'Apprentice' Alex receives death threats

Apprentice finalist Alex Wotherspoon has received death threats.

The BBC is conducting an investigation after the 24-year-old admitted that he has been subjected to threatening emails since the series began in March.

The Sun quotes him as saying: "There are obviously some warped people out there because I’ve been getting some seriously abusive messages. One guy even sent me an email saying ‘I wish you’d die’, which was a bit strong."

A BBC spokeswoman said: "Obviously we take the safety of the contestants very seriously so we are looking into this."

An insider added: "Unfortunately it goes with the territory on The Apprentice. If you put people in a high-pressured situation they could act quite tough and mean.

"Most viewers understand it’s just TV - but occasionally some idiots don’t get it."

Fired contestant Nicholas De Lacy Brown has also received threatening messages.

The Apprentice final airs tomorrow at 9pm on BBC One.