The Apprentice: Season 5
Series Five of The Apprentice was a British reality television series. The series began airing on BBC One on 25 March 2009 and ran for twelve weekly hour-long episodes, as in all previous years. Auditions and interviews took place during July 2008 in London, Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham. There were fifteen participants; one more dropped out prior to the first boardroom briefing. Sir Alan Sugar, Nick Hewer and
Season 5 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of The Apprentice Season 4.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Season overview
Series Five of The Apprentice was a British reality television series. The series began airing on BBC One on 25 March 2009 and ran for twelve weekly hour-long episodes, as in all previous years. Auditions and interviews took place during July 2008 in London, Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham. There were fifteen participants; one more dropped out prior to the first boardroom briefing.
Sir Alan Sugar, Nick Hewer and Margaret Mountford made appearances, as in all previous series. Spin-off show The Apprentice: You're Fired! also returned, airing on BBC Two immediately after the main show.
Episode Guide
Season 5 Progress Shield
Scrubbing Up
Mar 25, 2009 · 60 min
The sixteen new candidates meet Sir Alan for the first time and receive their challenge. They have to start cleaning companies and make as much money as possible. At the end of the
A Hungry Business
Apr 1, 2009 · 60 min
After a punishing first task, there is no let-up for the candidates, as Sir Alan challenges them to set up a catering service for busy professionals in the City of London. In tough
Survival of the Fittest
Apr 8, 2009 · 60 min
This week the two teams have to create a new piece of portable gym equipment and create a poster advertising it. They then have to demonstrate the equipment. At the end of the show
A Soap Opera
Apr 15, 2009 · 60 min
Week four of Sir Alan Sugars search for his apprentice. Sir Alan Sugar challenges the teams to set up their own cosmetics business.
The Advertising Challenge
Apr 22, 2009 · 60 min
The candidates are given the task of a new breakfast cereal with a brand identity including a name for the cereal, design for the box and film a TV campaign that will appeal both t
Bric-a-Brac Race
Apr 29, 2009 · 60 min
The candidates are tasked with taking a collection of items given to them by Sir Alan Sugar and selling them for the most proffit.
Heading North
May 6, 2009 · 60 min
Travelling north for their next challenge, each team must choose two innovative products, and then sell their choices to the right markets within two days.
Cool Margate
May 13, 2009 · 60 min
Alan Sugar sends the candidates to Margate on the Kent coast, where they are challenged to produce an eye-catching series of posters and leaflets designed to attract tourists to th
Baby Love
May 20, 2009 · 60 min
The teams interview suppliers of baby equipment, select two products, and sell them on to a potential 10,000 customers at the country's biggest baby show.
Car Crash TV
May 27, 2009 · 60 min
The teams must select products which they believe will sell the best during an hour of live television. They must then sell these on-screen themselves.
Interviews
Jun 3, 2009 · 60 min
There's no place to hide as the final five candidates face four of Sir Alan's trusted advisors in face-to-face interviews.
The Final
Jun 7, 2009 · 60 min
After facing a multitude of business tasks and a tough interview, the two finalists now face one more challenge – helped by old friends, each finalist must market a brand new box o