Alan Sugar reveals reason to guarantee getting kicked out of his boardroom

HE’S made millions spotting gaps in the market after starting his empire selling computers out the back of a van.

But Lord Alan Sugar reckons he’s now “too old” for new ideas.

Ahead of the latest series of The Apprentice on BBC One at 9pm, tonight, he told me: “I’m observing now. I’ve got staff that come up with ideas, I’m a bit too old now.”

Asked if they pitched just like the Apprentices, he said: “Yeah basically, ‘very clever idea’ or ‘I do not like that one’.”

It’s a fine line sifting passing business trends from legitimate investment opportunities — as we’ll see once more as 18 new candidates enter the boardroom in the hope of bagging a £250,000 boost.

Lord Sugar added: “In my lifetime, I’ve seen things like, you know, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook. Google. Amazon, for example, has had a real impact on our high street shops.

“Some people will call me a bit old-fashioned, but I like to deal in something I can touch and feel.

“Whether it’s bakery, cakes, whether it’s an electronic item or whether it’s a service that is provided. All these kind of obscure things like cryptocurrencies, online things, they just don’t get past me really.”

It’s something some of this year’s candidates might like to take heed of, including banker Avi Sharma and Reece Donnelly, who owns a performing arts school.

And they’ll all want to cast an eye over their wardrobes, as that’s another area in which Lord Sugar has exacting standards.

He warned: “It’s their own choice, what they wear but if someone came in in a tracksuit, I’d send them home and tell them to put a suit on.”

Of a rumoured “sex ban” between candidates, he added: “I don’t know what’s going on either in the Apprentice’s house or after the event, I don’t know.

“I’ve got no jurisdiction or say so, but it really doesn’t bother me at all.”

Lord Sugar’s all about that work/life balance.

• The Apprentice, BBC One, 9pm

Hems on the rise Karren

NOT much gets past Karren Brady – even the length of the candidates’ skirts.

Lord Sugar’s right-hand woman, who has been a fixture on the BBC One series for 13 years, says the one thing she’s noticed is the outfits have become more revealing.

Sun columnist Karren said: “They can wear what they want.

The skirts actually this year get shorter and shorter, I’ve noticed.

And the heels get higher.

“But no one tells them what to wear.”

Karren, meanwhile, won’t be towering over the candidates as she’s ditched her heels in favour of comfort.

She adds: “You’ll notice in every shot I’m wearing trainers. I’ve learnt the hard way that wearing heels all day is an impossibility.”

And the West Ham vice chairman will need them, as she’s here to stay.

Karren added: “The days are very long. When we started I was in my 30s now I’m in my 50s; I was 39 I’m now 53.

“It’s been a long time, but if my health’s good and I can still do it and Alan still wants me then I’d love to.”

Tragedy struck Marnie

CANDIDATE Marnie Swindells has told of her childhood tragedy after her dad died suddenly when she was just eight years old.

The businesswoman and former boxer says it left her pining for another life.

In an emotional Instagram post after qualifying as a barrister in 2019, Marnie wrote: “Many people don’t know this but I actually grew up in a caravan with only my mum by my side.

“I was eight years old when I witnessed my dad’s sudden death, a moment that plummeted my little world into a pit of sadness, agony and sheer hopelessness.

“Even at that age I was so conscious of my reality and I remember lying in the silent hours of the night wondering if this was all there was for me in this life.

“I would watch my school friends with their two-parent families in their big houses with their fancy toys and I desperately longed to be part of that ‘other’ world that to my young eyes seemed so utterly perfect.”

Winner sitting Preet-Y

LAST year’s champion Harpreet Kaur didn’t just win the show, she also bagged herself a new boyfriend.

The dessert parlour owner is dating fellow 2022 candidate Akshay Thakrar but insists their love blossomed after the series finished.

Speaking on Apprentice sister show You’re Fired tonight, Harpreet says: “We were both focused on the tasks. We built a friendship though, but the friendship mainly happened after the show.”

Akshay added: “There was no time for romance as I was in the boardroom all the time.

“During the show we were never on the same team, we hardly spoke.

“After the show, having gone through the experience together, I asked her for dinner, she said, ‘No, let’s do lunch’ and it went from there.”

You’re Fired host, comedian Tom Allen will be chatting to the first person given the boot, on BBC2 at 10pm, tonight.

Tycoon loved ‘Enders

LORD Sugar never misses an episode of EastEnders – even binge watching if he’s been out of the country, according to Karren Brady.

It’s not a big surprise, given the tycoon was born in the East End of London and his niece, actress Rita Simons, was a regular on the soap.

Lord Sugar has even been on the show, taking business advice from Ian Beale.

Karren said: “He’s an EastEnders addict. I have no idea what he likes about it, I’ve never watched it before.

“But I’ve never caught him watching it between takes.”

Thankfully for Karren, the storylines in Albert Square don’t come up over lunch.

And Alan’s resignation from the Labour Party – meaning he now stands as an independent in the House of Lords – has helped too.

She added: “He is actually very funny, he’s very witty and he’s great company. We have a lot in common.

“We talk a lot about football. We have a phrase: friends first, football second, politics third.

“But he resigned, so he’s crossbench, now we mainly just leave politics.

“We share a couple of eye rolls every now and then.”