11 January 2024 , 17:41
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The Apprentice star Claude Littner claims he turned down the chance to appear on Strictly Come Dancing - fearing he's not good enough for the dance show.
The 74-year-old businessman was a star on The Apprentice from 2015 to 2019 where he acted as an advisor to Lord Alan Sugar in his board on the reality show.
Claude claims he was asked to be a contestant on one of the BBC’s other major shows - Strictly. The claim was made while the TV star was interacting with fans on social media and discussing the upcoming reality show Love Island: All Stars.
Claude has previously explained that he is a fan of the main show of the franchise sparking fan hopes that he could somehow be involved in the spin-off. With All Stars just days away from starting, fans contacted Claude to question him about the show. One fan on X/Twitter asked: ““Claude Littner, do we have the honour of your presence for this series #LoveIslandAllStars?” Claude then replied, writing: “I am tempted!”
Claude Littner claims he has been asked to compete on Strictly Come Dancing (BBC/Fremantle Media/Ray Burmiston)
But Claude says he has no interest in pursuing the Glitterball Trophy (PA)Another fan then commented: “I think Claude would be more suitable for strictly with that winning smile.” And noticing this comment, the Apprentice star responded again, writing: “I have been asked to go on Strictly, but dancing is really not my thing. Best stick with what i am good at.... Not smiling.”
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Curiously, no stars of The Apprentice have featured on Strictly so far - even though the show has been on the air for twenty years and the BBC frequently fielding celebrity contestants from their other shows. Claude exited The Apprentice after suffering an agonising injury when he fell from a bike.
The reality star was so injured that doctors considered amputating his leg - however the limb was saved after he underwent ten surgeries. Claude reflected on his accident when appearing on Good Morning Britain, where he revealed: “I am doing wonderfully well, thank you. I am very grateful to the ambulance crew for looking after me and, of course, the surgeons at St Mary’s who put me back together. It was a freak accident. I think someone was looking out for me, but if someone was looking out for me better, I wouldn’t have had the accident. I was lucky to have the ambulance driving behind me.”
Season 18 of The Apprentice is due to begin next month - with Lord Sugar back to find his next business partner. He will be aided in his journey by Karren Brady and Tim Campbell who return as his advisor. The upcoming new season will see the contestants travel from London to the Scottish Highlands and to Budapest, Hungary, as they compete through various challenges and tasks.
Hyping up the new season last November, Tim said to The Sun: "We're very excited that the new series is going to be shown in the New Year. I think we've got the best candidate group ever, it's amazing. We've got the best quality calibre of candidates, business owners, professionals and experts in their fields, who are coming along to give up their time and energy and enthusiasm to be part of one of the most robust interview processes in order to find out Lord Sugar's next business partner.
“Some are already running very successful enterprises who have all still wanted to come and apply for the unique opportunity to get investment from Lord Sugar and his mentorship. That's really is a credit to him and the power and robustness of the show.”