An Apprentice star has candidly disclosed the genuine character of Lord Alan Sugar and the formidable presence of Baroness Karren Brady behind the scenes of the hit BBC show.
Lord Sugar's Off-Camera Persona
Paul Turner, the entrepreneur behind Turner's Pies who finished as runner-up in the 2024 series of The Apprentice, has provided a revealing glimpse into what the iconic business magnate is truly like away from the television cameras. Speaking on behalf of SumUp, Turner explained that Lord Sugar's on-screen demeanour is remarkably consistent with his real-life personality.
"We didn't see much of him off camera while on set, however, I had the chance to speak to him after the show," Turner revealed. "He is exactly like he is on TV. Exactly. He's grumpy, he's so blunt, he says things that shock people. He's very good at it."
Interestingly, Turner noted that despite Lord Sugar's famously direct approach, they developed a positive working relationship during the competition. "On the show, we got on quite well and I think he respected me quite early on, which gave me confidence," he added.
Karren Brady's Intimidating Presence
Perhaps more surprisingly, Turner identified Baroness Karren Brady as the most intimidating figure on the show, even surpassing Lord Sugar in this regard. He described her as "good at being really intimidating" and explained why she made such a powerful impression.
"Karren is the number one. She's obviously dominating in a heavily male industry. She's good at being really intimidating. I wouldn't even say Lord Sugar has it to that level," Turner stated.
The Unmistakable Atmosphere
Turner elaborated on the palpable effect of Brady's presence, saying: "She's probably the only person I've ever met who, when she walked in the room, you just know about it - even if you haven't seen her. There is just this weird energy that goes through the room. She's so good."
Despite this initial intimidation factor, Turner noted that Brady eventually warmed to him as the series progressed. "In the end, Karren was really nice to me and she said some really nice stuff, and she was a bit more natural with me, but in the first eight weeks she was scary as hell," he recalled.
Lasting Impressions and Consequences
Turner emphasised the significant impact of Brady's judgments on contestants, explaining: "I think Karren was genuinely more intimidating than Lord Sugar, for me personally. If she doesn't like you, there is no coming back from it. Once she makes her opinion of you, you're done."
The pie delivery specialist expressed sympathy for fellow candidates who found themselves on the wrong side of Brady's assessment, noting: "I felt sorry for some of the other candidates because once you're in her bad books there is no coming back from it - you're not getting any back up from her."
This insider perspective provides valuable context for viewers of The Apprentice, revealing that while Lord Sugar maintains his famously blunt persona consistently, it is Baroness Brady who creates the most formidable atmosphere for contestants navigating the high-pressure business competition.
