Sir Alan hires fired apprentices

Before Sir Alan Sugar, it was difficult to imagine just how entertaining watching someone being fired could be.

The straight-talking millionaire won over viewers with his gusto for dismissing contenders from reality TV show The Apprentice. But it seems he has lost his appetite for the sackings - albeit temporarily.

Sir Alan, who utters the immortal words 'you're fired' each week on the show, is believed to have held on to four victims, who have been working at his businesses for six months.

The BBC remained tight-lipped about the report yesterday, saying the programme was 'a game show with lots of twists and turns' which are being kept under wraps.

The May 3rd final will see Sir Alan choose a winner, who will get a £100,000, yearlong job within his empire.

'I have given the contestants strategic places across my business,' he told a Sunday newspaper. 'It has been very useful in assessing their character and ability.'

Meanwhile, tycoon Donald Trump, who starred in the American version of the show, wants to set up a Scottish golf club and has sent an adviser to look at two courses.