Apprentice series 11: Claude Littner to replace Nick Hewer as Lord Sugar's aide

The dogged businessman has worked with Lord Sugar for over 25 years

Claude Littner is to take over from Nick Hewer as Lord Sugar's aide (BBC)

Claude Littner, the man Lord Sugar calls upon to expose the fabrications in candidates’ CVs, will be the business guru’s new advisor on The Apprentice.

Littner, 65, a former Amstrad director who has known Lord Sugar for 25 years, will take over from Nick Hewer, who stepped down as Lord Sugar’s eyes and ears on the BBC1 series, after a decade.

He promises to be a less cerebral presence than Hewer. Littner is known to viewers from his role ripping apart the hopefuls during the interview episode.

Now promoted, he will join Baroness Brady in following the candidates during each task and reporting back to Lord Sugar on their progress.

Littner said: “If the candidates think I am soft and fluffy, they haven't been watching me on The Apprentice over the past decade. I will now be assessing their performance in the process, individually and within their teams.

“I will be reporting to Lord Sugar to play my part in ensuring that his personal investment of £250,000 goes to the best candidate. I’m ready, and this won't be a walk in the park.”

Lord Sugar said: “I first worked with Claude in 1990 and trust his judgement completely. He will no doubt take a very different approach to Nick. It’s great to have him on board.”

Littner is a corporate turnaround expert. He was Deputy Chairman of Blacks Leisure and is a visiting professor at the University of West London, Claude Littner Business School.

Fame for his put-downs during the interview episodes, he told one candidate, Stuart Baggs: “You’re not a big fish - you’re not even a fish”.

Another candidate, Solomon Akhtar, was told: “I came on to actually look at the proposal you’re pitching for Lord Sugar, and quite frankly it’s a bloody disgrace. It’s a bloody disgrace. The ten years I’ve done this, I’ve never seen something… two bloody pages… You can leave. Goodbye… There’s nothing to argue, you’ve given me pictures of sailboats… You’re taking the piss… please leave… That’s not the way out.”