Nick Hewer found business success running his own PR agency whose clients included Lord Sugar’s Amstrad.
In 2004 Nick was cajoled by Lord Sugar to join him on The Apprentice from where he has gone on to present many of his own programmes – usually with a business or travel theme. Nick has been on Channel 4 since 2012 as host of Countdown and since 2019 has been President of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
Here is Nick’s pick of 5 great TV shows with a business theme.
And if you want to, you can also check out the brilliant broadcaster Clare Balding‘s list, as well as History Hit‘s Dan Snow.
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Nick's view: "Needless to say, I really must recommend this show, still going strong with my friend Lord Sugar at the helm, now accompanied by Karren Brady and Claude Littner. The competitors are still as ludicrous as ever, but the business lesson remains relevant: however big the ego, if you’re no good you will be fired."
Nick's view: "'Will they or won’t they' is always a terrific plot device and the large chunks of cash sitting next to each of the dragons is a visual prompt of that investment question. Over the last year, more and more people are setting up their own businesses and Dragons’ Den is a great reminder to entrepreneurs that without a prospect of profit, nobody will invest."
Nick's view: "Billed as a fictional take on the Murdoch family, I’m not sure any real business to could survive the internecine warfare in the Roy family boardroom. Succession is compelling viewing because it puts family and business in a single pot of boiling emotions, and the performances are first-class, especially Brian Cox in the lead role."
Nick's view: "Strangely, my years working in public relations never bore much resemblance to the antics of Mad Men’s Madison Avenue cohort. However this throwback to some unseemly business practices and very glamorous office lifestyles is always compelling and has made Don Draper a byword for a particular type of businessman."
Nick's view: "It’s not a business programme, but I’ve just concluded ten very happy years of presenting Countdown and it will always be one of my very favourite shows – even though it’s on at teatime, it is a great test of words and numbers at any time of day. It also has two of my very good friends as co-hosts."