Dentist Jana Denzel, a candidate on this year’s series of The Apprentice, shares why he decided to leave the show.
What inspired you to join The Apprentice?
I decided to go on the show because I saw a dentist on it last year, and before last year I think I last watched the show about a dozen years ago when I was in high school. I used to watch it after school, and it looked really fun.
I thought would be a great way to go on the show to get some publicity. I’ve just opened up my new business, Denstudio, and I thought it would be a great way to get more patients in. And speaking to Paul from last year, I know that him and his brother have got lots of patients from the back of it, so I thought, hey, let’s go in, have fun and see what we can do.
How has the experience been so far?
My experience has been great. I think this year is quite a bit different from last year. Last year was a little bit older, a little bit more mature. This year, it’s got to do a lot more with entertainment.
So far, we’ve had three weeks, and in those three weeks I’ve been voted on a lot of websites that I’m one of the favourites to win. So, on that side, it’s good. I just hoped I had a little bit more air time than you see me so far.
Why did you decide to leave the show?
As I said, from the start of the show, I came on the show to have fun. I wanted to have a really good experience, and it has been. It’s been an amazing experience, being able to travel to Austria, make a pop star and a discount buying task.
I just felt that from episode one, two and three, I was doing all of these great deals that you see small, little clips of, but it never really lands in the boardroom. And I just didn’t think I got the praise I wanted from Lord Sugar. I just felt like maybe he didn’t see me as someone he wanted to invest in. And that’s how I read it after episode three.
So, from then onwards, I was just like, you know what? I think there are people over here that want it more than I do. And, you know, I just didn’t think it would be appropriate for me to carry on staying.
And, of course, as a dentist, you always have to respect your profession and put your profession in a good light. So when I thought things on the show might not have been so professional for me, I decided it’s important to put my profession first, and that’s why I took a step back.
Knowing what you know now, would you have done anything differently?
Well, this season, if you are tuned in, is a lot different to last season. Last season was a bit older, a bit more mature. This season, they’ve definitely spiced it up. It’s been compared to Love Island quite a lot, so I can see that it’s lot more entertaining.
I think if I was to play it smart, what I would have done is, instead of trying to be all trim and proper, I would have just been a bit more entertaining, you know, said some wild offers going in there that would have probably got me a bit more screen time, and just been a bit silly with it.
But it’s an entertainment show. I thought I was going on more of a business show, but it’s a TV show, and I was a bit naive in that sense. So, I would have just made myself a bit more entertaining and funny.
Why is it important for dentistry to have this representation? Are there any downsides?
I think it’s a good thing for me to represent the profession. So far, up to episode three, you do see me being proper and trim, but I think it’s also important for the profession to make sure that we have a fun side to it as well, and show our personalities and have a laugh.
I got told that this year, from one of the producers, they had more dentists audition to be part of the show than they have ever had. So, I was surprised by it, but then knowing how well Paul did last year, I can imagine those people who would want to go on and get that same spotlight.
So, I think it’s been positive, and I just hope that people continue to enjoy watching me on the show.
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