Fans of the TV show The Apprentice were left baffled this evening (February 9) after Reece Donnelly disappeared in the middle of the latest task in Dubai. The Scottish candidate flew to the Middle Eastern country where the candidates were tasked with putting on a corporate team building exercise for profit.
The Yorkshire Post reports that the candidates were woken in the early hours with a call from Lord Sugar telling them they would be flying out to Dubai. Reece was there along with the other candidates as they boarded the plane but as soon as the teams landed in Dubai, Reece was never seen again - with no mention of him at all.
The remaining candidates pressed on without mentioning Reece's name and they didn't address Reece's absence at all while they battled to put together a high flying 'luxurious' corporate day. Fans noticed straight away though that Reece had been 'Thanos snapped out of existence'.
A source told The Sun that Reece had been drinking on the plane out to Dubai and was removed after being intoxicated during the task. The source claimed to The Sun that it was unsafe for him to take part in the task. They said: “But producers take health and safety extremely seriously and have a duty of care to all the candidates.
"Having him on screen intoxicated and taking part in a task when he was unfit to do so was something they simply couldn’t contemplate.”
Reece replied to the newspaper: "I don’t have any comment to make on that. I left the show due to health reasons and I’ve said this." He added about his surprise exit: "I could not continue in The Apprentice due to being unable to complete the task in Dubai for health reasons.
"My goal of being on The Apprentice was to showcase that Scotland has amazing businesses and entrepreneurs. I really hope I’ve done that.
"I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time on the show and I’m looking forward to watching my fellow candidates in the rest of the series. I’m so grateful for my time with Lord Sugar and the team."
Viewers pointed out how odd his disappearance was. @mrsg_0217 said: "Where is the guy from Scotland he is there at the Airport #TheApprentice". @coolmongreldog said: "it's very funny how they showed Reece at the beginning but have now just memory holed him".
@battlegoff said: "BBC really just Thanos snapped Reece out of this episode of #TheApprentice"
@olireading said: "#TheApprentice I've just read about Reece - yes strange it's not been mentioned on the show yet".
@jackforfilms said: "Why is Reece’s sudden disappearance being ignored? Just a quick narration would’ve been ok #TheApprentice".
@jnaplescampbell added: "Is nobody going to mention the fact that Reece has disappeared?? Did he fall out of the plane on the way? - @bbcapprentice #TheApprentice".
Elsewhere in the episode, the clients were not impressed when one of the teams put a limit on water.
@knitty42 said: "Can I have a third glass of water?" "It's two glasses each. Savour it." Christ on a bike.They're in the desert ffs, let them drink! #theapprentice"
@khjs2112 said: "Oh god its a car crash now they've run out of water #theapprentice" @malcontentkiwi said: "This is possibly the most excruciating episode I've ever seen. I wish they'd stop taking The Apprentices overseas. This isn't the way to make Brexit Britain look appealing."
@cherylscribs added: "Seems like both sets of clients are trying to outdo each other in the unpleasant stakes #TheApprentice".
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