Apprentice candidate Reece Donnelly has insisted he resigned from The Apprentice for health reasons after he was kicked out for drinking alcohol on a flight to Dubai.
Yesterday’s episode saw the cast tasked with getting laid on a corporate day out for a high-end client in Dubai, but one crew was left without a man after Reece breached sobriety rules.
Lord Sugar was “furious” at the decision and “couldn’t believe someone would risk insuring his £250,000 investment for a drink”, a television source told MailOnline.
But the Glasgow drama school owner, who made it into the show’s sixth week, now claims he left of his own free will after deciding to “listen” to his body.
He said virginradio.es: ‘I was gutted, I think you’ll think that if anyone had confidence that I was winning, it was me, I was in the final stretch. He wasn’t willing to back down for anything. When your health is involved, I think you just need to ask “what is important here?”
Trainee candidate Reece Donnelly was kicked off the show after drinking alcohol on a flight to Dubai, leaving Lord Sugar furious.
The Glasgow drama school owner, who reached the sixth week of Lord Sugar’s trial (pictured), was sent home after drinking alcohol on the plane despite producers telling candidates that they stayed sober.
That is where the decision lies. But listen, I had a great time. I gave it my all, I’m sure you’ll agree. I do not think there is a task in which I did not throw myself thoroughly. But it was a great experience and a lot of fun.’
Lord Sugar is known to be a tough taskmaster who wouldn’t take kindly to anyone who breaks the rules.
Following Reece’s departure, a television source told MailOnline: ‘Reece was sent home and did not film in Dubai. Producers were not impressed when he drank several alcoholic beverages on the flight despite being told not to.
“Lord Sugar was obviously furious, he couldn’t believe someone would risk insuring his £250,000 investment for a drink. He later told the candidates in the boardroom that Reece had been removed from the process.
Reece was filmed being told by Lord Sugar via a pre-recorded video message that he would be flying to Dubai along with his fellow contestants.
In Thursday night’s episode, the cast is tasked with getting laid on a corporate day out for a high-end client, but one crew was left without a man after Reece broke the show’s rules.
A preview clip aired on You’re Fired from last week, where the stars of the show were seen riding camels and jet skis during the business trip to the United Arab Emirates, but Reece was nowhere to be seen.
Back in the boardroom, Lord Sugar referred to Reece’s sudden departure, saying, “So, as you know, Reece was unable to participate in the task and subsequently dropped out of the process.”
One candidate is still being sacked in Thursday’s installment of the BBC series, meaning two business hopefuls have left at the end of the sixth week.
An Apprentice spokesperson said: “Reece was unable to continue in the process, this was discussed and agreed between Reece and the creators of the show.”
Bridal boutique owner Shannon Martin also walked out of the show during the second episode after deciding it wasn’t the right thing for her.
Reece narrowly avoided being fired in the boardroom last week after placing in the bottom three alongside Mark Moseley and firing Denisha Kaur Bharj.
This year’s series has seen contestants compete in challenges under the watchful eye of Lord Sugar’s sidekicks Karren Brady and Tim Campbell.
The candidates so far lack business acumen, with Lord Sugar accusing the group of being “desperate”, “disappointing” and “diabolical” in recent weeks.
Shazia Hussain was the latest candidate to be fired after her team failed to impress with their e-bike ad.
Avi Sharma and Bradley Johnson were on the verge of being fired after tense scenes in the boardroom.
Reece avoided the cut last week after placing in the bottom three alongside Mark Moseley, who remains in the process, and fired Denisha Kaur Bharj.
The current series began with the candidates flying to Antigua in the Caribbean after producers said they could put more budget into overseas assignments after years of the pandemic curtailing their options.