Daily Mail - Daily Mail Weekend Magazine
Lord Sugar’s sidekick on the business show reveals five secrets from the set
1
I’m meant to be Lord Sugar’s eyes and ears during tasks, along with Claude Littner [right, with Karren and Lord Sugar]. But sometimes candidates do something so stupid I have to excuse myself to laugh. This series I had to step out of a shop during some ridiculous bargaining.
2
While we’re out and about recording, if people ask what we’re doing we have to put them off the scent by saying, ‘Filming a BBC business documentary.’ I’m not sure if they’re fooled!
3
Secrecy is everything – we don’t want to spoil it for viewers. I was watching a preview of one episode at home when my daughter walked in and I immediately switched it off. She said, ‘Who’d know if I saw who was fired?’ I said, ‘I’d know – and that’s enough.’ I do keep mementos at home, including a Russian doll of myself [above], used in the trailer for this series.
4
Lord Sugar comes out with wonderful oneliners in the boardroom – there’s no script or autocue. He’s very witty – really hysterical on and off screen.
5
One of the tasks sees candidates assemble an ad campaign for an airline and we shot the opening sequence on the runway at City Airport in London. Even though we weren’t flying, we were all strip-searched. They take security very seriously!