Karren Brady DENIES Grainne McCoy, Jessica Cunningham and Frances Bishop were booted off The Apprentice for being working mums on Loose Women
Lord Sugar's right hand lady defended the finalists choice and spoke of what it was like to be a working mum
APPRENTICE star Karren Brady has jumped to the defence of the show after it was accused of firing three candidates for being mothers.
's right hand lady was being interviewed on today when the allegations were brought up against the show.
, who was leading the discussion today, grilled the star as she sat down about what it was like being a working mum - and how that affects candidates on the BBC business show.
Referring to last night's episode, which eliminated the last of the working mum candidates, Andrea asked: "We're all working mums here, we all juggle, we all manage to get through it. You yourself are a very high achieving working mum.
"Do you think it's that practicality, and that ability to put emotions to one side... do you feel that is an absolute must for women to succeed?"
Karren then replied: "Well I think in relation to last night, the people that went through were those who had the best business plans - I don't think it had anything to do with the fact that they working mum's or not working mums.
"It was purely a decision based on who's got the best business plan and who's done the best. "
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Going on to discuss the topic as a broader whole, she said: "I think in terms of working mums, I think all of us - we spend our whole life juggling nativity play, board meetings, sports day board meeting - you can't make it all."
She ended by saying: "Out of all the titles that have been given to me, there's only one that suits me - and that's working mum. Because my kids and my work are the two most important things in my life and I'm not prepared to give up either."
quickly joked that she'd forgotten her husband and Karren then quickly laughed and added him in two.
Speaking to The Sun Online about being a working mum, Jessica Cunningham - who was eliminated last night and is mum to three daughters - 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 McCoy, who is a single mum to son Ryan, balances motherhood with running a 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.”
Catch Loose Women, weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV1.
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