A recent episode of the BBC business competition "The Apprentice" saw Roxanne, a pharmacist from Aberdeen, become the latest contestant to be eliminated. Lord Sugar, the show's host, cited her team's failure to develop a strong brand for a bottled water product as the reason for her departure. Roxanne has since voiced her disagreement with the decision, stating she felt her dismissal was undeserved and that other team members exhibited a greater lack of accountability.

Context of Elimination
The task required contestants to create a new brand for bottled water. Roxanne's team struggled with their pitch and branding, ultimately leading to Lord Sugar summoning her, team leader Conor Galvin, and sub-team leader Hamedi to the boardroom.

The Challenge: To develop and brand a new bottled water product.
Outcome for Roxanne's Team: A "disastrous pitch" and "poor branding."
Boardroom Attendees: Roxanne, Conor Galvin (Team Leader), Hamedi (Sub-team Leader).
Lord Sugar's Decision: To fire Roxanne.
Contestant's Response to Firing
Following her exit, Roxanne expressed her disappointment, characterizing her firing as undeserved. She believes that other participants, particularly team leader Conor Galvin, should have faced dismissal.
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"I don’t think I deserved it… There was a lot going on that day and I feel like other people lacked accountability."
She further elaborated on her feeling of being unfairly targeted:

"I feel like he did throw me under the bus because I was just an easy scapegoat."
Roxanne also indicated a regret about not speaking up more forcefully in the boardroom, suggesting she could have highlighted the lack of input from Rajan Gill or emphasized her own creative contributions.
Previous Eliminations
Roxanne is the fifth candidate to be eliminated from the current series. Previously, Tanmay Hingorani was fired after a challenging negotiation task. He was dismissed following a deal of £11.80, which he attributed to a teammate's suggestion to aim for £12. Hingorani felt he "took the bullet" for this outcome and believed another contestant, Megan Ruiter, should have been eliminated instead.
Expert Analysis
The Apprentice often features contestants disputing their firings, with team dynamics and individual accountability being frequent points of contention in the boardroom. Lord Sugar's decisions are typically based on perceived performance during tasks and the ability to articulate justifications for success or failure. The strategic placement of blame, whether by contestants or Lord Sugar, is a consistent element of the show's narrative.
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Conclusion and Implications
Roxanne's departure highlights the intense pressure and subjective nature of judging performance on "The Apprentice." Her public statement suggests a belief that the team's collective issues were not adequately addressed, and that she was singled out. The show continues, with the next episode scheduled for Thursday on BBC One at 9pm. The underlying themes of leadership, accountability, and team performance remain central to the ongoing competition.
Sources Used
Irish News: Published 14 minutes ago. Discusses Roxanne's exit, Lord Sugar's reasoning, and Hamedi's perspective. https://www.irishnews.com/entertainment/the-apprentice-reveals-latest-contestant-to-be-fired-57MNDRVLKVL3HLF43PKBRSXUYM/
Daily Mail: Published 7 minutes ago. Features Roxanne's reaction to her "undeserved" firing and her criticism of her team leader. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tv/article-15573659/fired-apprentice-candidate-undeserved-firing-bbc-boardroom.html
Independent: Published 6 days ago. Details Tanmay Hingorani's firing and his perspective on the negotiation task. https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/culture/who-was-fired-from-the-apprentice-tonight-tanmay-b2919532.html
Metro: Published Jan 29, 2026. Provides a general overview of the 2026 Apprentice line-up and past eliminations, mentioning some candidates' backgrounds. https://www.metro.co.uk/2026/01/29/apprentice-2026-full-line-up-revealed-new-series-begins-26592665/