The Apprentice episode 9 ends with unprecedented ‘ultimatum’ with Lord Sugar and another double-firing
Will his "ballsy" move pay off?
The Apprentice episode 9 didn’t pull any punches: Lord Sugar delivered another double-firing, and the remaining candidate gave him an “exciting” ultimatum.
After the successful repeat of the scavenger hunt, this week’s episode had another fan-favourite challenge: teleshopping.
Yoga mats, shoe dryers, and pricey rings were among this year’s products, with each team trying to sell as many as possible while being personable and effective salespeople on TV.
Some candidates succeeded… others didn’t. And, as always, one team had to lose. Sugar is clearly running out of patience, because he got rid of two more candidates.
Who was fired in The Apprentice episode 9?
Two candidates were fired in The Apprentice episode 9: Levi Hague and Conor Galvin.
Levi had led his team to victory in last week’s Isle of Wight task. However, that didn’t give him an advantage in this week’s boardroom, with Sugar coming down on him harder than anyone else.
“You were painful to watch, my friend,” Sugar told him. Levi tried to defend himself, but Sugar cited a viewer’s criticism, calling him “diabolical” and even denying that he won a task. “You were on winning teams,” he said, before firing him ahead of the final boardroom.
Conor, who was the PM, brought back Kieran and Dan. Given the praise directed at the latter candidate, Sugar decided to keep him in.
Don't miss a single story! Add us as a Preferred Source in Google for all your television news
Despite his efforts to point out that Kieran had been seen as “difficult to work with” and the times he’d “excelled”, Sugar went on a “gut instinct”. Moments later, Conor was sent home.
Kieran gives Lord Sugar a big ultimatum
Kieran was on thin ice in the boardroom. However, he saved himself with a risky offer.
“If I stay in this process, I’d like to be the project manager on task 10 to prove to you what I can do. If we lose, we shake hands, I walk out,” he told Sugar.
It was immediately clear: Sugar liked that offer, even calling it “interesting” and asking if the other guys were willing to do the same.
Conor told him he didn’t feel the need to (this was probably the moment that sealed his fate), while Dan argued he’d “proven [himself]” and that the potential of his business should be what keeps him in the process.
After Conor got the sack, Kieran returned to The Apprentice house and told everyone what he did. “Ballsy,” Rothna told him.
The Apprentice episode 9: Conor takes aim at Kieran’s “dramatics”
Speaking after he was fired, Conor admitted he was “disappointed” to be fired. Ultimately, though, he knew his head was on the “chopping block”.
“I wanted to progress based on merit. I think I really gave it 100% every week and so I think I was hoping that Lord Sugar would look at my past performances over the last nine weeks.
“But, unfortunately, my end result left Lord Sugar with no other choice but to fire me. So, I do think it was probably my time,” he said.
When asked who should have gone home, Conor pointed out that it was arguably Kieran’s “dramatics” that saved him.
“I definitely think it was down to me and Kieran. Obviously, Kieran gave the very exciting ultimatum, which was offered to me and I declined. It was down to the wire between me and Kieran as to who should stay and I think ultimately the dramatics kept Kieran in,” he said.
“If I could go back, I would argue my case to stay based on merit more. I would have tried to reason with Lord Sugar that I will give 100% next week and every other week as I would in the real business world.”
However, Conor didn’t want to “progress based on dramatics”.
“I want to progress based on merit and because I am good at what I do. That is my only regret – not fighting my corner harder when I felt so defeated in the boardroom,” he added.
Read more: The Apprentice candidate declares ‘never again’ after revealing ‘biggest shock’ from 2026 series
