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flying high
I was axed from The Apprentice in a mile-high booze scandal but I don’t need Lord Sugar – my business makes £2m a year
The ex-candidate has told how his business is thriving since leaving the hit BBC show
AN Apprentice candidate accused of a mile-high booze scandal says he's grateful NOT to have won a £250k investment from Lord Alan Sugar.
Reece Donnelly has told how he's ended up with more money since being fired from the 2023 series.
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The 27-year-old insists he was forced out the competition after taking ill - amid reports he got to take part in a task.
Proudly looking forward, Reece says his business is now making a £2million turnover without the help of Lord Sugar.
Reece told The Sun's , in association with : "This might sound mental, but I was under no illusion that I was leaving that process in the back of Lord Sugar's Rolls Royce.
"That was the hardest thing for me - having to mentally process the fact that I wasn't going home with a £250 grand investment.
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"But now, a year later, I am so grateful for it because my business is thriving and I sometimes reflect on this, like, what would Lord Sugar have brought to that business?
"Lord Sugar would probably only have brought business skills in the sense of accounts and growth skills, which I think you can get anyway, without giving someone 50 per cent of your business.
"At the time I was absolutely distraught... but I'm still working, I'm still so grateful to be me, and not under the [terms and conditions] of Lord Sugar, telling me what I can and can't do."
Reece opened up about how he's built on the success of his business since leaving The Apprentice, which was won by Marnie Swindells.
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The entrepreneur founded the Theatre School of and Theatre College of Scotland after a career in acting.
He landed his first professional acting role at the age of seven, later working on programmes including .
Real reason Apprentice star Reece Donnelly sensationally quit the show revealed
"I went on The Apprentice with a business that was thriving for five years, but we just couldn't get to a certain number of turnover," Reece added.
"For me, 10 million viewers every Thursday night was all I needed.
"I don't actually think I needed the investment from Lord Sugar because it put the business in such a different stratosphere where everyone knew us, but for me, I now don't have to give Lord Sugar 50 per cent of my wages.
"I thought that I needed £250,000 investment when I actually only needed 20 grand to invest and grow this business and launch it.
"So long story short is I've managed to save myself 50 per cent equity in my own business, and you know, the business that I took on is now thriving and just about to hit a 2 million pound turnover.
"I'm super grateful. I'm so glad that I got to share a workspace with Lord Sugar and Karen Brady."
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Reece added: "I watch the show every week, and I'd just say to every candidate 'enjoy the ride because it is the biggest and best rollercoaster of your life', and I am so grateful for it.
"All I hope is that we're gonna do an All Star one day, and maybe I'm going to go back."
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