'Apprentice' stars launch secret romance

Apprentice reject Lindi Mngaza has dumped her boyfriend of three years in favour of show co-star Michael Sophocles.

Lindi - fired by Sir Alan Sugar on the BBC One reality show in an episode broadcast two weeks ago - was spotted on a romantic date with Sophocles at a pub close to his home in North London this week. As they left together, Michael attempted to hide his face when he realised they had been spotted by a photographer.

Mngaza's long-term partner Donovan O'Hagan is said to be devastated by the way he has been treated by the businesswoman.

A friend of Donovan told The People: "He's a gentle giant who wouldn't hurt a fly. But inside he is furious about what Lindi and Michael have done. They have humiliated him. He had planned to marry her and start a family but all of that has been blown away now.

"As soon as Lindi got involved with The Apprentice she changed and turned her back on her old life in Birmingham, looking for excitement with her new friends in London. From then on she lost interest in Donovan and took up with this bloke Sophocles. But it won't last. The only person Sophocles really loves is himself."

Sophocles also made headlines for his antics while on a night out with axed contestant Kevin Shaw this week.