You’re fired ...into orbit!
Could Richard Branson take over from Alan Sugar on The Apprentice?
The Virgin boss has hinted he may be up for the role, saying: “I’d love to do it. I think it would be great fun.”
Lord Sugar has signed up for two more series, taking the show to 2020.
Space travel pioneer Sir Richard appeared on a similar programme on Fox, The Rebel Billionaire: Branson’s Quest For The Best, in 2004.
Sir Richard, who was speaking at the launch of the Virgin Holidays Departure Beach in Barbados, is currently focusing on several charity projects. So he is unsure if he could squeeze in the BBC series, even though he’s a fan.
But he will find time to watch the Beeb in January, paying particular attention to Harry Enfield’s pilot, Island of Dreams. The comic parodies Sir Richard, showing him recruiting his celeb pals for a secret space mission while they holiday on his Caribbean island, Necker.
Fortunately for Harry (and his lawyers), Sir Richard is optimistic he’ll see the funny side, despite not being given a heads-up from the comedian about the show.
“I think I’m a cult leader on my island with a secret mission to do something. I don’t know... but we’ll find out,” he says with a chuckle.
“I always enjoy satire. Whether I enjoy satire about myself, we’ll have to see. But I look forward to having a good laugh.”
‘‘ I always enjoy satire. But we will have to see if I will enjoy satire about myself