Claude Littner is finally back in his full time role on The Apprentice, as the long-running show returns to BBC One for a new series on Thursday night, after being forced out of the last series following a nasty cycling accident.
There was concern for Lord Alan Sugar's trusted adviser last year when he was missing in action from the boardroom. Claude had an accident while riding an electric bike in London back in April 2021, with his right leg injured so badly that doctors considered amputating, before managing to save it.
In an interview on Lorraine, Lord Sugar explained that Claude was due to go in for a major operation and the man himself was back on TV on Thursday morning, appearing as a guest on Good Morning Britain and giving assurances that he'd very much recovered from his fall and fighting for The Apprentice's comeback.
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Talking to GMB hosts Susanna Reid and Ben Shephard, Claude said: "It was a freak accident. I think someone was looking out for me but if someone was looking out for me better, I wouldn't have had the accident. I was lucky to have the ambulance driving behind me."
"I am doing wonderfully well, thank you. I am very grateful to the ambulance crew for looking after me and of course the surgeons at St Mary's who put me back together."
Claude was full of smiles during his unexpected appearance on GMB, in stark contrast to the stern expressions are used to from him as he sits and observes The Apprentice candidates. One fan made that observation on Twitter, joking: "If he smiles tonight, I’m switching off immediately.."
After spotting the tweet, Claude replied: "No smiles tonight. Guaranteed!"
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