Business tycoon Lord Alan Sugar has thrown a jab at the American president and former US Apprentice host, Donald Trump.
In a candid chat with The Times, the sharp-tongued media figure and entrepreneur didn't hold back on his opinion of Trump's business acumen.
Lord Sugar expressed his astonishment at Trump's political comeback, saying, "But I’m English and the mindset here is totally different. You’ve got people building Donald up as this great businessman which, when he was on The Apprentice, he wasn’t."
He conceded, "But they love him, so good luck to him," the face of BBC's The Apprentice added.
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AFP via Getty Images)Additionally, Lord Sugar recounted an almost-encounter with the ex-Apprentice chief, admitting his hesitation to approach due to a heavy security presence.
He shared, "I was 20 yards away from Donald and my wife said, ‘Why don’t you go and say hello?’" But, unfotunately, Lord Sugar's nerves got the best of him: "Now, I’m not normally shy but I thought, ‘I can’t go up, he has about 50 security guys around him, they’ll grab me and drag me away.’"
The self-made business mogul, who launched his electronics empire Amstrad at just 21 in 1968, also reminisced about his tenure as chairman and part-owner of Tottenham Hotspur FC from 1991 to 2001.
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Getty Images)Yet, it's his stint as the formidable 'boss' on BBC One's The Apprentice that has truly cemented the entrepreneur's fame. As hopefuls battle it out for the hefty £250,000 prize across a series of gruelling tasks, not all emerge successful in the long run.
Lord Sugar, however, harbours no remorse for those whose ventures falter post-show. He declared: "I’m proud of the five (millionaires) and I don’t feel guilty about the ones who failed. We’re not playing silly buggers here. This is the real world and you’ve got to be tough to win."
Gear up for more cutthroat business antics as The Apprentice makes its grand return tonight for its 19th season.
Tune into BBC One at 9pm to watch Lord Sugar alongside Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell.