 | This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: This article is poorly structured for one covering a television program, as well as a season of episodes – including incorporating a table that is rather unnecessary, details that don't really contribute to the understanding of some information, providing details on episodes which is pure Original Research and unsourced, and organizing the seasons in a backwards-chronological order. The article needs an overhaul to meet better standards. (February 2021) |
| The Apprentice | |
|---|---|
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:The_Apprentice_Ireland.jpg) The header of The Apprentice 2009 with Bill Cullen | |
| Genre | Reality television series |
| Created by | Mark Burnett |
| Country of origin | Ireland |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 42 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Screentime ShinAwiL Productions |
| Running time | 60-minute episodes |
| Original release | |
| Network | TV3 |
| Release | 22 September 2008 – 19 December 2011 |
| Related | |
| Celebrity Apprentice Ireland | |
| Infobox instructions (only shown in preview) | |
The Apprentice is an Irish reality television series, in which a group of aspiring young businessmen and women compete for the chance to win a job as "apprentice" to Bill Cullen, an Irish businessman.
The first series of the show aired on TV3 on 22 September 2008, and finished on 8 December 2008, with Brenda Shanahan as the winner. Shanahan worked at Cullen's company, Renault Ireland, on a 12-month contract worth €100,000.[1] Steve Rayner, a Business Development Manager, won the second series in 2009. That series also featured Breffny Morgan. Michelle Massey won the job in the 2010 series, while Eugene Heary won in 2011.[2] It was announced in May 2012 that the programme would not be renewed for a new series.[3][4]
The Apprentice is modelled on the American series of the same name, which starred entrepreneur Donald Trump, but is styled more closely around the British series starring business magnate Alan, Lord Sugar.[5]
Bill Cullen's assistants in the Irish version of The Apprentice were his partner, and former model, Jackie Lavin and PR "guru", Brian Purcell.[6]
- ^ "The Apprentice coming to Irish TV". RTÉ Arts. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 10 June 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
- ^ "Expect little from this TV spoof". Evening Herald. 20 December 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
- ^ Stephen, Murphy. "Twitter / SMurphyTV3: TV3 announces The Apprentice". Retrieved 19 August 2012.
- ^ "Bill Cullen told 'You're Fired' by TV3 as station pulls the plug on Irish 'The Apprentice'". Irish Independent. 16 May 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- ^ Hanafin, Will (15 June 2008). "Irish Apprentice will be confused at barn-bracking". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
- ^ "The Apprentice Panel". The Apprentice. TV3.