Lord Alan Sugar exposes brutal reaction to Thomas Skinner boardroom return on BBC Celebrity Apprentice: ‘What audacity!’
Lord Alan Sugar has spoken out to share his rather tongue-in-cheek reaction to seeing businessman Thomas Skinner back in the boardroom.
Mr Skinner, 34, returned to where his career in the spotlight all began for this year’s festive special of The Apprentice, six years after making his on-screen debut.
Over the past half-decade, Mr Skinner’s life has completely changed as he’s gone from market trader to household name thanks to stints on the Celebrity Wheel, Celebrity MasterChef, and Strictly Come Dancing.
His time in the limelight hasn’t been exactly smooth sailing, this year’s Strictly stint being a prime example as the 34-year-old was left admitting he “wished he’d never” taken part.
BBC Celebrity Apprentice: Thomas Skinner gets emotional when he returns to the boardroom
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BBC
However, The Apprentice clearly still holds a special place in his heart, and Mr Skinner even became tearful once he returned to come face to face with Lord Sugar during filming.
Lord Sugar, on the other hand, had a rather different reaction to seeing Mr Skinner back in the boardroom.
“I said to him, ‘What the bl**dy hell are you doing there?! Who put you in the celebrity bracket? That’s the only surprise! What audacity have you got calling yourself a celebrity!’” Lord Sugar revealed.
“That was quite funny. But, yeah, he got emotional because The Apprentice has changed his life.
BBC Celebrity Apprentice: Thomas Skinner teams up with his fellow celebs in the show
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BBC
“The Apprentice changed his life, and he went on to do all these things that he does, and he got emotional because he’s thankful for the change to his life and what it’s brought him.”
Mr Skinner took the remarks in good faith, admitting he remained full of admiration for Lord Sugar when he discussed making his comeback ahead of this year’s festive edition.
“Yeah, it’s brilliant. (Lord Sugar’s) so highly respected and such a lovely man as well. And, look, he’s doing this for Children in Need, he’s a blinder,” Mr Skinner said.
On his emotional return, he added: “It was good to be back and I really enjoyed it. I wasn’t nervous. I was emotional in the first boardroom, really emotional. I don’t cry, and I cried.”
Thomas Skinner took part in this year’s BBC Strictly alongside Amy Dowden
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BBCWhile Lord Sugar is well-versed in Mr Skinner’s expertise, he did concede he was left oblivious to his fellow famous contestants’ claims to fame.
Lord Sugar said of the cast: “Obviously, they’re television personalities in TV programmes that I don’t watch.
“But it was good, bl**dy good! And very clever because it’s all about Christmas and about making biscuits.
“And what is different about this one is that the biscuits are going on sale in supermarkets and shops this Christmas. And it’s all for Children in Need, which is a great cause.”
“I am proud. But it’s something we always do. I’ve lost count of the times we’ve done a celebrity version for charity.
“Karren was in one series before she became my advisor. They’re really good, and it’s great to see the celebrities getting involved.”
Mr Skinner is joined by a whole host of fellow stars who hoped to impress Lord Sugar, Baroness Brady, and Mike Soutar for this year’s holiday special.
TV presenter AJ Odudu, broadcaster and podcaster Angela Scanlon, Radio 1 DJ Charlie Hedges, and comedian Eddie Kadi were also among those taking part.
Lord Alan Sugar is back for another celebrity edition of The Apprentice
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GETTYElsewhere, EastEnders legend Jake Wood, singer and TV presenter JB Gill, and Paralympic athlete Kadeena Cox also put their business hats on.
And the likes of Gladiators’ Legend Matt Morsia, barrister and TV presenter Rob Rinder, actor Sarah Hadland, and comedian Shazia Mirza completed the line-up.
