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Why I Love...Natural Born Sellers

Natural Born Sellers contestants
  • Posted at 11:05am
  • 08 October 2008
  • by TomCole-RT
  • 18 comments

It's said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and if that's the case then the makers of The Apprentice have some very genuine fans in the people behind ITV1's Natural Born Sellers. To call Natural Born Sellers a cheap knock-off would be accurate, but it would also be doing the show an injustice. See, while The Apprentice has a bigger budget, better production values and Nick and Margaret, Natural Born Sellers has something extra: heart.

Initially, I wasn't too hopeful. Gone is the lavish pseudo-film stock of the Beeb's version. Gone is the fancy house in Chelsea, in favour of Alan Partridge's Travel Tavern. Gone too are the glamorous contestants straight out of highly paid jobs in industry, to make way for a motley crew of travelling salespeople. Sir Alan Sugar is nowhere to be seen - in his place we get John Caudwell, who I'd never heard of, but who apparently made a fortune when he sold the mobile giant Phones 4u.

But the show pays admirable homage to The Apprentice: cue lots of shots of big black cars, bitchy one-liners from the contestants and a booming narrator sternly warning the wannabe sellers that, for most of them, "all the hard work will have been for nothing".

There's brash young Scott, who's forever "checking his bad self out", whatever that means. There's saucy minx Thea, who makes Katie Hopkins seem positively chaste. There's token posh chap Nick, salt-of-the-earth Danny, geeky Gavin and thus far nondescript Leighton and Anna-Marie. But wait! Behind this parade of stereotypes lie genuine and very real people.

I'm not sure if I was just in a particularly emotional state the night I watched the first episode, but I really cared about this ragtag band. Admittedly, they're all flawed characters, but there's something that's just so lovable about them.

When Scott was berated over his aggressive sales technique and implored his erstwhile boss for some positive criticism, I felt like patting him on the back. When Gavin begged to stay in the contest with a rabbit-in-the-headlights gaze and Nick admitted, tearfully, that he actually didn't deserve to go through, I felt their fear and pain.

The thing is, while contestants on The Apprentice are all would-be Machiavellians and guard against exposing themselves too much, the Natural Born Sellers just let it all hang out. Even Thea's frank confession about putting her hair in curlers before a day's selling because "that's what you do if you want to go out and pull a guy" is delivered with such naive cunning that you can't help but smile.

It's because these people are so genuine and free of pretence that Natural Born Sellers is such a compelling watch. While sitting through The Apprentice is sometimes like being witness to a badly run military campaign, Natural Born Sellers invites you to get to know a bunch of diverse but honest people and see how they cope with a day's work.

With most "reality" shows these days being about as believable as an excerpt from Alice in Wonderland, it's refreshing to have something so gritty, so human and so real as Natural Born Sellers on our screens.

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Post a comment | 18 comments

Comments

  • Posted on 20 January 2009
  • at 7:02pm
  • by Scott

Hey I think I have a fan lol!

  • Posted on 16 November 2008
  • at 9:29pm
  • by Leighton

Good to see you are not bitter Scott!

  • Posted on 11 November 2008
  • at 2:42am
  • by sefc

All u can bleat about dan loosing but he would of lost anyway if sales messiah scott english had made it to the final. scott was younger, more skillful and had the talent but got voted off by that blonde piece anna marie to keep the sales curse gavin in. If dan could not even beat gavin in the final that scott would have trounced him and probably made over a quarter of a million pounds worth of donations to win. dan kept gavin, in as he didnt see him as a threat, it was a gameshow that dan was unable to win. if anyone should have that 88 grand then it should be scott! scott english the true salesman of natural born sellers was robbed!

  • Posted on 11 November 2008
  • at 2:24am
  • by ZED

A lot of websites have said that Gavin has actually split his winnings with Danny. What a classy guesture from a humble guy. Nice way to end the series.

  • Posted on 09 November 2008
  • at 6:01pm
  • by tony

i have worked in the retail home furnishing trade for over 20 years, whilst we all want to "do the deal" both me and my colleagues cringed at their antics, our customers would not like to be treated like that.

It gave us a good laugh anyway.

  • Posted on 08 November 2008
  • at 12:34pm
  • by fred

Didnt dsee who won it, but thought Danny would hands down. Just read Gavin did - um how cos when I last saw he hadnt sold any shares in the horse at all? Was this a fix cos surely he was in the last 2 every week>

  • Posted on 08 November 2008
  • at 10:51am
  • by Big G

Danny you woz robbed of the victory and spoils you so richly deserved! I only hope Gavin was graceful and gentleman like in handing over some or all of his winnings to you. He knows that he only got to the winners podium because of your respect and like for him which kept him from being kicked off the programme week after week. Danny you are a geezer, a grafter and a man your family should feel very proud of. Respect.

  • Posted on 08 November 2008
  • at 6:20am
  • by John

I loved the show from day 1, and Danny should have won, simple as that. Why ITV could not support it more and keep it in the rating's I do not know. I watched the final in a Travelodge whilst out on the road selling, and the next day I said to myself "remember Gavin" as I went into to my clients. Would really like to see someone pick the show up, even if it goes to ITV2 or some other channel. Loved the music.

  • Posted on 07 November 2008
  • at 4:44pm
  • by Mark

Good entertainment, but would you give a job to any of these people who have managed to underline the poor view that most people have of sales staff. The modern salesperson has to use a consultative approach in securing deals. Good luck to Danny for being the characature of the Arthur Daily car salesman.

  • Posted on 07 November 2008
  • at 9:35am
  • by Ady

If Danny is reading this - mate you were robbed. It annoyed me to the point of shouting at the screen when John said Gavin was the winner. It makes a total mockery of the whole show when someone who couldn't sell water in the desert for 4 weeks walks away the winner of the whole thing. You were the outright winner by a mile, and yet Gavin the numpty walks away with £87k. Absolute joke, I just hope you've got yourself a decent job out of this, as you obviously deserve a top Sales job.

PS - My missus is your cousin Lyandra, but I would've still wanted you to win!!!

  • Posted on 06 November 2008
  • at 11:51pm
  • by Mr Carr

I have just watched the final of natural born sellers... and what a load of b*!ls for a final. The master ringing the nugget with a freind that will bid the highest for him to win. The car salesman was the best all the way. This wasnt a competition it was a set up showing how someone who cant sell takes the money. As a salesman for 12 years that now has 2 businesses myself i have every sympathy for the carsalesman and i apologise for forgetting his name its throught anger and frustration. I pass on my regards and respect to him and his family.

  • Posted on 31 October 2008
  • at 12:41pm
  • by Ann

I agree, I think Natural Born Sellers is fantastic entertainment and it has a more 'real' feeling to it than the Apprentice.

  • Posted on 30 October 2008
  • at 11:28pm
  • by Honest john

I fancy Thea is there something wrong with me?

  • Posted on 13 October 2008
  • at 11:17pm
  • by Leighton

Yeah but you have to do it dressed as a pvc bondage gimp and learn swedish!

  • Posted on 12 October 2008
  • at 9:47am
  • by scott

Agreed- I don't think any of them actually realise the pressure you are under with a camera on you having to perform or not screw up because over a million people will watch you do so. Or sell conservatories and double glazing with only half a days training. I would love to see anyone attempt to do that.

  • Posted on 11 October 2008
  • at 10:06pm
  • by danny

i said a challenge!! not another walkover

  • Posted on 10 October 2008
  • at 1:17pm
  • by Leighton

I will challenge you Dan.

I choose a leather and bondage fetish furniture store in Sweden.

  • Posted on 08 October 2008
  • at 10:25pm
  • by dan

you have got it spot on. theres so many people saying how easy it is i challenge anyone of them to meet me at a furniture store of there choice and sell 26k worth of furniture in 3 days with a camera stuck in there face!!

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