The Apprentice series launch is branded 'stale' by viewers who say the show is 'past its sell by date' with its tired format, 'carbon copy' candidates and block colour outfits

The Apprentice has been called 'stale' and 'past its sell by date' by viewers after they launched their new series on Thursday night. The Apprentice has been called 'stale' and 'past its sell by date' by viewers after they launched their new series on Thursday night After 18 years on BBC screens, the show, which sees 18 candidates vying for a £250,000 investment from Lord Alan Sugar, received lukewarm reviews from fans 'Utter joke. Viewers complained the show felt tired, with candidates 'carbon copies' of stars from previous years Sales executive Oliver Medforth was compared to past contestant Ryan-Mark Parsons Viewers urged BBC bosses to change up the tired format as episode one saw the men and women divided into two teams and head to the Scottish Highlands to host an away day Another wrote: 'Why on The Apprentice are the girls all wearing a totally different colour from each other? Karren said seeing the candidates make mistakes is one of the reasons viewers love to watch the show and entrepreneurs even learn what to avoid when running their own businesses Contestants including yoga company owner Onyeka Nweze, Maura Rath, Noor Bouziane, Raj Chohan and Sam Saadet are competing for Lord Sugar's £250,000 investment The most mortifying moment of the show's first episode came from recruitment director Jack Davies who had the audacity to ask disgruntled guests for a 'tip', which went down like a lead balloon. But Karren said seeing the candidates make mistakes is one of the reasons viewers love to watch the show – and entrepreneurs even learn what to avoid when running their own businesses.