The Apprentice’s Jessica Cunningham and Grainne McCoy reveal struggle of being working mums as they reach show’s semi-final
THE Apprentice semi-finalists Jessica Cunningham and Grainne McCoy have opened up about the struggles of being working mothers.
The businesswomen make up two fifths of the finalists, alongside fellow mum Frances Bishop, Alana Spencer and the last man standing Courtney Wood as they battle it out to win the £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar.
Jessica, 29, is a single mum to three young daughters and already runs a successful online clothing store – Prodigal Fox.
Speaking to The Sun Online about doing it all, the straight-talking Burnley star said: “I love being a working mum, it's hard at times, but I want my children to see that hard work pays off.”
Grainne meanwhile is also a single mum to son Ryan, which she balances with running her successful make-up studio.
The Northern Irish star – who didn’t go to university as she had her son when she was just 16 - told us: “Being a working mum from a very young age has now given me the strength & character to succeed!
“After Ryan seeing what I have achieved through a lot of hard work has given him the drive to do the same.”
She previously revealed her determination when commenting on Aleksandra King quitting the show claiming she wasn’t allowed to see her children enough.
Grainne said: “I sure as hell didn’t leave my boy for ten weeks to come here and be a loser.”
Aleksandra shocked viewers when she the show mid meeting and later blasted the show saying: “I have found the process overwhelming, stressful and really intense. And I just want to go home to my kids and my husband now.
“The amount of contact was not acceptable. There was no way I was going to work like that, not being able to pick up the phone and see if my kids are OK. I thought, “What is the point?””
Jessica and Grainne are not the only contestants to be separated from their children during the process – Frances Bishop has been too.
Frances, who owns a children’s clothing company, is married to Notts County footballer Neil Bishop and has a son, Oscar.
Tonight the five semi-finalists will face four of Lord Sugar's closest advisers in interviews as they pick part their business plans.
Typically, the final task features two finalists battling it out against each other, supported by previous candidates who have been fired by Lord Sugar and his team earlier that series.
The Apprentice final will air Sunday 18 December at 9pm on BBC ONE.