Love, losses & loot! CASSIE & JT MEAN BUSINESS

TV’S NEWEST REALITY STARS ARE THE BOSS WHEN IT COMES TO WHEELING & DEALING

- Rebekah Hebenton

On The Apprentice Aotearoa, Cassie Roma, 39, and Justin Tomlinson, 50, are the stony-faced advisors, quietly assessing the hopeful competitors’ every move. But when the Weekly meets with the high-flying duo, the pair couldn’t be further from their on-screen personas.

Feeling fresh after a coffee catch-up to discuss a new business venture they’re working on together, it’s clear the fast friends have a lot of respect for each other both in business and as people.

Though they only met while making the show in January, their rapport suggests they’ve known each other far longer. And, as Cassie shares, that connection was instant.

“I remember the first time we met,” she says. “JT walked up and it was a kismet friendship moment.

“The first question, the dumbest thing I could have asked him, was, ‘What’s your sense of humour like?’, and he just deadpanned, ‘I think I’m pretty funny.’ And the way that he said it, I started laughing and I have not quit laughing at him or with him yet.” “I’ll take either,” jokes Justin. “There was an instant kind of rapport, I must admit, and it’s just based on shared values.”