Alan Sugar's usual aide on The Apprentice has been missing during the current series but he will be making a dramatic return, the BBC has confirmed.
And Claude Littner has also shared his thoughts on 2022's candidates, as well as his replacement as Lord Sugar's eyes and ears in the boardroom, Tim Campbell.
Mr Littner has been a regular aide to Lord Sugar on The Apprentice since 2015, when he took over from Nick Hewer, who went on to have his own television career. But his association with the boss goes back much further.
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Below we explain Claude Littner's absence from The Apprentice this time out. And we go over his background with Lord Sugar, as well as his comments about an unexpected return during this series.
What happened to Claude Littner?
At the beginning of this series in episode one, Lord Sugar explained to the contestants and viewers that Claude had been in an accident and therefore would not be appearing in the 2022 series.
Littner fell off an electric bike in April 2021 and was rushed to a trauma unit at St Mary’s hospital where his injuries were assessed. The doctors at first thought about amputating Littner’s leg.
But thankfully, the fan favourite has recovered.
Who replaced Claude Littner on The Apprentice?
So far this series, Mr Littner has been replaced by former winner of The Apprentice, Tim Campbell. Mr Campbell won the first ever series of The Apprentice in the UK, back in 2005.
Since his win, Mr Campbell has worked for Lord Sugar's company, Amstrad. He became a project director of its health and beauty division. He has also set up a digital marketing firm in London.
What does Claude Littner think of Tim Campbell?
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Littner has revealed he is impressed with his replacement on this year's series. He said: "Tim has done a sterling job. It looks a pretty easy gig when you’re just watching from the comfort of your home or from behind the sofa. But it really is quite tough, and I think Tim has coped with all the challenges very well."
How does Claude Littner know Alan Sugar?
Mr Littner, 72, first met Lord Sugar in his role as a turnaround specialist - someone who helps transform struggling companies. He agreed to chair a number of the famous businessman's companies.
He also helped Lord Sugar when The Apprentice boss was in charge at his beloved football club, Tottenham Hotspur. Mr Littner was chief executive of the club between 1993 and 1998.
Although Mr Littner only became an Apprentice regular in 2015, he has appeared in every series of the show in the UK. That's because he has been part of the infamous 'interview episode' from the beginning.
He became beloved by fans of the show for his brutal takedowns of the candidates - be it their CVs or business plans. It's in this capacity that Mr Littner is due to make an unexpected return.
When is Claude Littner returning to The Apprentice?
Despite the ordeal of his accident in 2021, Mr Littner is feeling good now. He told the BBC Lord Sugar approached him personally to appear in the interviews episode of The Apprentice, as he always has.
He said: "I’m feeling absolutely fantastic. I’m raring to go and really looking forward to being back for the interview stage of the process.’’
Mr Littner will be back on our screens in The Apprentice at 9pm on Thursday, March 17, for the interviews episode of the series.
He thinks Lord Sugar has been making the right calls, despite his absence. He said: "Eventually Alan does weed out the weaker ones and we always emerge with these final few, good candidates. During the course of the process, Alan maintains the tension and jeopardy."
Mr Littner explained production staff had been brilliant in helping him to take part in the interviews episode as he recovered. Although he admitted mellowing a little with age, he said he would be his usual "thorough" self during his appearance in this series.
"You can’t expect a mild-mannered, gentle interview," he said. He also hinted he had to knock down some of the confidence finalists have built up throughout the series, saying: "By this stage in the process the candidates are, whilst apprehensive, full of confidence and they think they’re brilliant. The fact of the matter is, Alan is going to invest in one of these individuals, so it’s important to be thorough. It’s not like a traditional interview where you’re inviting them in to sit down and make themselves comfortable and ask if they want a cup of coffee - we’re there to put them on the spot and make them answerable."
Tim Campbell to miss an episode too
In a sign of the times the current series was filmed in, Mr Littner's replacement Tim Campbell will also be missing for an episode of The Apprentice. He will miss tonight's show (Thursday, March 10) in which the candidates are tasked with creating a new type of baby food.
The Radio Times explains Mr Campbell followed the Covid-19 isolation guidance in place at the time of filming and stayed away during the episode, after coming into close contact with someone who had the virus. He never tested positive himself but Mike Soutar, another regular in interviews episodes over the years, stepped in for him.
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