Fans of The Apprentice were once again left to worry about the health of Claude Littner after he was missing from the latest episode of the BBC business reality programme. He was replaced by The Apprentice season one winner Tim Campbell.
Addressing the absence, Lord Sugar explained to the contestants that Claude had “suffered some medical issues and so I was asked to think of someone else”. Sugar did not elaborate on the line-up change but welcomed Tim to cover his role.
Claude has been a part of the BBC One show as Lord Sugar’s aide since Nick Hewer left in 2015. The aide has become a solid fan favourite with many gutted to hear he would be replaced by Tim for some of this new season - but he’ll be back towards the end of the series, if not before, the grill the remaining applicants on their business plans in the iconic interview episodes.
Read more: The Apprentice's Claude Littner forced off series due to 'medical issues' but will be back
Who is The Apprentice’s Claude Littner?
Claude Littner is one of Lord Sugar’s sidekicks on The Apprentice alongside Baroness Karen Brady. Claude was originally part of the interview panel on The Apprentice and was favoured for his direct and confrontational style.
After Nick Hewer stepped away from his role as Lord Sugar’s aide in 2015, Claude was selected to replace him. He still takes part in the gruelling interview process towards the end of the season.
What was Claude Littner’s career before The Apprentice?
Like Lord Sugar and Baroness Brady, Claude is a very successful businessman behind the scenes of The Apprentice. He first met Lord Sugar during his career as a turnaround specialist and went on to become chairman of a number of Lord Sugar’s companies, including Amstrad International.
Littner has enjoyed spells as the deputy chairman of Blacks Leisure and as chairman of Powerleague, a five-a-side football centre operator. In the late 90s, Littner served as the chief executive of football club Tottenham Hotspur during the time that Lord Sugar was its chairman and majority owner.
Why was Claude Littner missing from The Apprentice in 2022?
Many fans were gutted to learn that Claude would be missing from last year’s season of The Apprentice. It was reported that the businessman had suffered injuries in a bike accident that almost resulted in the amputation of his leg.
Speaking about the accident on The Apprentice spin of You’re Fired last year, Claude admitted that he was very lucky there was an ambulance right behind him when the accident happened. “They saved my life,” he confessed.
Who is replacing Claude Littner on The Apprentice?
Like last season, Tim Campbell has been asked to step into the role next to Lord Sugar. Campbell is a successful businessman in his own right but will be known to big Apprentice fans as the winner of season one in 2005.
After his victory, Tim joined Amstrad, Lord Sugar’s business, and became project director of its health and beauty division. After two years in the role, Campbell decided to leave the firm and shortly after co-founded the Bright Ideas Trust with public affairs consultant Richard Morris.
Awarded an MBE in 2012 for his services to enterprise culture, Tim has since developed a successful career across many businesses and industries. He will replace Littner for nine episodes of this series of The Apprentice.
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