The Apprentice 2014 who was fired: 'Immature' James Hill axed as Lord Sugar issues loud warning

This week's failing project manager had to go - despite another contestant only selling three pairs of wellies during the task

He might once have claimed he and Lord Alan Sugar could build an empire together, but James Hill’s ambitions were thwarted tonight when he became the latest wannabe Apprentice to be sacked.

The 26-year-old from Chesterfield project managed his team Summit to failure in a task which saw the contestants trying to flog products at the Royal Bath and West rural show.

Summit’s total sales amounted to less than a sixth of winning team Tenacity’s haul, taking just £4,757.50 while their rivals accrued £30,615.25.

Tenacity sold 10 hot tubs, seven of which Mark Wright, 24, sold to one person; while Summit shifted a desultory two lawnmowers.

After James brought teammates Sanjay Sood-Smith, 27, and Roisin Hogan, 32, into the boardroom with him, it looked like Lord Alan had it in for one of the former.

The business mogul spoke critically of banker Sanjay, saying: “You’ve worked in banking all your life, and on sales here, you’re the worst – you only sold three pairs of foldable wellies.”

To Roisin, Lord Alan said: “You are a qualified accountant, a highly intelligent person. But it’s the eighth week now, and it’s not good news when I haven’t seen much and heard from you.”

But ultimately it was car wash owner James – who once, confusingly, said “I think I am [Lord Alan] when he was my age” - who had to leave.

“James, I see some sparks of entrepreneurialism, albeit a little bit immature. You have got a lot to learn. And it’s whether I can afford to take you any further in this process,” Lord Alan said.

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“I find it very hard to demoralize somebody with such fighting spirit. But James, what I want to say to you is this: culture that bit of good stuff about you, then you will go somewhere, you will go somewhere. But it is with regret James that I’m going to have to say to you, you’re fired.”

James got his start in business when he set up a hand car wash, going on to launch other businesses including supplying gaming machines to bars and clubs in the UK and Ireland, and opening a restaurant and bar.

“I think I’ve sent out a very, very loud warning that I want to see something,” Lord Alan said to Roisin and Sanjay before sending them back to the house.

Team Tenacity’s prize was a boxing masterclass with Olympic Bronze medalist Anthony Ogogo.