The Apprentice star turned down big offer from BBC to do Strictly Come Dancing saying ‘I’ll stick to what I’m good at’
THE APPRENTICE star Claude Littner has revealed that he turned down what would have been a very lucrative offer to appear on fan-favourite BBC series Strictly Come Dancing.
Businessman Claude, 74, starred on The Apprentice from 2015 to 2019 and has said that he would prefer to continue focusing on what he’s good at rather than appear on the BBC’s competitive dance show.
Admittedly, Claude is a big reality TV fan, having previously revealed his fondness for Love Island to Ben Shepherd on Good Morning Britain last year.
Because of this, when Love Island was teasing its new All Stars series earlier in the week, an excited viewer who is clearly also a fan of The Apprentice, asked him on X, formerly Twitter: “Claude Littner, do we have the honour of your presence for this series?”
Claude jokingly responded to the tweet, saying, “I am tempted!”
However, another fan quickly interjected, saying they believe Claude is better suited to a different reality show.
“I think Claude would be more suitable for Strictly with that winning smile,” the fan suggested.
As it turns out, the BBC had the same idea, but Claude revealed that he’d actually turned them down.
He said: “I have been asked to go on Strictly, but dancing is really not my thing.
“Best stick with what I am good at…. Not smiling,” Claude added.
While the BBC have not confirmed what kind of compensation celebs receive for putting on their dancing shoes, they are rumoured to get £25,000 after signing on. This is believed to increase the longer the celeb remains in the competition with the winner allegedly taking home a whopping £100,000.
It seems to Claude that was not a business transaction worth his time, though.
He still has a number of enterprises under his purview, despite stepping away from the business reality show The Apprentice last year.
Claude left the series after a serious biking injury, with Tim Campbell taking his seat at Lord Sugar’s table.
The business mogul had been riding an electric bike in London when he fell off.
His right leg was so badly injured that doctors considered amputating it.
However, they managed to save it, but he had to undergo ten surgeries.
Talking about his painful accident on GMB, Claude said: “I am doing wonderfully well, thank you.
“I am very grateful to the ambulance crew for looking after me and, of course, the surgeons at St Mary’s who put me back together.
“It was a freak accident.
“I think someone was looking out for me, but if someone was looking out for me better, I wouldn’t have had the accident.
“I was lucky to have the ambulance driving behind me,” he concluded.