The male candidates on The Apprentice were branded “suckers” by viewers after they bought a real octopus instead of some scuba diving equipment during the first task.
The contestants were supposed to pick up some breathing apparatus during the shopping challenge in Malta but got confused and instead purchased a sea creature.
They then trotted off with the dead octopus in some ice.
When a stunned Lord Sugar asked if they had really bought a “real live octopus”, one candidate said: “Well… it was dead.”
Fans watching the BBC show thought the error was hilarious.
“The octopus … screaming,” one person posted on Twitter, while another said it had them “in stitches for 45 minutes”.
The octopus 🐙… screaming 😆😆#TheApprentice
— Jessica Kelly (@JessicaJK_Kelly) October 3, 2018
Still can't get over the Octopus cock up. Been in stitches for 45 minutes. #TheApprentice
— Joshua Chapman (@JRCSport) October 3, 2018
“I can’t believe they bought an octopus lmao,” said another, while many people tweeted octopus emojis.
I can't believe they bought an octopus lmao #TheApprentice pic.twitter.com/s5HV1A5VT5
— Thistle ☁️🌙 (@Thilsana) October 3, 2018
“’You bought a real life octopus’ ‘Well sir it was dead’ Unreal. If this man doesn’t win I am calling the police,” said one amused viewer.
"You bought a real life octopus""Well sir it was dead"Unreal. If this man doesnt win i am calling the police. #TheApprentice
— FrozenCheddar (@FrozenChedda) October 3, 2018
“There’s a sucker born every minute, Lord Sugar,” joked another.
"You bought a live octopus." There's a sucker born every minute, Lord Sugar. #TheApprentice
— Philip Cunnington (@Rilthy) October 3, 2018
“On buying a real octopus the boys should have been FIRED!!” tweeted another person.
On buying a real octopus the boys should have been FIRED!! #TheApprentice pic.twitter.com/TiOlVYuktH
— Atiya Alam-Jones (@atiyaalam) October 3, 2018
Some joked the octopus might be a more worthy winner of the business competition.
“I reckon Lord Sugar needs to appoint the octopus,” said one, while another quipped: “So the boys bought a real #OCTOPUS yet still won the task! Let’s give the octopus the £250k and declare it the winner.”
I reckon Lord Sugar needs to appoint the octopus 🐙 #TheApprentice2018 #TheApprentice
— Ann (@ann_butler23) October 3, 2018
So the boys bought a real #OCTOPUS yet still won the task! Let’s give the octopus the £250k and declare it the winner 😆 #TheApprentice pic.twitter.com/0BPtY6r0Fi
— Dean Fieldus (@Kytoco) October 3, 2018
The Apprentice continues on BBC One.