Lord Sugar is secretly a good laugh who loves banter about football and EastEnders.
The businessman, 75, has spent the past 17 being grumpy on The Apprentice.
But co-star Karren Brady said he is a pussycat off screen.
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She said: “You see a more focused, serious side of Lord Sugar on the show. That’s what he’s there to do. It’s a serious process.
“But he actually is very funny. He’s very witty and he’s great company. We talk a lot about football and other things.
“And he loves EastEnders. He is an addict. I know he tapes it.”
Lord Sugar drops his miserable persona as soon as the cameras stop rolling.
(Image: PA Photo/BBC/Boundless)
Karren said: “After the winning team is announced we go for lunch. That’s our time to catch up and have good fun.”
Ahead of the new season, Lord Sugar has issued a stark warning to the contestants saying he refuses to bail out any of his flop Apprentice winners if their businesses run out of money.
The tycoon, worth a reported £1.2billion, admits many of the BBC One show’s 17 champions have failed in business, despite his assistance.
(Image: PA)
And speaking before the launch of the latest series, which begins on Thursday Jan 5th, Lord Sugar has warned his new hopefuls that he will cut ties with the eventual winner should they burn through his £250,000 investment without return.
He said: “In the past 17 years, let’s be open about this, not everyone succeeds.
“They’re told at the beginning here’s £250,000 and that’s it.
(Image: PA)
“Again, no more, all you’re going to get is my mentoring, my help, my assistance from my staff. If you run out of money, you’re done.”
Despite the misfortunes of several former Apprentice champs, Lord Sugar points to the fact that “at least five” other winners have gone on to become “millionaires” proving successful companies can be born out of the show.
Indeed, 2011 winner Tom Pellereau is viewed as the show’s most successful ever candidate as his grooming business has made over £5m per year, while 2013 champion Dr Leah Totton has a skincare company worth over £7m.
Lord Sugar added: “What happens to the winners is that their lives change. Out of the candidates I can name at least, well I won’t name them because it’s not right, there are at least five of them who are millionaires in their own right.”
The Apprentice, from Thursday 5th January, on BBC One and iPlayer
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
