Ratings drop for Apprentice launch - Daily TV round-up

The new series of 'The Apprentice' has experienced another drop in ratings after its first episode on BBC One last night.

Just over six million people tuned in to see Lord Sugar's new hopefuls in this ninth series, and while it won the highest ratings of its time slot, it was 400,000 people short of its launch last series.

It also compares badly to the success of previous series – with 2011's show launching to a much larger audience of 7.8 million.

The news comes after Lord Sugar denied that the contestants had been 'sexed up' in the hope of bringing in more viewers.

Critics and viewers have noted the abundance of pretty females among the contestants this year, with one, 25-year-old Luisa Zissman, describing herself as having the 'sex appeal of Jessica Rabbit'.

“I don’t think the glamour is going to affect ratings. That wasn’t intentional,” he told The Sun.

“To be honest with you, people make the best of themselves when they know they are going to be on TV. There was no deliberate, ‘Get a load of dolly birds’ or anything like that.”

The first casualty of the new series, Jaz Ampaw-Farr, who was fired last night, appeared to echo the sentiments about the female contestants, who are being dubbed the 'Sugar Babes'.

“Everyone was glamorous, it was like The Only Way Is The Apprentice. I guess people get dolled up when they know they are going to be on telly,” she said.

“When the candidates were coming in to reception, I remember thinking, ‘Please don’t let me have the biggest bum out of this group of women... ’ but everyone was so skinny and gorgeous.”

Project manager Jaz crashed out of the competition after being tasked with selling a container full of imported goods. [Digital Spy/The Sun]

Also in today's press

'EastEnders' love rat David Wicks, played by 'Holby City' and 'Casualty' star Michael French, is set to return to the series after leaving 17 years ago. He made a brief return to the show when his mother Pat (Pam St Clement) died last year, but now his role will be expanded. [Daily Mirror]

After it emerged that Michael Barrymore is working part-time in a garden centre, former 'Coronation Street' star Bruce Jones – who played Les Battersby – has revealed he's working as a mechanic in North Wales. He reportedly earns £120-a-week at Abergele Tyres and Exhausts. “I love it. I’ve learnt how to change tyres, strip exhausts, put them back and how to make a good cup of tea! Customers say, ‘Thanks for fixing my tyre, Les!’,” he said. [The Sun]

Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Derek Jacobi's new sitcom 'Vicious' has lost two million viewers. 3.52 million tuned in to watch the Bank Holiday Monday episode, compared to 5.5 million for its debut episode. [Digital Spy]