Sugar: 'Mountford never wanted Apprentice'

Lord Alan Sugar has revealed that Margaret Mountford never wanted to be a part of The Apprentice.

Mountford quit the show last year after spending five series working alongside Nick Hewer as Sugar's "eyes and ears" during the challenges on the reality show.

However, speaking on Daybreak this morning, the multi-millionaire admitted that he always found it difficult to persuade the corporate lawyer to take part in the project.

"Margaret - I couldn't convince her anymore!" he said. "After five years she said, 'No I'm not doing it anymore'.

"I originally only asked her to do it once and she said to me, when I first told her that I'm doing the television programme, I remember saying to Margaret, 'Would you do it for me?' And typical Margaret she said, 'Certainly not!'"

Mountford is currently studying for a PhD in papyrology and has been replaced on the show by Karren Brady.

The Apprentice airs tonight at 9pm on BBC One.