I was on The Apprentice and this is what it’s REALLY like: Reece Donnelly shares behind-the-scenes secrets from the show – including strict wardrobe rules, a swimming pool ban and the one food they were constantly fed

A former The Apprentice contestant has shared some behind-the-scenes secrets exclusively with MailOnline – ahead of the new series’ broadcast.

Scottish entrepreneur Reece Donnelly, 27, took on the iconic BBC show in 2023 but was forced to pull out in the sixth episode due to health concerns.

The Waterloo Road actor ‘really enjoyed his experience’ on the show, but warned it’s not a walk in the park.

Viewers are led to believe that stars are living it up in a £17million eight-bedroom mansion on Bishops Avenue in London, where they have the use of nine bathrooms, a swimming pool, a gym and a cinema.

But not everything is what it seems. Reece told MailOnline: ‘The house is great, it was quite an experience, but you can’t go into the pool because we don’t have lifeguards.’

The Waterloo Road actor took on the iconic BBC show in 2023, but was forced to pull out in the sixth episode due to health concerns

Reece said the candidates’ phones were taken away as they entered the house. He explained: ‘It’s been three and a half months without contact with the outside world. You are not allowed to know the time.

“There’s a rule that it doesn’t take a task to talk. You are not allowed to talk about the task and you are constantly busy with production. So you always have a producer with you and he always records everything, including the meals.’

“You are fed by their earnings, and in that sense you are taken care of, but there are only so many Prets you can eat in three months.”

Reece explained that life as a candidate is not a cakewalk even outside the boardroom – because their days have ‘no set structure’.

He said, “It’s weird because we turned into kids during our four days off. Danny and I organized sports days and gave shows in the evenings.’

Before filming began, Reece described the strict clothing rules that candidates had to follow.

He said: “We have all been informed and guided on what to do. Before you go any further, you will be given a briefing note, which will tell you to bring your meeting outfits and they will give you a color scheme.

Reece ‘really enjoyed his experience’ on the show, but warned it’s not a walk in the park – with rules including no phones or contact with the outside world

Viewers are led to believe that stars are having a blast in a £17m eight-bedroom mansion with nine bathrooms, a swimming pool, a gym and a cinema

But not everything is what it seems. Reece told MailOnline: ‘The house is great, it was quite an experience, but you can’t go into the pool because we don’t have lifeguards.’

‘I was actually told to wear my glasses. I have now had laser eye surgery because I think that photo will haunt me until the day I die.’

The new series of The Apprentice kicks off on February 1, with 18 eager candidates vying for Lord Alan Sugar’s investment – alongside his advisers Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell MBE.

It starts in style as the candidates head straight to the Scottish Highlands where they are tasked with a corporate hospitality challenge where the men’s and women’s teams compete to organize luxury getaways for corporate clients in the hope of impressing Lord Sugar.

Speaking about working with the 76-year-old business mogul, Reece said: “There were a lot of people on my show who really idolized Lord Sugar, but to tell you the truth, I didn’t know that much about him. But I take my hat off to him, he really shows up.”

He went on to discuss the very glamorous Karen, adding: “Karen to me is an absolute grafter and a force to be reckoned with. I loved working with her, she saved my life several times to tell you the truth. So I think in retrospect she looks out for the candidate, she has your back.”

Reece, the founder of Theater School of Scotland and Theater College of Scotland, was determined to become the first Scottish candidate to secure Lord Sugar’s investment.

But unfortunately, this was not meant to be as he was forced to leave the show due to health issues, while the remaining candidates headed to Dubai to organize a company outing for two international clients based there.

Reece was unable to travel abroad due to health reasons, but there were rumors he was kicked off the show after drinking too much alcohol.

Announcing his departure at the time, he said: ‘I was unable to continue on The Apprentice as I was unable to complete the task in Dubai for health reasons.

‘My aim in taking part in The Apprentice was to show that Scotland has great businesses and entrepreneurs. I really hope I did that.”

Before filming began, Reece described the strict dress rules that candidates had to follow

The new series of The Apprentice kicks off on February 1, with 18 eager candidates vying for Lord Alan Sugar’s investments – alongside his advisers Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell MBE

A year after his dramatic departure, Reece told MailOnline: ‘I was distraught, like I’m not going to lie. It wasn’t my intention to go there and not win.

‘When I became unwell I was like: s**t. But now that I think about it, I think the universe took care of me because I don’t have to share my wages and I’m very grateful for that.”

He added: ‘Actually it was me who asked for the doctor to come. I was taken care of in a way that I liked, honestly. The moment I thought: “Guys, I don’t feel well”, doctors came. And then I was given antibiotics and sick tablets.

‘But the bottom line was that I missed the task. So they said, “How is it fair for you to continue in the process if you haven’t contributed to any tasks?”

Reece, who is now ‘living the dream’ after recent £1 million turnover, concluded by saying: ‘It’s a difficult process and no one talks about that, you have to be strong and resilient. I still laugh about it, what a ride we had.’