“You’re fired”, the two words synonymous with the TV show The Apprentice, will no longer be uttered by the star of the Irish version of the show, Bill Cullen, at least not in studio.
TV3 yesterday announced it will not be renewing the series which has run an Irish version of the show for four seasons. The TV show, saw hopefuls vie for the position of Mr Cullen’s apprentice. Under the initial format, the competition winner was given a job by the former Dublin market-seller, now chairman and owner of the Glencullen Group.
Last year, the format was changed whereby the winning contestant received an investment in their business rather a job offer. Viewing figures have slipped since the first series, however, and sponsors have been more difficult to find. TV3 said it had had four successful series of The Apprentice but had decided not to renew the series for a fifth year. “TV3 looks forward to announcing a raft of new programmes at its autumn launch in August of this year,” the statement said.