'Apprentice' praises 'gentleman' James

Fired Apprentice candidate Mona Lewis has claimed that James McQuillan was the "only gentleman" on the show.

Lewis was fired by Sir Alan Sugar on yesterday's episode for failing to show "creativity" in a rebranding challenge. McQuillan, who Sugar has branded a "court jester", was in the boardroom with the former beauty queen when she was sacked.

The 28-year-old senior financial manager claimed that she struggled to work alongside McQuillan during the business challenges, but praised him for his behaviour off-camera.

"I've never seen the funny side to James when I've been working with him," she told DS. "To work with he's quite annoying and is always in your way!"

"But on a personal level, he is a such a lovely guy. He is the only gentleman in that house. We connected because we both have little boys. He is a really lovely guy and a lovely dad. As a person, he is a really nice guy."

The Apprentice continues next Wednesday at 9pm on BBC One.