Claude Littner was snubbed from a rival BBC show- before joining The Apprentice.
The business mogul arrived on the show as Lord Alan Sugar's right-hand man, sifting through potential candidates' CVs during the interview stage before handing the young entrepreneurs a dose of reality.
Not long ago he took over as one of Lord Sugar's aides alongside Karen Brady but took time off last season after suffering a "horrible" crash that saw him undergo several surgeries. The Apprentice returned this week with stellar reviews but Claude, 73, revealed he was actually headhunted for another BBC programme before being snubbed closer to the time.
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Dragon's Den, a similar investment programme, reached out and said they were interested in Claude being one of its five dragons. He was allegedly approached by BBC bosses to take part in the show but they had a "change of heart" despite Claude being keen on the opportunity.
Speaking to Radio Times, he said: "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."
Claude said he's a fan of Dragons' Den despite the snub as he added: "They wanted a woman instead." The BBC eventually went with the late Hilary Devey who spent two years on the show.
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