THE Irish Apprentice star Emma Browne who was the first contestant to be fired by Lord Alan Sugar in the new BBC series said she was sure she would make it to the final.
The glamourous senior account executive has opened up for the first time about being fired by Lord Sugar on the series.
Speaking to Dermot and Dave on Today FM, Emma said she was convinced she would make it to the final of the series and was shocked when she was the first contestant booted from the competition.
Speaking about her fellow candidates on the show, she said: “They just wanted a trip to the Caribbean, they wanted a little boat trip. I was there to sell and I was there to show what I was able to do.
"Unfortunately it was me (that was voted off) and going on the show obviously there was a chance I was going to hear those words (You’re fired!) but to be honest with you when I walked in last and all the other candidates were there I thought to myself ‘Jesus I have this in the bag’ and I’m going to be in the final.’”
Emma's team decided to flog catamaran tours to tourists on the Caribbean island, however they lost out to the boys' team who created more revenue.
Joe Phillips took on the role as Project Manager for the boys' team leading a rum tasting and historic site tour, while the girls opted for snorkelling and a pottery class.
The girls team hit Pigeon beach to try to tout their $135 tickets but struggled to get sales as the location was deserted, with the girls squabbling after Emma and Shazia had pitched different places.
Meanwhile the boys managed to rack up trade in the centre of Antigua and sold all of their 16 tickets.
But Emma disagreed about their location to sell.
“I’m in sales, it’s where my experience lies and the location you choose to sell is absolutely key. I knew St. John’s Harbour was the busiest tourist destination in the Caribbean so I thought why are we choosing a beach?
"The last thing I want when I’m on the beach sunbathing is someone coming up selling me a boat tour. So I put forward my opinion on that and was voted off on the basis."
Speaking about what it was like being in front of Lord Sugar, Emma said: “It was so surreal, I felt like I was in a dream to be honest and I still do! He’s not as mean as he maybe comes across."
And Emma also revealed she had to go through gruelling 11 rounds of interviews to get on the show - but it has made her understand how she is "capable" of anything.
“I first applied for ‘The Apprentice’ last January, went for auditions in February and went through like ten to eleven rounds of interviews. It’s meant to be the toughest job interview in the world, they say, so I'm capable of anything now. I then went over to London from the end of March/April and was away for about five weeks.”
