Sir Alan Sugar has suggested Thursday be a National Happy Day. Speaking in a GMTV interview about the new series of The Apprentice, he called for optimism in the UK press, at least one day a week, for the next few months.
Fans of the show will be delighted to see Sir Alan and his new team back in action. GMTVs Kate Garraway chatted with Mr Sugar at his Essex home about the new series of The Apprentice, and also asked him for his top tips on surviving the recession.
When asked whether first impressions count when selecting the contestants for the show, Sir Alan replied;
“You can only really tell what theyre like when it gets down to business, so Ive learned a long time ago that one shouldnt really do things on first reactions, and I think even the viewers will find that, because as you start to see them youll warm to somebody, youll dislike somebody, and then as the weeks go on, youll change your opinion.
When asked about reports that the shows producers had made that Sir Alan was going to be ‘funny and compassionate sweet and lovely’ in the 5th series, Sir Alan replied
Sir Alan replied with a wry smile Well, I wouldnt hold your breath for that one,
When talk naturally moved onto the recession, Sir Alan was asked how best to cope.
“Well, I think first of all we should we should all stop moaning, and if possible stop reading the newspapers who continue to report doom and gloom, you know. I think were in a tough time theres no question of it.”
Mr Sugar, whose personal wealth is estimated at 830m, said that he has all of the national papers delivered every morning;
“If you wanna get depressed you read the headlines, because it seems thats the kind of journalism we have in this country. Perhaps we can have a National Happy Day. Maybe we should make Thursday a National Happy Day where newspapers are banned from reporting depressing headlines in them, and they perhaps, should take the forefront in this, together with your good self also (to Kate Garraway), you should start off nice and happy. Maybe we should make it Thursday? National Happy Day, for the next few months.”
Watch Sir Alan and his Apprentices on BBC1, Wednesday 2100hrs