Latest Apprentice fired

Hopeful sent packing after Paris task flop...

09:26 23 June 2011

Leon Doyle has become the latest contestant to be fired from the Apprentice, after he and his team failed to impress Lord Sugar in a Paris-based export task.

This week, Lord Sugar sent his teams to France to sell unique British products for the highest possible amount.

Leon's Team Logic, headed by inventor Tom Pellereau, chose to flog a teapot-shaped light and a pop-up postcard to companies in the French capital, but it was Team Venture who triumphed overall.

Project managed by Susan Ma, the team picked a child's booster seat which folded up into a backpack and a gadget holder.

Venture sailed to victory, making a record-breaking profit of €228,699, after Helen Milligan secured a massive €214,000 deal with French brand La Redoute for the bag.

In comparison, Pellereau's Logic made €11,705 in sales.

Tom brought Leon and Melody Hossaini back into the boardroom, but it was Doyle who ultimately felt the final wrath of Lord Sugar.

Pellereau was quick to defend himself, arguing that he had wanted to go with the child's rucksack in the first place and that it was Melody that pushed for the teapot light.

However, an unimpressed Sugar responded:

"You were the team leader, you didn't put your foot down and take it. Sometimes, your instinct, your gut feeling, you should go with it."

His final decision came down to a "gut instinct", telling Leon:

"Leon, I don't know what you were doing on this task, all I've heard from you is that you couldn't speak French and you left everything to Melody.

"From a gut instinct, I think I've made my mind up, Leon - you're fired."