Sir Alan Sugar was shocked to the core when recording the final episode of this years Apprentice TV show.

One of the contestants to whom he offers a temporary job, turns it down and decides to concentrate on their family life instead.

A source told the Sunday Mirror: “Sir Alan and the whole team were completely wrong-footed. Alan had chosen the person he believed would go on to become his winner.

“That contestant had become one of the biggest personalities in the series and we were all set for a proper showdown between Alan’s last two. But this individual decided to quit instead. After weeks of hard work and graft, no one could have guessed this would happen.

“It is one of the most dramatic moments in the three-season history of the programme. Sir Alan is forced to pick another contestant – who he obviously didn’t rate as much.”