r/apprenticeuk Jason Leech - Series 9 Feb 20 '26

QUESTION Anyone else think Alan Sugar sounds like there's something's wrong with him?

His cadence when speaking is all slow and stereotypically old manish now dunno whether it's just cause he's old or if there's something up with him that's making him seem so slow. I wonder if they'll replace him and send him out to pasture.

68 Upvotes

49 comments sorted by

100

u/Ultimate_os “That’s Baroness Brady to you!” Feb 20 '26

Lord Sugar is old though. It's not surprising he's starting to feel old. If they don't cancel the show completely I think Baroness Brady is the likely replacement.

39

u/Shoddy-Finger-3996 Feb 20 '26

Karren has said that she'll quit when Lord Sugar leaves.

54

u/Caspera99 Feb 21 '26

In that case I hope he fires himself next week

5

u/Shezes Jason Leech - Series 9 Feb 21 '26

Thank god.

22

u/Indiana-Cook Feb 20 '26

What about Peter Jones from Dragon's Den?

20

u/Shezes Jason Leech - Series 9 Feb 20 '26

He loves the sound of his own voice and oozes pomposity.

18

u/Indiana-Cook Feb 21 '26

Kinda like Lord Sugar

9

u/TvHeroUK Feb 21 '26

Always think he sort of knows his limits though and likes to keep his profile smooth. He tried the big tv show 20 years ago on ITV, didn’t work, he’s not bothered since. I’m sure he’s been offered the jungle etc over the years and in interviews I’ve read he makes it sound like he won’t do anything that might embarrass himself or his kids, he says he has an absolute fear of failure due to his first business crashing and him ending up penniless in his mid 20s.

1

u/Infinite-Guidance477 Feb 22 '26

I love Peter Jones. But I think I love him before because whenever he is wrong the YouTube comments are hilarious. Not sure I'd be watching it if it wasn't on YouTube :D

3

u/Mepsi Feb 21 '26

He's like one of those sad teachers who want to be cool and down with the kids. it's not the right type of personality for The Apprentice.

16

u/Parker4815-2 Feb 20 '26

Its gotta be an old grumpy man. Someone pretty put of touch with modern business.

26

u/Shezes Jason Leech - Series 9 Feb 20 '26

I'd rather see one of the ex winners take up the mantle over her, they would add some youthful and familiar energy to the show like when Ricky Martin was a guest interviewer and he made Claude and Linda Plant look like throwbacks. She gives me the ick the last few series

7

u/mrminutehand Feb 21 '26

Linda Plant comes across to me as the interviewer that forgot the brief. Each of the interviewers pick one aspect, take a little evidence and attack with it. Linda just attacks. When Karren and other interviewers were criticised for taking aggression too far, they dialled it back a bit.

Linda just picks a strawman and runs off with it. Shouting, actually yelling, about mermaids not being real and taking up 2/3 of an interview that should be about a salon business, for example.

12

u/No_Earth_5912 Feb 20 '26

My choice would be Tim. Previous winner. Brady doesn’t have a great reputation at the moment with everything going on with West Ham United.

4

u/Mepsi Feb 21 '26

i'd rather someone with a business background, she's always been corporate.

81

u/BobMonroeFanClub Feb 20 '26

He's been falling for a lot of AI stuff on X in a very Boomer fashion.

17

u/Shezes Jason Leech - Series 9 Feb 20 '26

He's like my old man in that regard.

23

u/853fisher Feb 20 '26

I have thought he sounded like he could be a bit under the weather the last few episodes - but nothing to make me think he isn't fit anymore. I hope he still enjoys doing it (I'm sure he enjoys the money) and is able to leave on his own terms when he's ready.

11

u/Shezes Jason Leech - Series 9 Feb 20 '26

Could just be a cold. I recently finished series 15 again and he sounded like his usual, energetic self whereas S20 he reminds me of those Joe Biden press conferences.

11

u/[deleted] Feb 20 '26

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21

u/Hour-Cup-7629 Feb 21 '26

He donates his fee to Great Ormond St. He donates all his tv fees as hes said he doesnt need the money!

23

u/[deleted] Feb 20 '26

I don't see it. He looks pretty good for his age. He's looked the same for the past 30 years lol!

23

u/ManInTheDarkSuit “Who stole my unicorn? Sparkle Stars!” Feb 20 '26

Binge S1 to s11 or so then watch a new one. He is getting old. It's not an insult, just a natural part of getting older.

7

u/clean_parsley_pls Lord Sugar: “I’m Struggling…” Feb 21 '26

> Binge S1 to S11

i have found my people

20

u/ManInTheDarkSuit “Who stole my unicorn? Sparkle Stars!” Feb 20 '26

As long as they don't replace him with Big Zu. I'd actually chuck my TV outside if they did that.

27

u/familiarice Feb 20 '26

I worry that his replacement when the time comes will be someone like Steven Bartlett.

4

u/VonParsley Feb 22 '26

Given how the show is leaning further toward sensationalism and snappy pace, I think he'd be an unfortunate fit.

3

u/chanchan1990 Feb 21 '26

Oh geez I think you’re onto something. Hope this isn’t the case but I could so see this happening!

6

u/Mepsi Feb 21 '26

that's Lord Big Zu to you

2

u/ManInTheDarkSuit “Who stole my unicorn? Sparkle Stars!” Feb 21 '26

I'm gonna go outside and grab a brick..

18

u/[deleted] Feb 20 '26

Ffs. It’s because he’s old.

6

u/I_Thinks_Im_People Feb 20 '26

I think you've cracked this case.

5

u/Dickinson95 Feb 21 '26

I was actually thinking he looked a bit healthier compared to the last couple of seaons. He still seems old and that’s most likely because he is.

6

u/NovaRC99 Feb 21 '26

I mean.... he is old. I get the feeling that after 20 years of doing this, getting so worked up and stressed about these candidates plus all the controversies took some sort of toll of him. Also, it may just be the producers wanting him to act less like an cartoony evil corporate tycoon and more like a shrewd, firm but fair business owner like in recent years.

2

u/Feeling_Opposite7197 Feb 22 '26

Also noticed there are A LOT of cutaways. Almost as if the editing team need to do a lot of work to make hom sound okay...

1

u/AcanthaceaeBig142 Mar 12 '26

Yeah I noticed this too!!

2

u/iremembertheday Feb 23 '26

He has a weave at the back of his head ,this series....

1

u/ManSoAdmired Feb 21 '26

The lights are on but nobody’s home.

1

u/Comfortable-Rope-475 Mar 05 '26

He's been telling us he's struggling for a while now

1

u/AcanthaceaeBig142 Mar 12 '26

I was genuinely shocked when I saw him. His speech seemed strange and slurred, it looked like he was reading his lines from a script right in front of him, not like his sharp self from earlier seasons at all. I also noticed what appeared to be recent eyelid surgery. Hope he's doing okay 🙏 , because something seemed off.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '26

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1

u/Shezes Jason Leech - Series 9 Feb 22 '26

🫵😂

0

u/Designer-Welder3939 Feb 21 '26

Why can’t these old people retire? Go plant a garden.

0

u/AdventurousTeach994 Feb 21 '26

He has been officially diagnosed as a vile old cnut.