Claude Littner: Why Is He Missing the Next Series of The Apprentice?
(Image/ Source: independent.co.uk)
We know and love Claude Littner for his icy remarks in the hit show The Apprentice, but unfortunately, he won’t be returning for the latest series.
So why is the star being replaced by a brand-new business mogul?
Injury
Claude Littner has been forced to pull out of the hit BBC series after an E-bike accident earlier this year.
The businessman, aged 72, said he had been “pottering along” near his home in north London when he was thrown from the bike:
“I suspect I hit a pothole or something like that.
The next thing I knew I was lying on the ground.”
The businessman ended up with serious injuries after falling off his bike close to his Mill Hill home, and has now had multiple operations on his right leg.
After the accident, Claude had to be rushed to St Mary’s Hospital, and is continuing to receive treatment. He’s had a whopping nine operations so far, and is now having to learn how to walk again through intense physiotherapy.
(Image/ Source: rte.ie)
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The star reported that he had lost two stone since the accident- but he has an “absolute determination” to recover.
And it seems he’s keen to get back to The Apprentice boardroom as soon as he can.
Speaking with the BBC, Claude Littner said:
“Whilst I’m disappointed that I won’t be out and about covering the tasks or in the boardroom for this upcoming series, I’ll most definitely be glued to the action from my sofa.”
Claude will now be replaced with former winner and entrepreneur Tim Campbell to assess the fresh batch of hopeful candidates with savvy baroness Karen Brady.
Lord Sugar said he had been speaking to his long-time friend Lord Sugar as often as he could, and hoped to see him back in the boardroom “very soon”.
Career so far
Claude Littner has been Lord Sugar’s right hand man throughout his career, but the star built multiple business empires before joining The Apprentice team.
Following his work in accountancy, he became a turnaround specialist, and then started to take the helm at some of Lord Sugar’s companies.
(Image/ Source: elitebusinessmagazine.co.uk)
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He’s chaired various companies for Alan including Amstrad International, Amstrad Spain, Dancall Telecom and Viglen.
As well as this, Claude Littner has also been Chief Executive of Tottenham Hotspur football club, and the major shareholder for Powerleague Plc.
Not only has the business mogul enjoyed numerous successes over the years, but he’s also had a business school named after him!
In 2014, The University of West London Business School was renamed as The Claude Littner Business School in recognition of his stellar career and long-term association with the University.
He now has over 50 years of business experience, which he uses to guide (and sometimes terrify! ) the contestants on the BBC show.
After replacing Alan’s aide Nick Hewer in 2015, Claude began to make himself a household name, and was always on hand to advise Alan on the progress of his candidates.
Claude Littner is now reported to be worth a huge £36.3 million.
(Image/ Source: chroniclelive.co.uk)
One of his most iconic TV moments was his interview with business hopeful Solomon Akhtar during the final stages of the show. While the businessman was positively bowled over by the candidate’s CV, things soon started to unravel when Claude cast his eye over Solomon’s business plan.
Rather than providing figures, Solomon had decided to cram with business plan with logo designs- which Claude branded “a bloody disgrace”.
Solomon was then kicked out of the interview– but after being scared out of his wits by Claude, the contestant couldn’t even find his way out of the business moguls office.
So will Tim Campbell end up being even scarier than Claude Littner? Watch this space…
