The Apprentice axed another business hopeful on Thursday even, as Lord Alan Sugar ’s dreaded index finger rose once again in the BBC One boardroom.
The latest candidate to be fired was Mark Moseley, following a tense week eight episode which saw the groups descend on Shropshire to host an immersive event.
The teams were tasked with selling tickets, booking entertainment, and organising food and drink for guests, with the team who produced the biggest overall profit coming out as champions.
Yet in the boardroom, one candidate had to face the chop and it was pest control company owner Mark, 39.
Flanked by aides Karren Brady and Tim Campbell, Lord Sugar said to Mark: “It’s never happened before to me in this process where the teams haven’t even kicked off yet and they’re already in the red. So, it is with regret, Mark, that you’re fired.”
In the taxi, Mark said Lord Sugar would regret the decision to fire him, adding: “He would have got his money back within the first year if he’d invested in me but as long as he knows I’m the best rat catcher in town that’s the main thing.”
It comes after fellow Apprentice candidate Shazia Hussain was said to have made a complaint about Mark Moseley after claiming he racially abused her.
The London technology recruiter reportedly felt ‘distressed’ over an alleged incident involving Mark, which led to her reaching out to producers of the BBC show.
An insider claimed that the alleged incident’ took place on camera’ and the contestants were ‘wearing microphones’ at the time, but it was not included in the broadcast of the programme.
The source told MailOnline : “Shazia was really upset by the way she was treated and at times didn’t feel safe living in the Apprentice house.”
“The show casts candidates of different ethnicities and backgrounds and the expectation is for each person to respect each other, which wasn’t the case during filming of the current series,” they said.
A spokesperson for The Apprentice said in a statement: “The Apprentice has a zero tolerance on racist bullying. The duty of care and welfare of all candidates is of utmost importance and when action is required, we take it.
“All candidates sign up to strict code of conduct and if there was evidence of racist bullying candidates would be immediately removed from the process. We take all complaints very seriously.”
The Apprentice airs Thursdays on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
