Sir Alan shoots from the hip!
VM: You had to be persuaded to make the third series of The Apprentice. Why?
Sir Alan: "I was disappointed with the calibre of candidates in the second series. For me to agree to this series I had to be sure the calibre was good. I didn't want the show to become Big Brother on wheels. I think the one thing the show has over other reality shows is that it is classy and business minded. When we selected candidates we made sure they had business acumen. Of course it's a TV show so you want some characters in there as well."
VM: Last year's winner Michelle Dewberry left your company after three months. Do you regret choosing her and not runner-up Ruth Badger?
Sir Alan: "Look, I'm in an awkward situation here in having to bite my tongue. That's the best thing I can say at this stage. I have a lot of regrets about last year. Turning up was one!"
VM: What do you think of the current wrangle between Virgin Media and Sky?
Sir Alan: "Oh dear. I think I'll have to pass on that one. Glad to see you've still got a job though!"
VM: Is it tempting to judge the candidates on first impressions?
Sir Alan: "I make it a rule never to judge on first impressions. The show is a 12 week interview and during that time people show their true colours."
VM: Do you ever feel you've fired the wrong person?
Sir Alan: "The dilemnas of who to fire are always worse at the early stages. Sometimes when you see the footage back on the telly you revise your thinking. Ben from the first series for instance went far too easily.
VM: What do you think of the US version of The Apprentice with Donald Trump?
Sir Alan: "Honestly, I don't think it's as classy as our version. The US series often makes things unnecessarily fussy."
VM: What are your favourite TV shows?
Sir Alan: "I think Dragon's Den is an excellent show. Very classy. I like quality shows. I enjoy Masterchef for the same reasons. I hate reality trash like Big Brother."
VM: Do you sometimes feel that candidates are taking part purely for TV exposure rather than for business reasons?
Sir Alan: "I do sometimes wonder if candidates are here for the right reasons. But the power of TV is massive and the exposure does go to their heads I'm afraid."
VM: How do you feel about former Apprentice winner Tim Campbell resigning?
Sir Alan: "I think Tim is a wonderful fellow and a role model to young people. He's been a great asset to the company and I hope he succeeds in the future. If he needs any help I'll advise him."
27th March, 2007