Gordon Ramsay has responded to claims he 'copied' Alan Sugar's famed reality show The Apprentice.
The Michelin starred chef is famous for his fiery and foul-mouthed persona on his TV shows including Hell's Kitchen and one of his new projects Future Food Stars. The BBC reality show saw 12 food entrepreneurs compete for a life-changing investment of £150,000 of Gordon's own money for their food business.
Gordon, 56, who is currently promoting his show Next Level Chef, responded to Lord Sugar's claim his reality show was slightly too similar to fellow BBC show The Apprentice. Speaking to MailOnline, Lord Sugar said: 'I think broadcasters, Channel 4, Channel 5, and ITV have tried for many years, at least for 17 years, to try and replicate the elimination process of The Apprentice.
"I say this with great respect to them but they've failed."
He continued: "Last year, Gordon Ramsay had some cockamamie idea… I like Gordon and I think he's very good and should stick to what he should do, cooking and all that stuff.
"He had something, which was like, I don’t know how the lawyers allowed it because it was a virtual rip-off of The Apprentice. No disrespect to Gordon but stick to your day job mate that’s all I would say," the business mogul added.
Responding to the scathing accusation, Gordon, 56, didn't hold a grudge against the 75-year-old. "The guy is a Lord for a reason, so if he’s gonna spank my a*** he’s allowed to," he told Metro.
"I’m very proud of Future Food Stars because of the talent we’re unearthing. The Apprentice is an amazing show, it’s an American format around a boardroom. I come from a kitchen.
"So when the BBC asked me to create an exciting competition with the unsung heroes and the new talent coming through, the future-facing stars of the industry…. I was blown away."
He continued: "We’ve just finished taping this series [Next Level Chef] in the US, and next month we head Down Under.
"So if Mr Sugar is available, I’d love him to judge a challenge, that would be great."
Gordon Ramsay's Future Food Stars aired for the first time in 2022 on BBC One and the second series will begin later this year.
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