competition gets tougher with every task.

With each task based on new business opportunities, the candidates will design a new household gadget, produce a condiment, open a junk shop, create a fitness DVD, represent urban / street artists and promote English sparkling wine.

For these elite professionals it is make or break time in the most daunting challenge they will ever face. With gripping boardroom showdowns and opinionated candidates, this series promises to be the most intense and unpredictable yet.

16 potential business partners. 12 tough weeks. One life changing opportunity. Lord Sugar’s search for his new business partner is about to begin…

Ultimate fan show, The Apprentice: You’re Fired! will also be making a welcome return to BBC Two immediately after the main show with host Dara O Briain in the chair. Each week the fired candidate is interrogated by business experts, celebrity fans of the show and a studio audience of viewers.

The BBC Apprentice website – bbc.co.uk/apprentice – will feature clips from each episode and exclusive footage of each of the 16 candidates, filmed during the selection process. Radio 1 DJ Matt Edmondson will be giving his take on each episode with exclusive funny clips. Viewers will also be able to catch up with events surrounding the show on the official Apprentice Twitter and Facebook pages.

The Apprentice is a Boundless production for BBC One. Michele Kurland and Peter Moore are the Executive Producers, Cate Hall is Series Producer. Jo Wallace is the Executive Editor for the BBC.

The Apprentice will air on BBC One and BBC One HD and will be repeated on BBC Three.

Press Contact: Taylor Herring PR

MEET THE GIRLS

Bilyana Apostolova
Age: 25
Occupation: Risk Analyst
Lives: London, UK
Bulgaria born Bilyana started off her career aged six, collecting snails from her grandparents’ farm to sell to pharmaceutical companies, and is now training to be a Wealth Manager for British entrepreneurs. The former head girl, who prefers rollerblading to and from work, feels her biggest achievement is her attitude to life and a dedication to advancing by learning and working hard. She loves dancing, baking and travelling. She describes herself as positive and adaptable but feels her greatest weakness is dealing with confrontation.
She says: “I got myself from a Communist block of flats in Bulgaria to the top of a skyscraper in the heart of the City of London.”

Gabrielle Omar
Age: 29
Occupation: Architect
Lives: London, UK

Gabrielle’s first job was helping at her parents’ fish and chip shop when she was 14. She learnt how to ride a bike last year and loves running, photography, drawing and painting watercolours. She says that she rules her life on gut feelings, and as a result never has regrets. Gabrielle first got a passport at the age of 19 and has had the travelling bug ever since, once travelling to 13 different countries in a year. Gabrielle feels her persistency is her strength but her trusting nature is her biggest weakness.

She says: “When it comes to business I can be like an animal and I will roar my way to the top.”

Jade Nash
Age: 29
Occupation: Business Development Manager
Lives: Bedfordshire, UK

Former 18-30 rep Jade grew up helping at her parents’ caravan park. She feels her strength is her resilience and says that she doesn’t have any annoying habits. She enjoys going to the gym, hosting dinner parties and her passions are money, her friends and life. Jade loves cars and often attends drag racing events. She lists her parents as her role models, as both have their own businesses, her father owns a holiday park and her mother is a funeral celebrant.

She says: “What I want is to be able to retire when I’m 45, but I’m such a workaholic that I’ll probably carry on until I’m 80”.

Jane McEvoy
Age: 28
Occupation: Co-founder of Food Manufacturing Company
Lives: Kilkenny, Ireland

Jane is a mother of one, and lives in Kilkenny, Ireland. She admits to being opinionated and a workaholic but also says that she is determined and honest. An animal lover, Jane says if she never had to worry about money she would open an animal shelter for cats and dogs. Jane used to play hockey for her province and camogie for her county. Her role model is her glamorous grandmother, who is an empowered woman with 12 children.

She says: “Anything is achievable if you have drive, determination, and a seriously good work ethic”.

Jenna Whittingham
Age: 25
Occupation: Beauty Salon Owner
Lives: Lancashire, UK

Homebody Jenna has never been away from home for longer than a week and can’t cook or clean. Jenna spends her spare time horse-riding and competing in show jumping events and competed at the Wembley 1998 Horse of the Year show. She describes herself as a ‘people person’ but also admits to being a bad loser. Jenna is dyslexic and her role model is her dad, who is also dyslexic but set up his own business building horse boxes. Her ambition is to earn a million pounds before she turns 30.

She says: “My personality and character is ‘once seen never forgotten”.

Katie Wright
Age: 26
Occupation: Editorial and Research Director
Lives: London, UK

Katie is a huge football fan and loves to attend Fulham football matches. Katie, who got married last year, admits to talking too much but feels she can get on with anyone. Her first job was as a pot washer in a French restaurant when she was 13. Katie wishes she was the brains behind Heinz Baked Beans and says that she admires Barack Obama for his charisma.

She says: “I would call myself ‘The Blonde Assassin’. I let people underestimate me just so I can blow them out of the water.”

Laura Hogg
Age: 28
Occupation: Bridal Shop Owner
Lives: Glasgow, UK

Scot Laura is a mother of one who loves skiing. A former ice skater, she once skated with Torvil and Dean. She says her strength is that she will go out of her way for others however she admits to sometimes being stubborn. She is inspired by Michelle Mone as a powerful working mother from Scotland who created a business empire.

She says: “I am going to be one of Scotland’s next big exports”.

Maria O’Connor
Age: 20
Occupation: Restaurateur
Lives: Kent, UK

Bubbly Maria opened her own Greek restaurant at the age of 19 and is inspired by Gordon Ramsay. She admits that she is headstrong and cunning when it comes to business, and says that her persuasive charm helps her always get what she wants. She enjoys shopping, socialising and is an adrenaline junkie. Maria wishes she was the brains behind cotton buds as they are cheap to make but are used in every household.

She says: “If you chuck me in the deep end I’ll swim, I won’t sink.”

MEET THE BOYS

Adam Corbally
Age: 32
Occupation: Market Trader
Lives: Derbyshire, UK

Father of two Adam loves swimming, playing football and cycling. Adam says that he is confident and enthusiastic but that he is not ashamed to show his emotions. Adam’s first job was stacking bread at his local Co-op. He now runs a wholesale and retail fruit and veg business and manages his own property portfolio. He wishes he was the brains behind Virgin Galactic because he feels it is innovative, a world first, and offers people the chance to have their dreams come true. Adam organises the annual turning on of the Christmas lights in his local community.

He Says: “I get too excited, but that shows my passion, it shows my drive and it shows my ability.”

Azhar Siddique
Age: 33
Occupation: Founder and Managing Director of Catering and Refrigeration Company
Lives: Manchester, UK

Thrill seeker Azhar enjoys shark diving and has two pet sharks. He feels his biggest strengths are his professionalism and integrity but also admits that he gets very restless very quickly. In his spare time Azhar enjoys strength training and Muay Thai and loves scuba diving due to his passion for marine life. Azhar is inspired by the IKEA brand and admires its founder, Invgar Kamprad, for always sticking to his high self-imposed standards.

He Says: “It’s not who shouts the loudest; it’s who has the ability to control the conversation”.

Duane Bryan
Age: 29
Occupation: Founder/Director of Drinks Distribution Company
Lives: Manchester, UK

Have a go hero Duane once chased and caught a hit and run driver trying to flee the scene of a crash. He says that his biggest strength in business is his creativity but that his attention to detail can be somewhat lacking. Duane enjoys going out to bars and nightclubs in his spare time and says he is inspired by the Jaegermeister brand. He has met Tony Blair as part of a voluntary group.

He Says: “I am a winner and I am a fighter, in order to be the best you’ve got to beat the best.”

Michael Copp
Age: 31
Occupation: MD Kitchen and Bedroom Furniture Retailer
Lives: London, UK

Michael says his biggest strength is his positivity but admits that he can be impatient. In his spare time Michael enjoys fishing, walking and boxing. Michael, who is dyslexic, wishes he had worked harder at school and regrets leaving at 15 and not finishing his education. He would have liked to have been the brains behind Apple as he admires the way they cornered the market with their products and set themselves apart from their rivals.

He Says: “I’m better than unique; I’m naturally gifted in business.”

Nick Holzherr
Age: 25
Occupation: Technology Entrepreneur
Lives: Birmingham, UK
Nick, who lived in Switzerland for seven years as a child, was named ‘emerging entrepreneur of the year’ by Insider Magazine in 2010. When Nick was nine years old he earned money by selling lost golf balls back to golfers. He enjoys playing squash, snowboarding and cooking, and loves buying kitchen gadgets. Nick feels his intelligence is one of his strengths but knows his impatient nature can sometimes make him come across as arrogant. He would like to build and sell his own businesses before becoming an investor in start-up companies, and cites Steve Jobs as an inspiration.
He Says: “I’ve got lots of ideas, I know how to whittle them down into ideas that will work and I’ve got what it takes to make them actually happen.”

Ricky Martin
Age: 26
Occupation: Recruitment Team Leader
Lives: Hampshire, UK

By day Ricky is a successful recruitment manager operating across the UK science industries, and by night and weekend a heavy hitting professional wrestler. Ricky, who has an Honours degree in Biochemistry, spends his spare time competing at wrestling events and is also an amateur body builder, training five to six times a week. Ricky recently got engaged to his girlfriend, and says his greatest strength is his people skills and that his weakness is that he is a perfectionist. Ricky wishes he was the brains behind Facebook and once played tennis against Tim Henman at Wimbledon.

He Says: “I truly am the reflection of perfection.”

Stephen Brady
Age: 33
Occupation: National Sales Manager
Lives: Vienna, Austria

Ireland born Stephen loves learning new languages, reading and writing stories. Stephen says that he is a focused and down to earth person who is inspired by Muhammad Ali. He feels it is important to make every day count and tries to live life to the absolute limit. Stephen, who once lived in New York, has a passion for sport and the outdoors and once played in the FA cup as a semi-professional footballer.

He Says: “Enthusiasm is a huge asset of mine and I believe it’s caught and not taught.”

Tom Gearing
Age: 23
Occupation: Director of a Fine Wine Investment Company
Lives: London, UK

Tom feels his biggest strength is his self-assurance but says that he can sometimes be over-confident. He also admits he isn’t great at handling early morning starts. Tom enjoys going to music events and West Ham football matches in his spare time and also plays golf, tennis and football for a Sunday League team. Tom’s passions are fine dining and wine and he also loves travelling around the world. He is inspired by Candy & Candy and wishes he was the brains behind ASOS.

He Says: “I’m confident, charismatic and some people say I’m quite good looking, so that adds to the bill”.

- NOTES TO EDITORS - 

The Apprentice

BAFTA Award-winning business series, The Apprentice, has previously had seven successful series as well as two series of the Young Apprentice.

As well as a wealth of loyal fans, The Apprentice has received critical acclaim and won numerous awards including a BAFTA in 2006 for Best Feature. It has also walked away with top TV gongs including recent accolades at the BPG TV Awards, Televisual Bulldog Awards, National Reality Television Awards and TV Choice Awards as well as nominations at the National Television Awards, BAFTA Craft Awards and BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards along with a Press Guild Award for series six and a TV Choice Award for Best Reality Show for series seven.

Last year, The Apprentice transmitted on BBC One over a 12 weeks period, with 10.7 million viewers tuning in to watch the final episode in which Tom Pellereau became Lord Sugar’s new business partner.

It’s the toughest interview process ever, and with more determined candidates this series, it promises to be the most intense and unpredictable.

Apprentice series 7 introduced the UK to Jedi Jim and his boardroom mind tricks, as well as being the first series featuring the new prize of a partnership with Lord Sugar rather than a job offer. Apprentice series 6 saw candidate Stuart Baggs ‘The Brand’ take metaphors to a new level revealing that he was not a one trick pony but was in fact a field of ponies. In series 5, for the first time ever, the series saw candidate Adam Freeman pull out before the first task had even started. Other highlights of previous series include Lorraine Tighe’s ‘premonitions’, the romance between Kate Walsh and Philip ‘Pantsman’ Taylor, the brash defences of Claire Young and boardroom bluffing of Jenny Celerier.

The memorable catchphrases spouted by some of the candidates have put smiles on the faces of millions of viewers, including Melody Hossaini’s “Don’t tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon” and Edward Hunter’s “Roll with the punches.” The business theatrics of Michael Sophocles and his kosher meat gaffe has made him one of the standout characters of the previous seven series, while the floundering failures of school teacher Noorul Choudhury had the nation screaming at the TV as he escaped the firing line on many occasions. Sandwich seller Rocky Andrews failing in the catering task, Lee McQueen’s pterodactyl impression and not forgetting Raef Bjayou’s ability to “speak to prince or pauper” have all had the nation cowering behind their CVs for the past six years.

There have been two Comic Relief specials and one Sport Relief special of The Apprentice, featuring stellar celebrity line ups.The Apprentice has spawned a number of columns and blogs in the national press and has been spoofed by comedians including French & Saunders, Harry Hill and Dead Ringers. In 2007, the BBC Two show Kombat Opera spoofed The Apprentice with Kombat Opera Presents…The Applicants. In 2009 renowned YouTube artist Cassette Boy created Cassette Boy vs The Apprentice which has attracted over 2.8 million hits to date on YouTube alone.

Has walked away with top TV gongs including recent accolades at the BPG TV Awards, Televisual Bulldog Awards, National Reality Television Awards and TV Choice Awards as well as nominations at the National Television Awards, BAFTA Craft Awards and BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards along with a Press Guild Award for series six and a TV Choice Award for Best Reality Show for series seven.

Lord Sugar

After leaving school in Hackney aged 16, Sugar started selling car aerials and electric goods out of a van he bought for £50. In 1968, he founded Amstrad, and now, over 40 years later, he has an estimated worth of £730 million, and was ranked 85th in the 2010 Sunday Times Rich List.

A former Chairman of Tottenham Hotspur FC, Sugar sold his Amstrad empire to Sky in July 2007. Sugar’s other companies include AMSCREEN, which offers digital screen media advertising networks, AMSAIR, which offers business and executive jets to a number of high profile clients around the world, AMSPROP, a property investment firm and VIGLEN, a manufacturer specialising in computers, networks and solutions.

In 2000, Sugar was knighted for his services to business and he holds two honorary Doctorates of Science degrees, awarded by CityUniversity and BrunelUniversity respectively.

Having previously sat on the Business Council for Britain and fronted a campaign promoting the benefits of apprenticeships, in 2009 he was named as Enterprise Champion and appointed to the House of Lords as Baron Sugar of Clapton in the London Borough of Hackney.

In 2010, Lord Sugar released his autobiography, ‘What You See Is What You Get’ and in 2011 he released ‘The Way I See It’.

Lord Sugar is a philanthropist who donates to a number of charities including Great Ormond Street Hospital and Jewish Care.

Nick Hewer

Former PR impresario Nick Hewer started off in public relations in the mid 1960s. Heading up his own PR company until its sale in 1997, Nick built an impressive corporate client list which, over more than 30 years, included many British and international companies and organisations, including the Secretariat of His Highness the Aga Khan, based in Chantilly, France and the wife of the ruler of Dubai, the late H H Sheikh Maktoum.

Nick first came across Lord Sugar when his PR company was chosen to represent Amstrad in 1983. Soon taking care of his profile across all business and personal dealings, Nick became a trusted ally and firm friend to the tycoon, playing an integral part in the management structure at Amstrad.

Friends throughout both careers, Lord Sugar laid on a dinner at The Dorchester for Nick and 100 guests to celebrate his official retirement. Says Nick: “Alan is a very generous friend. The best thing about working for him was there was always something going on – he has vibrancy about him.”

Nick’s career has taken him all over the world and his lifelong passion is world travel. Not long ago he drove a 20 year-old Renault 4L solo from London to Mongolia for charity and last summer took part in the Children in Need trek from Istanbul to Almaty in Kazakhstan. As a patron of Hope and Homes for Children, Nick helps promote this British charity. He has worked for them in Romania, Rwanda and will visit Sierra Leone this summer. He has a home in France where he indulges his other passion, for old tractors.

Nick’s much loved dry wit and legendary facial expressions have taken him through seven series of The Apprentice and have also seen him appear on comedy panel shows such as ‘Would I Lie To You?’ In January 2012 he became the presenter of Channel 4’s ‘Countdown’.

Karren Brady

Karren Brady began her career at Saatchi & Saatchi when she was 18 years old and swiftly moved onto London Broadcasting Company as a sales executive. She joined Sport Newspapers Ltd in 1988 and became Director within a year.

Karren is now known as the first woman in football. She was Managing Director of Birmingham City Football Club from 1993 to 2009 and during that time turned the Club’s fortunes around. She took over Birmingham City FC when it was in administration, and in her first year at the helm, the Club recorded a financial trading profit. In January 2010, Karren was appointed Vice Chairman of West Ham United FC.

Karren has attracted much media attention in her career, and was the subject of an hour long documentary ‘Inside Story’ – The Real Life Manageress’ shown on BBC One. She has hosted her own TV show, and has also presented shows on ITV. Karren has written four books and her autobiography ‘Strong Woman: Ambition, Grit and a Great Pair of Heels’ is released on 29th March 2012.

Karren is a columnist for The Sun newspaper and also writes for the popular lifestyle magazines Cosmopolitan and Woman & Home. She is a judge of the Cosmopolitan Women of Achievement Awards and is an Ambassador for the Stroke Association and WellChild. Previously on the Board of Mothercare PLC, Channel 4 Television and Sport England, Karren now holds the position of non-Executive Director of Arcadia. She is an honoree Fellow of the Institute of Sales and Marketing and in 2010 was awarded an honorary Doctorate from the University of Birmingham.

In March 2007 she was chosen as the Project Manager of the girls team on BBC One’s The Apprentice, for Comic Relief, where she lead her team to a resounding victory over the boys, raising over £750k for charity.

In 2010 following appearances as one of Lord Sugar’s interrogators on The Apprentice, Karren replaced Margaret Mountford as Lord Sugar’s right-hand woman.

Karren has won various awards including, Business Woman of the Year, Cosmopolitan Woman Of The Year, the Spirit of Everywoman Award, Britain’s Most Influential Woman Award as well as a National Reality TV Award for her role in The Apprentice.

Boundless

Boundless is headed up by Patrick Holland and encompasses factual entertainment, factual features and specialist factual programming, including The Apprentice, Young Apprentice, Escape To The Country, Great British Railway Journeys, Grand Designs and Four Rooms.

Fremantle Media UK

FremantleMedia UK, formerly independent production company talkbackTHAMES, is the UK production arm of FremantleMedia, the global production and content business of the RTL Group, Europe’s largest television and radio company.

It was formed in January 2012 when the company was restructured into a portfolio of labels managed by creative leaders including Richard Holloway, Dan Baldwin, Jon Rolph and Patrick Holland.The labels are supported by a new division, FremantleMedia UK, led by CEO, Sara Geater. The structure has been designed to give the company’s market leading talent greater creative freedom and autonomy in order to deliver the best programmes for customers.

Across the group, the labels provide award winning programming for all major terrestrial, digital channels and digital outlets. With an unparalleled range of programming including: The X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent, Celebrity Juice, Take Me Out, Over The Rainbow, The Apprentice, You’re Fired, Can’t Take It With You, Four Rooms, Grand Designs, Great British Railway Journeys, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, The IT Crowd, QI, The Rob Brydon Show,The Sinking of the Laconia, Kidnap and Ransom and Holy Flying Circus – the Group has aired over 350 hours of programming on terrestrial TV in the past 12 months alone.

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