The Apprentice (BBC1, 9pm)

FOR the less sporting, it appears that both Lord Sugar and Sunderland AFC run out to the strains of Sergei Prokofiev's Dance of the Knight (aka Montagues and Capulets from the ballet Romeo and Juliet).

After that, some can speculate which of the 18 TV candidates will last longer than Black Cats boss David Moyes, who is having a particularly torrid start to the season.

Lord Sugar, Karren Brady and Claude Littner will be taking the deluded bunch through their paces as they must sift the gems from the tat in a room of antiques before attempting to sell as many as possible to the public. It doesn't help when one of the project manager is chosen on the basis of watching a lot of BBC's Bargain Hunt.

Littner feels that this year's series will feature a typical mix of improbably candidates who are great entertainment and people you think are wonderful, but maybe aren't as good once they get into the process.

"The first task is awkward and excellent, you're in for a treat because it's a catalogue of chaos," he tells TV Times.

It's his second years as a supervisor and Littner says: "I'm more relaxed this year and I now understand what's required of me. I didn't realise how physically challenging it would be getting up at 4am with the candidates. Karren Brady says she has to get up earlier than me because she to do her hair and I don't have that problem. I've also learned more about the information Alan is expecting. Normally, he likes the facts but on The Apprentice he wants the tittle-tattle too."

Littner actually has a lot of admiration for those taking part because of the pressure they're put under. "I'm amazed they don't give up or collapse. Don't ever tell them I said that."

And what does he make of the decision to move The Great British Bake Off to Channel 4?

"If you look at the way commerce works, I can't really blame them – if you see an advantage, you take it. Whether it will be successful or not as a show, rather than just a money-making opportunity, we''ll have to see. I think it's great from our point of view, because we've got rid of an annoying competitor."

Something else changing, is the host of The Apprentice: You're Fired! Welsh stand-up comedian Rhod Gilbert will be stepping into Jack Dee's shoes for the BBC Two spin-off and is looking forward to quizzing the rejected candidates.

And will Littner be rooting for his team? "I'll give you a secret. You actually want your team to lose. If they lose they get called back to the boardroom and you get another opportunity to see them in action as they defend themselves. I try not to show any emotion. Nick Hewer made a career of it, but I really don't want to hint to the candidates that they've done something I regard as ludicrous."

Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs (ITV, 8.30pm)

THIS week our acerbic dog lover meets Bud, a collie-greyhound cross who's been at Battersea for more than two years and earned the title of the Dogs Home's most unwanted resident. Willow the spaniel was found tied to a tree in a terrible state and staffie Jensen comes in with nasty skin condition.

The Fall (BBC2, 9pm)

SPECTOR remains in intensive care, and as the doctors continue to keep him alive, Gibson and Burns are hauled over the coals by the police ombudsman and the policing executive for their conduct and handling of the case. Meanwhile, after Spector's name is released to the press, his wife and family are forced to deal with the consequences, and Katie continues on a downward spiral in her desperation to see him again. Dark thriller, starring Gillian Anderson, Jamie Dornan, Bronagh Waugh, Aisling Franciosi and Aisling Bea.

Viv Hardwick