Former The Apprentice star Claude Littner has suggested a savage reason for the show’s big format change. It comes as the BBC series appears to have done away with the winning team getting prizes at the end of each episode.
Fans have noticed the change-up this season, with one putting it to Claude – who was an aide to Lord Alan Sugar between 2015 and 2021 – on social media.
Responding to a post on X, the business executive wrote: “My take on this issue is based on current performances. None of the candidates deserve a treat! I would send them to bed without a bedtime story or a lullaby.”
It comes after Claude gave his blunt thoughts on the latest episode of The Apprentice last week, not mincing his words as he shared: “Another fine mess! No teamwork, expertise, commonsense, or…. functioning brain cells!!”
Since his initial departure, Claude returned to the show in a reduced role for the 2023 season, and has been succeeded full time by Tim Campbell as an aide.
BBC
Related: Best streaming services
A few years ago, the star admitted he almost ditched the series for rival show Dragons’ Den, telling the Radio Times: “Some years ago they invited me to join the panel.
“I was very keen, but they phoned me up and said they’d had a change of heart. They wanted a woman instead. I said: ‘That’s okay, I can put on a wig! That shouldn’t inhibit me from being on the show.'”
BBC
In 2022, he also reflected on a cycling accident that led to his exit the year before, telling spin-off show You’re Fired: “I looked behind me to see who was going to run me over,” adding it was an ambulance and they “saved” his life.
In other Apprentice news, fans were left outraged by the firing of Georgina Newton in the season premiere, some calling it “harsh” and suggesting she was “fired for being too nice”.
The Apprentice airs on BBC One, with spin-off series You’re Fired airing immediately afterwards on BBC Two.
The new edition of Living Legends, a 100-page all-colour celebration of Taylor Swift, is here! Buy Taylor in newsagents or online, priced at just £8.99.
Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every ‘t’ and dotting every ‘i’ as a sub-editor.