Gordon Ramsay fires back at Lord Sugar’s claim he’s ‘ripped off’ The Apprentice

Gordon Ramsay has hit back at Alan Sugar over copycat accusations

(Picture: Getty Images for "Phenoms")

Gordon Ramsay has hit back at Lord Alan Sugar after the TV businessman accused him of “ripping off” The Apprentice.

Last week, Sugar, 75, said Ramsay’s new show Gordon’s Future Food Stars was very similar to his own BBC reality series, and questioned how lawyers allowed it.

TV chef Ramsay, 56, has now responded by mocking Sugar’s title as Lord and jokingly inviting him to be a guest judge on the show.

"The guy is a Lord for a reason, so if he’s gonna spank my arse he’s allowed to," he told Metro.co.uk.

Apprentice star, Sugar (pictured) had slammed Ramsay last week over his new show Future Food Stars (BBC/PA)

“I’m very proud of Future Food Stars because of the talent we’re unearthing.

“The Apprentice is an amazing show, it’s an American format around a boardroom. I come from a kitchen.

“So when the BBC asked me to create an exciting competition with the unsung heroes and the new talent coming through, the future-facing stars of the industry... I was blown away."

Ramsay continued: “We’ve just finished taping this series [Next Level Chef] in the US, and next month we head Down Under.

“So if Mr Sugar is available, I’d love him to judge a challenge, that would be great.”

Ramsay’s Future Food Stars returns to BBC One later this year (BBC)

Ahead of The Apprentice series 17, which launched last Thursday, Sugar told the Daily Mail: “[Ramsay] had something, which was like, ‘I don’t know how the lawyers allowed it because it was a virtual rip-off of The Apprentice.’

"No disrespect to Gordon, but stick to your day job, mate. That’s all I would say."

Ramsay’s Future Food Stars aired for the first time in 2022 on BBC One and the second series will begin later this year.