Claude Littner returned as one of Lord Sugar’s aides for the new series of The Apprentice on Thursday.
It comes after the 72-year-old was forced to miss last year’s series, and was replaced by Tim Campbell, following a horrific bicycle accident in which doctors considered amputating his leg.
Speaking to GMB on Thursday, the business mogul described it as a “freak accident” and thanked doctors for “putting him back together”.
Back in action: Claude Littner, 72, returned as one of Lord Sugar’s assistants for the new series of The Apprentice on Thursday following a horrific bicycle accident in 2022.
He said: ‘It was a freak accident. I think someone was taking care of me, but if someone was taking better care of me, I wouldn’t have had the accident.’
Adding: “I was lucky to have the ambulance behind me.”
The incident happened in April when Claude fell off an electric bike, underwent nine surgeries and even had to learn to walk again after the accident near his London home.
Speaking of her recovery, she told Susanna Reid: “I’m doing wonderfully well, thank you.”
Accident: Forced to miss last year’s series and replaced by Tim Campbell
“I am very grateful to the ambulance staff for looking after me and of course to the surgeons at St Mary’s who got me back.”
Elsewhere in the chat, Claude opened up about his excitement about the winter issue of Love Island, admitting to being a huge fan.
He said: ‘I can’t see why they wouldn’t want me. Casa Amor is something I look forward to.’
Better than ever: Speaking of her recovery, elderly Susanna Reid: ‘I’m doing wonderfully well, thank you’
Speaking about the accident last year, he explained: “I was going around, I must have been doing no more than 10 kilometers per hour on this kind of two-way road.
‘The next thing I knew I was on the left hand side of the road, my bike was in the middle of the road and I didn’t know what had happened.
“I suspect I hit a pothole or something, but I must have blanked out on impact, because the next thing I knew I was flat on the ground.”
Helpers: The serious accident happened in April when Claude fell off an electric bike, underwent nine surgeries and even had to learn to walk again after the accident near his London home (pictured with Alan Sugar and Karren Brady)
He said he thought he would “just get up” and get his bike back, but looking down realized he was seriously injured as a bone was sticking out of his leg.
It comes after fans were quick to praise Gregory Ebbs on Thursday night when he stepped in to help his team member during the first episode of the new series of The Apprentice.
During the assignment, the team was conducting a rum tasting and tour of Antigua’s historic site when project manager Joe Phillips, the self-confessed ‘James Bond’ of business, had trouble answering questions about a fortress, and the enthusiastic historian Gregory took over.
Former Apprentice winner and businessman Tim Campbell stepped in to replace Claude in the 2022 series
Viewers flocked to Twitter to express their happiness at meeting Gregory, labeling him a ‘King’ and a ‘Boss’, with many saying that he was their early favorite to win.
One fan wrote: ‘Gregory saved the day’ while another added: ‘Gregory is brilliant. He is already one of my early favourites.
Meanwhile, a third person took to Twitter to write: ‘Greg for the win. Goat.’
Struggling: Fans were quick to praise Gregory Ebbs on Thursday when he stepped in to help his team member Joe Phillips (pictured) during the first episode of the new Apprentice.
And a fourth said: ‘Confidence + preparation = success’.
However, one person wrote: “Where did the apprentice find Gregory Ebb from ahahahaha #TheApprentice?”
The men’s team won the Thursday night task, with Emma Browne being the first candidate to be eliminated.
The senior account executive insisted she has “no regrets” after her brief time on the show after Lord Sugar kicked her out for being detrimental to the team.
Emma, who described herself as ‘extremely competitive’ and ‘a workaholic’, landed in the boardroom after the girls lost to the boys’ team during the first task.
Despite her driven work ethic, it wasn’t enough to keep her as a prospect for Lord Sugar, as she was cut after just a week.
Emma’s team decided to offer catamaran rides to tourists on the Caribbean island, however, they lost out to the kids’ team that generated the most income.
You are fired! Emma Browne became the first candidate eliminated from The Apprentice after Thursday night’s episode.