The first episode had the usual blend of slip-ups, head-scratching, and Lord Sugar putdowns that BBC viewers have become accustomed to, but it did shake things up with a brutal double firing.

Project manager Nikki Jetha was the first to be booted by Lord Sugar after half of her team returned from the task nearly two hours late, while sub-team leader Georgina was also axed from the process.

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The series opener set the tone for the rest of the 20th anniversary run, but it’s safe to say not everyone is feeling optimistic about the next batch of episodes.

Ahead of its premiere, The Telegraph gave the milestone series just two out of five stars. Its reviewer said that they got just a few seconds into the show before wanting to “fire everybody involved”.

The i Paper described this year’s crop of contestants as “thick as mince” and “entitled” in its scathing review.

Elsewhere, the Independent also gave a lowly two stars for the new series, describing Lord Sugar’s shtick in the boardroom as “preposterous”.

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The disappointing double-starred reviews kept coming in The Times. Its critic said watching the new series felt like being “trapped in a time loop” due to its tired format.

The future of The Apprentice won’t be affected by any complaints of a “stale” format, however, with Lord Sugar contracted to at least another two series after its 20th run.

And with plenty more episodes of The Apprentice to film in the next few years, Lord Sugar has fired back at the suggestion that the show is in dire need of a revamp.

He’s taken to X to address some of the complaints directly, referencing both viewers’ and critics’ feedback in a series of social media posts.

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“A lot of viewers saying the latest candidates don’t have a clue,” Lord Sugar began in one post.

Defending the calibre of candidates, he went on: “But as the process goes on, the cream rises to the top, and by the end we get credible potential business partners.”

He used previous winner, Marnie Swindells, as an example to back up his point.

Later, Lord Sugar turned his attention to the reception from critics. “IF IT’S NOT BROKE DON’T FIX IT,” he fumed.

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“The media seem to think The Apprentice format is stale. I compare it to football. The rules are the same every game, but something special happens every game.

“That something is different players every season. We inspire young people every year,” he insisted. (sic)

But despite his impassioned defence of the show, it’s safe to say several of his X followers were far from won over.

Hitting back at Lord Sugar’s remarks, one X user penned in response: “I miss the original days where they would go to a market and just try to flog to the public. These new challenges are losing the charm of the original.”

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A second echoed: “Unfortunately mate, as much as I love the show, it’s just become an opportunity watch a bunch of people with over-inflated egos embarrass themselves.”

“I’d like it if it was serious business people and not just posers chosen for TV,” a third suggested.

And a fourth weighed in: “Television isn’t sport. Television is entertainment. Sport whilst entertaining engenders loyalty and a fan base to survive season upon season, year after year.

“Programming has to be far more sophisticated in its approach for audience capture. You can’t change the rules of the game for football; otherwise, the entire system collapses. It’s not the same for TV.”

Another agreed: “Used to watch every year, the format is now stale sir, all reality shows run their course, it was great, now it’s not watchable.”

And a sixth slammed: “True but it’s broke. At least one of the contestants has been on other reality shows. Did she suddenly become an entrepreneur?

“You know their ‘business plans’ when they start. It’s a lame joke which has jumped the shark.” (sic)