'The Apprentice': Claude Littner Confirmed To Replace Nick Hewer As Lord Sugar's Adviser For Next Series

Be Afraid... Lord Sugar's Apprentice Sidekick Has Been Confirmed
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'The Apprentice' just broke news enough to make any self-aware candidates for the next series of the show quake in their boots.

Lord Sugar's sidekick Nick Hewer announced his departure last year after a decade on the show, and now it's been confirmed that Claude Littner - yes, terrifying Claude! - will be the person filling his boots.

Claude Littner has known Lord Sugar for 25 years, having served as a director of Amstrad plc, Amstrad International, Dancall, Viglen and Tottenham Hotspur. He currently chairs a number of Lord Sugar’s companies.

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Claude Littner is stepping into the role of Lord Sugar's adviser for the next series

Claude is already a familiar, and frightening, face to 'Apprentice' viewers, after ten years as one of the most formidable panellists during the key interview episode of each series.

The new series will find him joining Baroness Karren Brady in following the candidates around as they strive to complete the tasks, and then reporting back to Lord Sugar on the makers, breakers and weak links of each team.

Claude said: “If the candidates think I am soft and fluffy, they haven't been watching me on The Apprentice over the past decade. I will now be assessing their performance in the process, individually and within their teams. I will be reporting to Lord Sugar to play my part in ensuring that his personal investment of £250,000 goes to the best candidate. I'm ready, and this won't be a walk in the park!”

Lord Sugar said: “I first worked with Claude in 1990 and trust his judgement completely. He will no doubt take a very different approach to Nick. It’s great to have him on board.”

Claude is not known for breaking it gently to the candidates - here are some of his key putdowns over the last few years...

“Don’t compare yourself to Lord Sugar. Don’t compare yourself ever to him” – to Luisa Zissman Series 9

More recently...

“I’ve told you how pleased I was with your CV… And then I came on to actually look at the proposal you’re pitching for Lord Sugar, and quite frankly it’s a bloody disgrace. It’s a bloody disgrace. The ten years I’ve done this, I’ve never seen something… two bloody pages… You can leave. Goodbye… There’s nothing to argue, you’ve given me pictures of sailboats… You’re taking the piss… please leave… That’s not the way out.” – to Solomon Akhtar, Series 10

And more succinctly...

“You’re not a big fish - you’re not even a fish” – to Stuart Baggs “The Brand”, Series 6

'The Apprentice' returns later in the year. Be afraid.

'The Apprentice': Where Are They Now?
Leah Totton (Series 9, 2013)(01 of19)
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2013 winner Leah used her investment from Lord Alan Sugar to launch Dr Leah Cosmetic Skin Clinics, where she offers services including botox and laser hair removal. For just £60, you can get a 3D Rotational Diamond Microdermabrasion treatment. Bargain! (No, we have no idea what that is either) (credit:Ian West/PA Archive)
Luisa Zissman (Series 9, 2013)(02 of19)
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Luisa wasn't about to let finishing second get in the way of her business - or her public profile. After appearing on the show, Luisa landed a spot in the 'CBB' house and now presents the spin-off 'Big Brother's Bit On The Side'. Her cupcake business has grown considerably and the brand now includes cookware and a book. (credit:Danny Martindale via Getty Images)
Kurt Wilson (Series 9, 2013) (03 of19)
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Health and safety manager-turned-Health drink entrepreneur Kurt was fired in week 7. The self-confessed "alpha male who always gets his own way" now runs Fuel Centre, a nutrition centre. (credit:BBC )
Francesca MacDuff-Varley (Series 9, 2013) (04 of19)
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Francesca just missed out on a place in the 2013 top two and now owns her own dance studio in Leeds. During the competition Francesca famously claimed that her company had netted a whooping £5 million in profit, the real figure was closer to £50,00. Awkward. (credit:BBC)
Ricky Martin (Series 8, 2012)(05 of19)
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Ricky Martin, 'Total Wipeout' winner and 'The Apprentice' champion. Sadly Ricky's mambo wasn't up to scratch, but his business skills saw him named winner of the 2012 series. Ricky then launched his business 'Hyper Recruitment Solutions' alongside Alan Sugar, which is still going strong...As is his wrestling career. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Archive)
Tom Pellereau (Series 7, 2011)(06 of19)
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Tom Pellereau was the first winner to be awarded a prize of £250,000 instead of a job with Lord Sugar. and what was his life-changing product? A curved nail file, which miraculously is still on sale in Boots. (credit:Ian Gavan via Getty Images)
Susan Ma (Series 7, 2011)(07 of19)
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Susan Ma (pictured right) was just 21 when she entered the competition and sadly, she's mainly remembered for being one of the most annoying contestants ever. Now, Susan co-owns Tropic Skin Care - with none other than Alan Sugar. (credit:Ian West/PA Archive)
Vincent Disneur (Series 7, 2011)(08 of19)
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Vincent's good looks weren't enough to save him from hearing the immortal words "you're fired", and he was booted out in week 5. He's now the Director of Union Street, "the UK’s leading billing provider". (credit:BBC)
Kate Walsh (Series 5, 2009)(09 of19)
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Perhaps best known for her relationship with fellow contestant Philip Taylor, Kate was runner-up in 2009. After briefly "flirting" with TV and attempting to present Channel 5's 'OKTV!', Kate went back to business and she's now an executive assistant for Pandora. (credit:Doug Peters/Doug Peters)
Lucinda Ledgerwood (Series 4, 2008)(10 of19)
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Linda and her berets made it to the semi-finals, after which she pursued a TV career, before - like many others - skulking back to the business world. (credit:BBC)
Alex Wotherspoon (Series 4, 2008)(11 of19)
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Backstabbing other candidates appears to get you far, but sadly for Alex, not far enough.After dusting himself off following his dismissal, Alex got back on track and He can now be found acting as a Financial Advisor for Santander. (credit:BBC )
Katie Hopkins (Series 3, 2007)(12 of19)
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Weirdly, after becoming "the only person to say no to Alan Sugar", Katie faded into obscurity and hasn't been seen again. (credit:Ian West/PA Archive)
Simon Ambrose (Series 3, 2007) (13 of19)
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Despite being labelled "a pillock" by Sir Alan, Simon went on to win series 3. He joined Lord Sugar's business to work on property projects but later left to pursue his own business ambitions. (credit:Ian West/PA Archive)
Michelle Dewberry (Series 2, 2006)(14 of19)
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Michelle only lasted 6 months at Lord Sugar's recycling company Xenon Green. She can now be found sporting black framed specs on Sky News and also works as a strategy consultant for Tesco Mobile. (credit:Dave M. Benett via Getty Images)
Ruth Badger (Series 2, 2006)(15 of19)
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Badger by name, badger by nature.Thanks to her ability to sell anything from apples to cars, Ruth now works as a consultant and helps to launch new businesses. (credit:Tomos Brangwyn via Getty Images)
Tim Campbell (Series 1, 2005)(16 of19)
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Tim was the first ever winner of 'The Apprentice' in 2005 and e worked for Lord Sugar for two years before moving on to his own projects. He was awarded a MBE in 2012 for his work in social enterprise and now works in property. (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)
Saria Khan (Series 1, 2005) (17 of19)
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Saria is one of the show's biggest success stories. Despite just missing out winning, Saria has gone on to become a Children's TV Presenter, had a baby, launched a baby products business and has written a book. Phew! (credit:Getty)
Raef Bjayou (Series 4, 2008) (18 of19)
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Smooth-talking Raef charmed his fellow opponents, the public and even Sir Alan who called him "a really nice chap". Nowadays, you can find still find Raef in front of the camera, presenting 'The Underdog Show'. (credit:BBC )
Stella Vine (Series 6, 2010)(19 of19)
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Stella won series 6 of the show, however, Lord Sugar was faced to deny rumours of a rift when she left his company to take a position at YouView. (credit:Neil Mockford via Getty Images)