The Sun has reported that Apprentice finalist, Alex Wotherspoon, had already worked for one Viglen, one of Sir Alan Sugar’s companies, last year.

A spokewoman for the show said: “Alex decided to take up his offer and completed a short-term contract with a subsidiary company of Viglen, but he no longer works for them.”

It has also emerged that Claire Young and Lee McQueen worked for the same company during the last few months.

This was because the show is filmed far in advance of its broadcast and Sugar often hires the finalists before he hires one of them.

“It’s necessary for The Apprentice to be recorded in advance to allow time for editing,” the source explained. “Sir Alan makes his decision in the final boardroom as to the winner but does not reveal it to anyone until the day of filming You’re Hired!

“He employs finalists until the programme is shown as they would be unable to find employment for this short period and cannot be out of pocket.”