Belligerent Sugar got it all wrong, says latest Apprentice reject

The 33-year-old founder and managing director of a catering and refrigeration company from Manchester reckoned he was shown the way out from the BBC show because he was “a threat”, following team Phoenix’s loss at the latest task.

Each team had to buy wholesale products, sell them at a profit and then reinvest in the most popular stock. Team Sterling – led by Nick Holzherr – triumphed with total assets of £955.20, compared with £838.21 for Phoenix, which had Jade Nash in her first role as project manager.

“I am disappointed. I definitely thought Jade should have gone, but obviously I have to respect Lord Sugar’s decision,” said Siddique.

“I think a lot of the team saw me (as) more of a threat because I know how business works: I started my own business and I know how to make money. I’m the most credible person in the process,” he added.

Siddique, who was chosen by Nash to face Lord Sugar in the boardroom along with Tom Gearing, blamed the leader for the team’s failure.

“We didn’t have any strategy in place and that’s why we lost. We played things based on Jade’s decisions,” he said.

Siddique, who described Lord Sugar as “unpredictable and belligerent”, is backing Gearing to win the show and the £250,000 investment in a new business.

“Tom’s a very strong candidate. He’s young as well, he’s a well-rounded individual and he knows how things should and do work,” he said.