Sir Michael Parkinson has described Big Brother as “the modern version of Bedlam”.

The former chat show host also blasted The Apprentice and Sir Alan Sugar’s attitude to his candidates.

“I object to the exploitation of the underclass in shows like Big Brother,” he told The Observer. “It is the modern version of Bedlam, where you pay to see the poor benighted people making asses of themselves.”

Speaking about The Apprentice, he added: “Why do people find [the show] appealing? When Sir Alan says ‘You’re fired’, that is not a nice thing to happen.

“The basic premise is not worthwhile, or enthralling.”