The BBC has divided opinion after it appeared he used a wheelchair to film scenes for The Apprentice.
A video posted on TikTok shows a candidate strolling while dragging a suitcase along the River Thames next to London’s Tower Bridge.
The show’s classic and iconic shot captures the candidates with their suitcases after being “said off” by Lord Alan Sugar.
But the show appears to have employed an unusual filming method: The cameraman sits in a wheelchair while another crew member drags him around.
The clip was posted online by Nicole Venglovicova (@nicole_ven), who wrote: ‘Low budget filming but it works! Put your cinematographer in a wheelchair. Do you find it offensive?
The BBC has divided opinion after appearing in a wheelchair to film scenes for 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 is The Apprentice on a 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’s a technique that has been reused over the years.
Others saw no problem with it and wrote: ‘Why would we be offended by this? I am a wheelchair user and couldn’t care less. If it helps them do their job and they don’t disrespect them, then it’s none of my business’;
“Anyone who finds this offense needs to hit the grass.”
The scene appears to be for season 19 of The Apprentice due to air in 2025, as this year’s series will come to an end in the finale on Thursday when Phil Turner and Rachel Woolford will battle it out as Lord Sugar’s final two candidates.
The winner will receive a £250,000 investment from the business tycoon in their own business, with Sugar as a business partner.
A cameraman was sitting in a wheelchair while another crew member dragged him.
A video posted on TikTok shows a candidate walking while dragging a suitcase along the River Thames next to London’s Tower Bridge
Although the filming method may seem unusual, ‘wheelchair tracking’ has been used in filming for many years, although the method is now often considered obsolete.
French director Jean-Luc Godard used a wheelchair while filming scenes for Breathless (1960) to film tracking shots, as he could not afford a dolly.
And filmmaker Robert RodrÃguez made El Mariachi (1992) with a borrowed camera on a wheelchair that served as a dolly, meaning he was able to make a feature film for just $7,000.
Meanwhile, one Reddit thread advises users how to “use a wheelchair for smooth shots if you’re on a budget.”
More commonly used today is a Steadicam, a stabilizing system used to capture tracking shots with film cameras. However, these cost over £5,000.
Alternatively, a camera dolly, wheeled cart or similar device, often elevated on a track, can be used to obtain the horizontal shot.
It comes after a former Apprentice star criticized the popular show, branding it “outdated”.
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 will come to an end in the final on Thursday when Phil Turner and Rachel Woolford (pictured) compete as the final two candidates for Lord Sugar.
Raj Dhonota reached the ninth week of the show’s first series, fronted by Alan Sugar in 2005.
But Raj has since admitted that he would “change everything” about the show as it stands today.
He told the daily star: ‘I would change everything. I haven’t seen the most recent ones (I haven’t even seen all of mine to be honest), but if it’s the same format for 18 years, it feels a little stale. It would make it more real, more business-oriented.’
FEMAIL has contacted the BBC for comment.