Ex-Apprentice star Luisa Zissman says show’s editing exposes who will make it to the final five
FORMER Apprentice star Luisa Zuissman has suggested the show's editing process confirms which candidates will make up Lord Alan Sugar's final five.
The hit BBC show now has 10 hopefuls left, all competing to become the magnate's next business partner.
However, Luisa - who made it to the final in 2013 only to be pipped by Leah Totton - has claimed show bosses will edit the show in a way that all but confirms the final five.
"You'll notice the five that will get the most air time will be the five that get into the final five," she said.
"They can only edit what you've done, and they tend to put in the more eyebrow-raising stuff."
Speaking to the, Luisa revealed she had a "sneaky suspicion" that controversial candidate Lottie Lion was in with a shot of making the final.
"I've got a sneaky suspicion in the way that she's been edited that she's going to go on a journey. I think that she might get to the final five," she said.
Luisa added that she felt the show was focusing more on "out there" people rather than "some boring accountant".
"I think they've hammed it up in terms of characters and people," she concluded.
"Now they go to more 'out there' people who are going to say the ridiculous things and do the ridiculous things, because – let's be honest – it's an entertainment show."
Lottie was accused of alleged racism in the Apprentice WhatsApp group, and it is thought that at least four contestants made official complaints and agreed to give evidence.
The 19-year-old is said to have told 33-year-old Lubna Farhan “shut up Gandhi” and threatened to “f*** her up”.
The BBC called her words “wholly unacceptable” however it was later claimed the other contestants blasted the statement as "pathetic"; and that "everyone thinks Lottie has got off the hook".
Iasha Masood was the most recent hopeful to leave the board room after Lord Sugar tasked the two teams with two days to come up with an amusement park ride concept.
Iasha failed to impress the 72-year-old businessman and was sent packing, and agreed with Luisa's comments that the show is looking for characters, admitting she is a "very serious businessperson, it’s very boring to watch me talk business".
"But I just think, if I was just a nasty person and I was to launch the brand like I did now - the brand has very ethical values - people would have looked at me and been like, I’m just a hypocrite."
Iasha also took a swipe at Lottie after her elimination, telling The Sun that she was forced to apologise to a client after Lottie and Tom Skinner clashed in an unprofessional manner.
She told The Sun Online: "Absolutely crazy, I've always worked in a very professional space in my job and I'm used to people conducting themselves appropriately."
She added: "Then to be around Lottie and Tom, my god, it was like something out of a TV show.
"They were arguing and then at one point I had to look over at the designer and say, 'I'm so sorry about this'. I just felt so bad for him."