THE BBC has responded after The Apprentice was hit by hundreds of complaints from furious viewers.

Last week Marnie Swindells became Lord Alan Sugar's latest business partner as she won The Apprentice 2023.

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Before she and Rochelle Anthony made it to the final though they joined Dani Donovan, Megan Hornby and Victoria Goulbourne for the iconic interview stage of the process.

As always the candidates were grilled by Lord Sugar's team - made up of Claude Littner, Karren Brady, Mike Soutar and Linda Plant - but some fans felt some of the questioning was unfair.

After receiving hundreds of complaints, the BBC released a statement saying: "The Apprentice is a well-established entertainment format which has been on our screens for nearly 20 years.

"The interviews round is more than just a normal interview and its primary purpose is to help determine whose business plan has the potential to secure a £250,000 investment in their business. 

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"As such, every detail must be thoroughly scrutinised and the advisors will, at times, need to ask difficult questions.  The stakes are high for candidates and emotions do run high as they want to secure a place in the final.

"The wellbeing of the candidates is something the programme makers take extremely seriously and there are thorough and robust duty of care measures in place to ensure everyone feels supported."

Dani Donovan previously opened up about the gruelling interview process.

Speaking to The Sun and other press, Dani said: "The day felt like it went on forever!

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"It was all of the anticipation, all of the build-up - I think that was actually worse than the actual interviews themselves because in those interviews you are talking about something you know and love, you are talking about your business.

"You think it would be talking to the interviewers that would be the worst thing but for me it was that awkward walk through a huge empty room while they just sit and stare at you - I thought that was the worst part!"