Claude Littner’s future on The Apprentice revealed after 75-year-old star missed 2024 series following horror accident
CLAUDE Littner’s future on The Apprentice has been revealed after he missed last year’s series following a horror accident.
The 75-year-old businessman was forced out of the boardroom in 2021 after a cycling accident.
Claude previously revealed how he almost lost his leg as a result of the ordeal and needed nine operations.
Tim Campbell will once again take Claude’s place alongside Lord Alan Sugar and Baroness Karen Brady for The Apprentice 2025.
However, The Sun can exclusively reveal the millionaire will still appear in the new series.
A source said: “The team really miss having Claude and his expertise around full time but Tim has been a perfect replacement.
“He still remains very much apart of the show and just like last year, will feature later in the new series for the interviews with the candidates.”
The interviews – which take place in the eleventh episode of each series – are a fan-favourite element of the format.
It sees the five remaining candidates and their business proposals put under the spotlight and grilled by industry experts and entrepreneurs.
Previously speaking about Claude, Lord Sugar said: “Unfortunately, Claude suffered some medical issues and so I was asked to think of someone else – and who better than somebody who’s actually been through the process.”
In 2023 Claude spoke of his accident to Good Morning Britain and said: “I am very grateful to the ambulance crew for looking after me and of course the surgeons at St Mary’s who put me back together.
“It was a freak accident.
“I think someone was looking out for me but if someone was looking out for me better, I wouldn’t have had the accident.
“I was lucky to have the ambulance driving behind me.”
Claude previously hinted at a full time return to The Apprentice last year in a reply to a fan.
He simply said: “Maybe next year. ‘Nil Disperandum’.”
The Apprentice returns to BBC One and iPlayer very soon.
The Apprentice winners who have quit
By Conor O’Brien
Since The Apprentice launched in 2005, Lord Alan Sugar has crowned several winners.
In 2011, the prize changed from a job working under Lord Sugar to a £250,000 investment partnership.
While some past winners work with Lord Sugar to this day, other collaborations have long ended.
Here is a look at some of the winners who have quit working with the business giant.
- Tim Campbell: After winning the first series, Tim (who was 26 at the time) secured a position at Lord Sugar’s company Amstrad on a £100,000 salary. After two years, Tim left to start a perfume business – although this was later abandoned. Since 2022, he has been back on The Apprentice as one of Lord Sugar’s aides.
- Lee McQueen: Having won series four in 2008, 30-year-old Lee McQueen was assigned a position at Amscreen. He left the role after two years in July 2010.
- Yasmina Siadatan: Yasmina, who won The Apprentice in 2009, fell pregnant four months into her £100k-a-year role. She worked for Lord Sugar for 12 months but chose not to return after her maternity leave.
- Stella English: 2010 winner Stella English went on to work for Lord Sugar’s Viglen after time on the BBC show. However, she walked out after 13 months of employment when told her contract would not be renewed and claimed she was just an “overpaid lackey”.
- Mark Wright: Australian-born Mark won in 2014 and used the £250,000 investment to found digital marketing agency Climb Online. He parted ways with Lord Sugar in 2022, selling the business for an estimated £10million.
- Joseph Valente: Former plumber Joseph won the BBC show in 2015. However, he and Lord Sugar ultimately ended their working relationship after 18 months.
- Alana Spencer: Alana partnered up with Lord Sugar after winning in 2016. She claimed the top spot with her cake business Ridiculously Rich. The pair worked together for three years – until Alana ultimately bought out Lord Sugar.
- James White: In a one-time situation, James was one of two Apprentice winners in 2017. Three years after he won the show, Lord Sugar left the IT recruitment company, but reportedly let him keep the £250,000 investment.
- Sarah Lynn: Sweets delivery businesswoman Sarah was the other joint winner in 2017. She and Lord Sugar parted ways in September 2022.
- Carina Lepore: After winning The Apprentice in 2019, Lord Sugar put a £250,000 investment in Carina Lepore’s Dough Artisan Bakehouse business. However, the pair ended their partnership in 2023.