Shazia 'stubborn cow' Wahab is first female apprentice to be fired after laundry task - but claims she was hung out to dry

11 April 2012
The Weekender

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She described herself as "a stubborn cow - who always has to have the last word".

But last night it was Sir Alan Sugar who had the final say.

Mosaic artist Shazia Wahab become the second person to be fired from this year's The Apprentice, amid claims she was "stitched up".

The 35-year-old, who previously took bosses of a big City firm to an employment tribunal, was booted out after the girls team lost in a laundry task.

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'You're fired': Shazia Wahab is shocked by Sir Alan Sugar's decision last night

After being tasked with identifying and labelling the washing, she decided to go back to the house to get some irons, leaving the team in chaos.

Her colleagues - leader Jenny Celerier and Lucinda Ledgerwood - turned on her after the team made just half the money of the boys' group.

They were also given a £50 penalty after returning the wrong items to owners after Shazia, who runs her own company, went home.

Sir Alan was furious with her antics, he said: "Shazia, I think that the most heinous of the things you've done, is that you left the laundry.

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Hung out to dry: Sir Alan said wannabe apprentice Shazia was unprepared for the exercise

"You left your colleagues with difficulty in identifying the product. Shazia you're fired."

The girls faced further wrath from Sugar after they started bickering in the boardroom.

"I am sick and tired of listening to this," Sugar said.

"Arguing can't be constructive ... it was a bloody shambles."

The girls had failed on pricing, charging £5 to launder a pillow case, and then asking for tips.

"You went in to the first pitch totally unprepared," Sugar said. "You don't have to be a genius to know that you don't charge £5 to launder a pillow case. Common sense - just common sense."

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Row: Team leader Jenny Celerier turns on Lucinda Ledgerwood in the boardroom

Tense: The girls' team comes under fire from Sir Alan after bickering in the boardroom

He added: "I don't run my business blagging people, I don't get a little extra tip every time I deliver my televisions to my customers. This is outrageous!"

Wannabee tycoon Shazia has reacted with fury to her exit, saying she was "shocked" and did not know why she had been axed.

She said: "When I walked out I was in complete shock. I said I'd been stitched up.

"In my wildest dreams I did not think I would be voted off so early. I thought I was going to be a candidate for the final itself.

"There was no justification for my firing. I don't know on what basis he made a decision"

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Washed up: Customers return items of clothing which do not belong to them after a mix up

Her family hold a Guinness World Record for the number of degrees they have between them.

The 35-year-old from south London had applied for the BBC1 show after watching the first two series with her father before he died.

She was rejected from the third series but after applying again, selected to compete for a job with Sir Alan in the fourth.

Miss Wahab said of appearing on the show: "I discussed it with my father before he died. He said, 'If you're going to do it, do it to win it'.

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'Stubborn cow': Shazia (centre) failed to impress Sir Alan Sugar with this week's task

Winners: The boys' team won praise from Sir Alan with the laundry task

"I remembered the things that I had said to my father... and I applied."

She added: "I don't regret it. I regret the fact that I was fired because I don't think I should have been."

"In my wildest dreams I did not think I would be voted off so early.

"In fact I thought I was going to be an actual candidate for the final. It was an unfair firing completely there was no justification for it.

"To be honest I am still trying to work out why I have been fired.

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'Shambles': Sir Alan hits out at Shazia for leaving the laundry to go home for irons

"Because I don't know if Sir Alan took a dislike to me or if he was not presented with all the facts, I know that Nick and Margaret are his eyes and ears.

"Maybe I did not fight my corner enough in the boardroom but that was a very long boardroom.

"Maybe he just felt I did not want it enough but I certainly did.

"I had done everything that was required, the only thing I did was use my initiative to find a way in which once the launderette had closed down how we could continue to work.

"When Sir Alan sees who the other team members come across I am hoping he will realise he has made a mistake. I was very innocent in that whole process."

The search continues: The starting line-up of this year's contestants. Two have now left

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