The Apprentice’s Claude Littner replaced on BBC show after almost losing his leg in horror accident
CLAUDE Littner has pulled out of the next series of The Apprentice after almost losing his leg in an e-bike accident.
The millionaire businessman has needed nine operations since the accident — but the injuries to his leg were so severe that doctors considered amputation.
Yesterday, Claude, 72, confirmed he would not take part.
His place will be taken by Tim Campbell, 44, the winner of the first UK Apprentice series in 2005.
Claude said he was determined to return to the show, adding: “Whilst I’m disappointed that I won’t be out and about covering the tasks or in boardroom for this upcoming series, I’ll most definitely be glued to the action from my sofa.”
Claude, chairman of computer firm Viglen, joined the show in 2015, replacing Nick Hewer, 77.
He was injured when he fell from his e-bike near his North London home in April.
“I suspect I hit a pothole or something like that,” he said. “The next thing I knew I was lying on the ground.” Surgeons at St Mary’s Hospital in
Paddington saved his leg but he has lost two stone since.
Apprentice host Lord Sugar, 74, said: “I’ve been speaking to him regularly about his recovery and, of course, hope we see him back in the boardroom very soon.”
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Tim won a £100,000-a-year job with Lord Sugar’s firm Amstrad but left two years later.
The series returns to BBC One next year.
