KARREN BRADY
KARREN BRADY TELLS ok!’s CLARE FISHER ABOUT ‘APPRENTICE’ GAFFES AND TURNING DOWN REALITY TV
TALKS TO OK!
Baroness Karren Brady is a busy woman. Juggling a seat at the House of Lords with writing books and a newspaper column, she is also vice-chairman of West Ham football club and has assisted Lord Alan Sugar on the BBC’S The Apprentice for the past ten years. ‘I love everything I do and I don’t want to give any of it up. And I’m fortunate to be in a position where I don’t have to,’ she tells us.
With The Apprentice about to return to our screens for a 15th series, Karren, 50, shares why she thinks the show has been such a success. ‘The previous winners are living their dreams, making millions of pounds and running their own businesses. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?’ she says excitedly.
Off screen, Karren shares two grownup children with her husband Paul Peschisolido – son Paolo, a university student, and daughter Sophia, a model. ‘My children are not spoilt or selfish or spongers – they have drive because they’ve seen their mum work and they’re out there carving their own niche and building their own success,’ she says proudly.
Ahead of the new series, we catch up with Karren to talk about the gender pay gap, holidaying with Lord Sugar and her most memorable Apprentice moments…
Fifteen years of The Apprentice, we can’t believe it!
Doesn’t time fly! It’s no surprise to me that the show is still going strong as I think it has a really unique format.
Does everyone have the potential to come up with a great business idea? A lot of people do, but they don’t have the money or the mentoring to make it happen and that’s where Alan comes in. They need Alan’s £250,000 – and let’s not forget it’s Alan’s personal money – but more importantly they need Alan’s guidance. He really is putting his money where his mouth is and not a lot of people do that on television!
In 15 years, what are your most memorable Apprentice moments? I think it’s actually in this upcoming series. Alan sends the candidates straight to South Africa so this series really does kick off with a bang! I’d never been to South Africa or on safari so it was really fabulous, although I’d like to go back without candidates who don’t know the difference between an elephant and a hippo.
Viewers love all those gaffes…
Every candidate comes in full of arrogance thinking they’re the best, but of course the tasks are a lot more difficult and complicated than they think.
How would you fare on the show?
Well I did the Comic Relief version and we won, raising a million pounds for charity so I think I’d do pretty well!
Would you do any other reality TV?
No, I’ve been asked to do the jungle and Strictly, all of them, and the answer is no. I have a full-time job. I also don’t see myself as a celebrity – I’m on the show because of my business track record.
What is off-duty Alan like?
He’s a lot of fun, very witty and a great host. He’s also very fit. Fortunately so is my husband, so they bike ride together. I’m great friends with Alan and Claude [Littner, Lord Sugar’s second assistant on The Apprentice]– we all go on holiday together.
Female employment rights have been debated in parliament. Is this something you’re passionate about? Definitely! Fifty per cent of the work place is made up of women so if, as an employer, you can’t create an environment where women can work, then you’re losing out on that talent. I also try to speak out on the gender pay gap. For every pound a man makes, women are earning just
86 pence, and in some industries like finance and insurance the pay gap is over 40 per cent! And only
19 per cent of senior roles are held by women. Still, the biggest barrier to women’s career development is starting a family, which has to change. Everyone should want equality regardless, whether you’re male or female. ‘THE APPRENTICE’ WILL AIR WEEKLY ON WEDNESDAYS AT 9PM ON BBC ONE, FROM WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 2, FOLLOWED BY ‘YOU’RE FIRED’ AT 10PM ON BBC TWO. WATCH LIVE AND ON DEMAND ON BBC IPLAYER.