BBC divides opinion by putting cameraman in a wheelchair

• A video posted on TikTok showed how the crew used a wheelchair to film shots 
• READ MORE: Meet Lord Sugar’s Apprentice finalists for 2024 

The BBC has divided opinion after appearing to use a wheelchair to film scenes from The Apprentice.

A video posted on TikTok shows a candidate strolling while pulling a suitcase next to the River Thames by Tower Bridge in London.

The classic and iconic shot from the programme captures candidates with their suitcases after they have been ‘fired’ by Lord Alan Sugar.

But the programme seems to have employed an unusual filming method as the cameraman is sat in a wheelchair while being pulled along by another member of the crew.

The clip was posted online by Nicole Venglovicova (@nicole_ven), who wrote: ‘Low budget filming but works! Put your director of photography in a wheelchair. Do you find it offensive?’

The BBC has divided opinion after appearing to use a wheelchair to film scenes from The Apprentice

The video has racked up a whopping 1.4 million views and those on social media were quick to accuse the corporation of ‘budget cuts’:

‘Since when has The Apprentice been low budget?’ one commented while another added: ‘This is embarrassing for the show’;

‘How professional,’ concluded another.

Meanwhile Harry Mahmood, who was the first candidate to leave the show in 2022, wrote: ‘Aww sweet memories lol’ – implying it is a technique that has been reused over the years.

Others didn’t see a problem with it, writing: ‘Why would we be offended by this? I’m a wheelchair user and couldn’t care less. If it’s helping them do their job and they’re not being disrespectful then it’s none of my business’;

‘Anyone who finds this offensive needs to touch grass.’

The scene appears to be for the 19th season of The Apprentice due to air in 2025 – as this year’s series is set to draw to a close in the final on Thursday as Phil Turner and Rachel Woolford battle it out as Lord Sugar’s final two candidates.

The winner will receive a £250,000 investment from the business tycoon into their own business, with Sugar as their business partner.

A cameraman sat in a wheelchair while being pulled along by another member of the crew

A video posted on TikTok shows a candidate strolling while pulling a suitcase next to the River Thames by Tower Bridge in London

Though the filming method may seem unusual, ‘wheelchair tracking’ has in fact been used in filming for many years, though the method is now often seen as outdated.

A wheelchair was used by French director Jean-Luc Godard while filming scenes in Breathless (1960) to film tracking shots, as he was unable to afford a dolly.

And filmmaker Robert Rodriguez made El Mariachi (1992) with a borrowed camera on a wheelchair doubling as a dolly – meaning he was able to make a feature-length film for just $7,000.

Meanwhile, one Reddit thread advises users on how to ‘use a wheelchair to get smooth shots if you’re on a budget’.

These days a Steadicam is more commonly used – a stabilising system used to capture tracking shots with motion picture cameras. However, these cost upwards of £5,000.

Alternatively a camera dolly, a wheeled cart or similar device often raised onto a track, can be used to get the horizontal shot.

It comes after a former Apprentice star slammed the popular show and labelled it ‘stale’.

Viewers were quick to accuse the corporation of ‘budget cuts’ while former candidate Harry Mahmood said it brought back ‘sweet memories’

This year’s series is set to draw to a close in the final on Thursday as Phil Turner and Rachel Woolford (pictured) battle it out as Lord Sugar’s final two candidates

Raj Dhonota made it through to week nine on the first-ever series of the show, headed by Alan Sugar in 2005.

But Raj has since admitted he would ‘change everything’ about the programme as it stands today.

He told the Daily Star: ‘I’d change everything. I haven’t seen the most recent ones – I didn’t even watch all of mine to be honest – but if it’s the same format over 18 years it just feels a bit stale. I’d make it more real, more business oriented.’

FEMAIL has reached out to the BBC for comment.

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