Onyeka Nweze was the latest candidate to be fired from The Apprentice in Thursday’s show, after her team lost out in a big-money challenge.
The candidates were tasked with launching a new Formula E team before pitching it for sponsorship, and stunned the boardroom by securing the largest sum in the show’s history.
Multi-million-pound negotiations were put in jeopardy when disastrous car designs were unveiled, and questionable branding was revealed.
But despite this, the winning team stunned Lord Sugar by gaining sponsorships valued at £38.7 million.
As her team lost out, Lord Sugar noted that Onyeka’s ‘lack of ethos’ during the task continued to be a concern, especially after her pitches to bankers failed to win them investments.
Onyeka Nweze was the latest candidate to be fired from The Apprentice in Thursday’s show, after her team lost out in a big-money challenge
Branding their video ‘garbage,’ Lord Sugar decided that Onyeka would be fired.
He said: ‘Onyeka, the lack of not explaining the ethos is also a very, very serious thing. You are culpable in as much as the failure is concerned…
‘Onyeka, you’re clearly a charming and highly intelligent lady, and I appreciate that you’ve done your best throughout the course of this process, but on this occasion it simply wasn’t enough. So, it is with regret that Onyeka you’re fired.’
Speaking in the taxi after her exit, Onyeka said: ‘Big shock. I wasn’t expecting it but look it is what it is. It’s happened and I’ve got to take it on the chin.’
Following the big-money Formula E task, one team raced ahead to the top of the podium after gaining sponsorships worth a mind-blowing amount of cash – beating the previous record sum of £1.2million on the 2015 series’ electric bike task.
The winning team’s sponsorship offer, which is the largest in the show’s 18-year history, even surprised Lord Alan Sugar himself, who was convinced it had to be a mistake.
Speaking of the win, Baroness Karen Brady explained how Lord Sugar couldn’t help but be impressed by the performance.
She said: ‘[He was] thrilled. He couldn’t believe it when he saw the number. He was like, ‘Are you sure? Has someone made a mistake? Can you double check it?’ That figure in sponsorship is a huge amount!’
The candidates were tasked with launching a new Formula E team before pitching it for sponsorship
The winning sum is the largest amount gained by a team since one of the teams brought in £1.2million in the electric bike challenge in 2015.
The then-record-breaking total seriously impressed Lord Sugar and left the rival team – who had brought in just over £400,000 – speechless.
It comes after last week’s episode of the latest series saw a double firing, with both recruitment director Jack Davies and pharmacist and business owner Amina Khan given the boot.
During the fourth episode of the show, the group headed to Jersey, to secure and negotiate nine items synonymous to the area for the lowest price.
However, Lord Sugar was less than impressed with Jack and Amina’s efforts in the challenge and told them their ‘lack of strategy’ was their downfall.
He said in the boardroom: ‘Jack, you were ultimately responsible for the strategy, and the strategy failed.
‘But, Amina, you were in charge of the sub-team’s lack of strategy and that cost the whole team big. And so, it is with regret Amina, you’re fired.
‘And Jack, I’m sorry to say, you’re also fired.’
Raj was picked as the team leader for her team as she put herself forward for the job.
Meanwhile, Jack claimed he has eight years experience negotiating with clients and insisted he would be able to ‘lead his team to victory’. He received the most votes from his team and was elected as team leader.
Last week, Recruitment director Jack Davies (pictured) and Pharmacist and Business Owner Amina Khan were booted off the show in a double firing
Their Apprentice journey came to and end after coming under Lord Sugar ‘s firing line in the board room during Thursday’s episode
Both teams were given maps, local directories and a list of items associated with the area they were asked to locate and buy for the lowest price.
The list included a jersey with an emblem of an anchor, freshly shucked oysters, bachin [an antique bowl used for making Jersey butter] and a surfboard.
The teams were both given eight hours to find all of the items and deliver them back to Lord Sugar.
Back in the boardroom, Karen revealed that Jack’s team bought seven of the items and spent £390.20, but failed to secure the Jersey Royal potatoes and sea salt glass jar and they also purchased the wrong size shackle.
They suffered a fine of £274.30 giving them a total spend of £669.50.
Raj’s team spent a total of £337.23 but didn’t secure the Jersey Royals and incurred a fine of £90, giving a total spend for the team of £427.23.
Jack and his team returned to the boardroom and Lord Sugar declared that it was ‘pretty much the worst team he has ever sent out on this task’ as they returned with seven items.
After receiving feedback from Karen Brady, Lord Sugar decided to bring them all back to face the firing line, and ultimately both Jack and Amina were fired.
