Sir Alan Sugar has hit out at Newsnight host Jeremy Paxman after the Newsnight host reportedly said The Apprentice was full of “know-alls” with “nothing to say”.

Sir Alan told The Radio Times: “That’s the pot talking to the kettle, isn’t it? I mean, he’s the most unpleasant person going.

“I’d like to get into a debate, without him having a day to think up questions to make people seem awkward. I’d like to see how clever he is then.”

He added: “Jeremy Paxman has never interviewed me. I’ve never met him. But I’d like to be thrown in a room with him to debate something someone throws at us rather than him having a crib sheet hiding under the table.

“In my opinion that is cheating, honestly.”