Margaret Mountford 'returning to Apprentice'

Margaret Mountford is to return to The Apprentice later this series, it has been reported.

Last year, Mountford stepped down as one of Lord Alan Sugar's "eyes and ears" on the reality business show after five series in order to focus on a PhD in papyrology.

It has now been claimed that Mountford will return to the show for the traditional round of candidate interviews in order to grill the remaining contestants on their suitability for the job.

According to The Sun, a source said: "It's great to have her back and I think she has missed being on the show.

"It's a nice cameo for her because the interviews are a notoriously tough part of the show and she is one tough cookie. They will not be able to pull the wool over her eyes."

Mountford was replaced on the BBC programme by Karren Brady, who herself featured as an interviewer on the final stages of previous series.