Naomi, You're Fired!

What was it like watching the episode back?
Hilarious watching us all on the live TV channel. It was kind of sad in a way as well because, you know, for me it's all come to an end, but also fine in a way because I didn't mind being fired.

 

Why didn't you mind being fired?
I think based on my performance in the task, I shouldn't have been fired, but I've got to week 10, I've worked hard, I've had some great opportunities, some great prizes. I think when you're employing someone you look for skill-sets and a fit into your company and I think at the moment Sir Alan is basing his decisions on who will fit well into his company and he's obviously decided I haven't. At the end of the day it's his money, so I'm perfectly happy to be fired.

 

I've never seen an episode where I thought the sacking was so unfair. Have most people being telling you that?
Yeah, it seems to be quite controversial. I mean, obviously family and friends have been ringing telling me they were screaming at the TV, but callers on radio shows have also been fully supporting me and saying that Sir Alan made a mistake, which is lovely to hear.

 

Do you think Simon is his favourite?
I think Sir Alan sees entrepreneurial flair in Simon… (sarcastically) and you'd hope so because his official title is 'entrepreneur', which I didn't know you could have as a title. I think maybe Sir Alan sees a little bit of him as he was as a young man in Simon, willing to take a risk. I think it's possibly a mistake because Simon is massively inconsistent. From what I've heard, Sir Alan is looking for someone to hand over the mantle to, and I think he needs someone more rounded and mature and responsible than flitty Simon.

Sir Alan seemed to suggest he thought Tre might just be on the show to be famous and that he wasn't necessarily in it for the job. Do you agree?
I don't think Tre is on there to get famous. All the characters in that house like a challenge and there is no bigger challenge in terms of business. I think that's why Tre's there. I don't think Tre ever wants to be managed by someone else. I think he's a lone ranger. I don't think even Sir Alan could tame the lion that is Tre. I don't think he's in it for fame. He does deliver some cracking one-liners, some hilarity, and some hugely sexist comments which I tried to reprimand him for but I don't think he's in it for fame. I think he's in it for his personal challenge and a bit of a laugh as well.

 

How genuine do you think Tre and Simon's friendship is?
I don't know because Tre doesn't need Simon but Simon needs Tre. You saw on one of the tasks Sir Alan questioned why Simon wasn't in the boardroom and Simon said, “my mate Tre has done me a favour by not taking me in there”. So Tre has saved Simon and he didn't need to do that. I think he thinks it's a genuine friendship whereas Simon needed to suck up to Tre all he could purely to survive.

 

I have to ask you about Katie… Were you aware of what she was up to?
(Groans) We didn't know about Katie because Katie was delivering those lines in her one-to-one interviews. We all had different one-to-one interviews with different producers at different times, and that was obviously when she was delivering these clangers.

 

Favourite fellow contestant?
Kristina. Great girl, great all-rounder, responsible, reliable…

And in with a great shout, I would imagine?
I hope so, I really hope so. She was my room-mate the whole time. First of all it was Natalie, who I also adore. I think she's fantastic. It was Natalie, me, and Kristina as roomies and then after Nat went it was just me and Kristina.

 

And who did you get on with least well?
I guess I didn't get on particularly well with Jadine. We obviously had our fights. I don't think I'm ever going to be chummy with her but I do have a great deal of respect for the way she turned herself around in there. I think it's very commendable.

 

What's your honest opinion of Sir Alan?
He's a nice enough chap, he's not as scary as he comes across. I don't know if he'd like to hear that or not. He's very fair, he deals with things in a very matter of fact way. I can't really fault him. He's not like me, I'm not like him. I'm a very fluffy people person and he's more about the business but you've got respect him, haven't you? He's done incredibly well.

 

And he has shown a softer side as the series has gone on.
I thought that was really nice actually because he's always portrayed as a bit of a bulldog in the boardroom but it was very nice how compassionate he was towards Ifti early on and then to Jadine last week.

 

What's next for you?
My company have kept my job open for me. They've been fantastically supportive, so I'll be going back there, but I am also going to explore the whole creative, presenting side.