Lord Alan Sugar has just taken on a joint operation – only this time we’re talking knee surgery, rather than a new business partnership.
And it’s one enterprise the self-made billionaire wants to walk away from as soon as possible.
Lord Sugar, 72, wasted no time having the op last week, fitting it in around his many commitments.
After last week’s launch of the 15th series of The Apprentice, which starts on BBC1 on Wednesday night, he rubbed his right knee and said: “I’m straight off to hospital now.”
After having the painful three-hour procedure that same day, he posted a snap of legs on a bed with an ice machine, writing: “Game ready, amazing machine for rehabilitation after a knee replacement.”
He dismisses the heart scare he had a couple of years ago, when doctors diagnosed a “widow-maker” blocked artery.
He says: “I’m very, very fit for my age and have a good healthy diet and regular check ups. Age doesn’t bother me.” So will he ever stop? “No, no, I won’t retire!” he says.
He has revealed he is keen to do another five series of The Apprentice, saying: “I’m only contracted to do one more, but I might do up to series 20. That sounds like a nice round figure. It’s up to the BBC.”
He is proud of the ratings hit – which, he insists, is not a reality show. He says: “We’re a business programme, not a fashion parade. We try to make sure candidates don’t just want fame, but a couple of them do slip through the net.”
It’s time to sort the workers from the shirkers again as The Apprentice starts tonight on BBC1 at 9pm.
