Sir Alan tells oldest Apprentice contestant 'you're fired'

12 April 2012
The Weekender

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Father-of-three Andy Jackson suffered the indignity of becoming the first person to be kicked off the new series of The Apprentice - but says he had no regrets.

The former car salesman, 36, was booted off after taking on the role of team leader in a coffee-making task, and his team, Stealth, got knocked out by their rivals.

• Gallery: The Apprentice: Week 1

Andy Jackson: The father of three and the show's oldest contestant, was the first to be fired from the Apprentice

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Winning team Eclipse were whisked off to The Royal Ballet at Covent Garden, where they met ballerina Darcey Bussell.

Jackson, from Leeds but now living in Kirriemuir, Scotland, and the oldest of the 16 candidates, lasted on the BBC1 show for just a week.

Jadene led the boy's team in a song and to victory and Andy, who led the girl's team, poor communication and the girl's bad decisions cost them the task and ultimately his place

He said of the moment he was told "You're Fired" by Amstrad boss Sir Alan.

"I hated it. But I've had knockbacks in my life and it's about how you pick yourself up and that's what I'm doing.

"Unfortunately the project manager always gets fired on the first week.

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The married father of Adam, eight, Harry, five, and Sam, four, said: "I need to look after my kids.

"But this has been a stepping stone.

"I lost wages and time. Going on the show cost me around £10,000 in wages and I now have to find another job. I am trying to find ways of paying the mortgage at the moment.

"But I had to take the risk. I was always a gambling man and if I was in the final 16 of a poker game from 10,000 people I would be a fool not to continue."

"Going on The Apprentice was an absolutely superb opportunity."

Mr Jackson tipped Katie Hopkins, 31, a global brand consultant and single mother from Exeter to win.

"I'm a really big fan of Katie," he said. "She's got good experience, is tactful and hasn't made any enemies."

He said of reports that she had embarked on a relationship with fellow candidate Paul Callaghan, 27: "There were sparks flying between the two of them."

This year's contestants also include a quantum physicist, a would-be secret agent and Kate Middleton's former boss.

Mr Jackson dismissed reports that he had been sacked after property went missing from a former job, saying it was a misunderstanding.

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