It seems that debating continues to pop up in the media. After Justice took on Big Brother Africa, and MTV started a search for a Debate team to follow for a year it now turns out that this years version of the hit TV show "The Apprentice" features Raef Bjayal (number 4 on the attached photo) from Exeter University.
His profile:
4. Raef Bjayal, 27, entrepreneur from north-west London
Raef founded the Exeter University Debating Society. He says: 'The spoken word is my tool. [I'm a] terrific conversationalist and raconteur, with incredible charisma. [I'm] priceless, absolutely priceless.'
I don't know Raef but he is listed as a life member of the Exeter Debating Society from 2002 on their website. The claim that he founded the society may need a bit of clarification though as their website also says they have been going since 1893.
Best of luck Raef.
Update: 19th March
Raef's Profile from "The Times".
Raef Bjayou, 27
An entrepreneur with a degree in politics and history who lives in north west London.
A former school captain, he founded the Exeter University Debating Society and claims to "have never lost an argument yet".
He once asked Michael Heseltine a question on Question Time and was "surprised by the ignorance of his answer".
He claims to have "stared death in the face many times".
He says: "The spoken word is my tool. (I'm a) terrific conversationalist and raconteur with incredible charisma. (I'm) priceless, absolutely priceless.
An entrepreneur with a degree in politics and history who lives in north west London.
A former school captain, he founded the Exeter University Debating Society and claims to "have never lost an argument yet".
He once asked Michael Heseltine a question on Question Time and was "surprised by the ignorance of his answer".
He claims to have "stared death in the face many times".
He says: "The spoken word is my tool. (I'm a) terrific conversationalist and raconteur with incredible charisma. (I'm) priceless, absolutely priceless.
Never lost an argument...... except it would appear at Debating competitions ;-)
Hi there. Perhaps the exaggeration came from the producer's end? Just thought I'd give him the benefit of the doubt :) - it seems counterintuitive to come up with self-promoting statements like those you cite when debate-related statements are easily verifiable, especially in this age of the internet, Google,etc.
ReplyDeleteYea I'm probably a bit harsh on him. The other contestant profiles have equal amounts of producers spin. Looking at the meet the candidates video online I'm not sure which one is Raef but the biggest couple of gobshites aren't asian.
ReplyDeleteStill if you go on a show like this and allow that as your profile then you should expect a bit of a slagging.
Best of lusk to Raef and I'll watch it with interest on Wednesday.
He did not start the debating Society at Exeter University .... he was just another in a long line of presidents.
ReplyDeleteIt was started in 1893 .... and had a chequered history until being really started in a continuous sense in 1989.