Claude Littner’s future on BBC The Apprentice has been revealed on Friday after he missed last series due to a horror accident.
The businessman, 75, was forced to miss out on the boardroom in 2021 after having a serious cycling accident which he revealed he almost lost his leg as a result and needed nine operations.
Claude was previously an adviser to Lord Alan Sugar alongside Baroness Karren Brady, before he was replaced by series one winner Tim Campbell.
Earlier this year, Claude admitted it was ‘not his call’ whether he returns to the boardroom as he revealed he is now ‘fully recovered’ from his injuries.
Now a source has revealed that the millionaire businessman will still appear in the new series but not full time.
A source told The Sun: ‘The team really miss having Claude and his expertise around full time but Tim has been a perfect replacement.
Claude Littner’s future on BBC The Apprentice has been revealed on Friday after he missed last series due to a horror accident
The businessman, 75, was forced to miss out on the boardroom in 2021 after having a serious cycling accident which he revealed he almost lost his leg as a result and needed nine operations
‘He still remains very much apart of the show and just like last year, will feature later in the new series for the interviews with the candidates.’
MailOnline have contacted Claude’s representatives for comment.
The interviews normally take place in the eleventh episode of each series and see the five remaining candidates and their business proposals put under the spotlight and grilled by industry experts and entrepreneurs.
At the time of his departure, Claude insisted he would be paying close attention to the candidates’ antics from his sofa instead of the boardroom.
He said in a statement: ‘Whilst I’m disappointed that I won’t be out and about covering the tasks or in boardroom for this upcoming series, I’ll most definitely be glued to the action from my sofa.’
Claude’s replacement Tim – who was the first ever winner of the business reality competition almost 17 years ago – previously admitted he was stunned when his old mentor, Lord Alan Sugar, asked him to join the show – and he didn’t believe the offer was genuine at first.
During an interview with Radio Times magazine, he recalled thinking: ‘Is this a prank? I thought people were going to burst in with cameras and say, “Got you!” I thought, ‘Why is he phoning?’ When he explained, I said, ‘Are you being serious?’ It was mad.’
Having been on The Apprentice since 2015, viewers were saddened and concerned when Claude didn’t appear in the season’s debut episode last year.
Earlier this year, Claude admitted it was ‘not his call’ whether he returns to the boardroom but now a source has said that the businessman will still appear in the new series but not full time
Claude was previously an adviser to Lord Alan Sugar alongside Baroness Karren Brady, before he was replaced by series one winner Tim Campbell
Claude previously expressed the potential that he could return in full for the 2025 season.
One fan tweeted: ‘Missing ClaudeLittner on the apprentice again this year! Hoping he was going to be back…’ to which Claude responded: ‘Maybe next year. ”Nil disperandum”.’
At the beginning of the 2022 series, Claude was replaced at the last minute by Tim, with Sir Alan explained to the candidates: ‘You may be wondering why this gentleman is here,’ before pointing to Tim.
‘Regretfully, Claude has not been very well and Tim will be assisting me for the next 11 weeks.’
Claude suffered severe injuries during a freak E-bike accident in April 2021. He underwent nine surgeries to save his leg and had to learn to walk again following the incident near his London home.
As a result, Claude missed the last two seasons of The Apprentice, while focusing on recovery. He made a brief return in 2023 for a single episode, before Tim stepped in once again.
Appearing last year on Good Morning Britain , Claude gave a health update , saying: ‘I am doing wonderfully well, thank you. I am very grateful to the ambulance crew for looking after me and of course the surgeons at St Mary’s who put me back together.
During an interview with Radio Times magazine, he recalled thinking: ‘Is this a prank? I thought people were going to burst in with cameras and say, “Got you!” I thought, ‘Why is he phoning?’ When he explained, I said, ‘Are you being serious?’ It was mad.’
‘It was a freak accident. I think someone was looking out for me but if someone was looking out for me better, I wouldn’t have had the accident – I was lucky to have the ambulance driving behind me.
‘I was just pottering along, I must have been doing no more than 10 kilometres an hour on this sort of two-track road’.
‘The next thing I knew, I was on the left hand side of the street, my bike was in the middle of the road and I didn’t know what happened.
‘I suspect I hit a pothole or something like that, but I must have blanked out at the moment of impact, because the next thing I knew, I was lying on the ground.’
The 19th season of The Apprentice is expected to air in February with business tycoon Lord Sugar joined by his advisors Karren and Tim.
The last series saw Rachel Woolford win beating runner-up Phil Turner.
Applications for the 20th series of the hit BBC star are now open.
