BBC stopped Alan Sugar hiring Apprentice runner up Kate Walsh

Jun 14 2009 by Mike Lockley, Sunday Mercury

APPRENTICE runner-up Kate Walsh has revealed she lost out on a top job with Sir Alan because of BBC red tape.

The 27 year-old licensing manager, from Cannock Staffordshire, said the tycoon told her he wanted to hire her as well as winner Yasmina Siadatan, but TV bosses wouldn’t let him, saying the format of the show wouldn’t fit.

Now the blonde bombshell is out of work – but offers are expected to roll in following her impressive stint on the hit show.

Around 10 million viewers tuned in on Sunday to see Kate pipped to the post in the final of the BBC 1 reality show.

And she said of Sir Alan Sugar: “He’s very shrewd. I was gutted to lose but I think in any job recruitment process the employer has a list of qualities in mind and perhaps Yasmina matched Sir Alan’s spec. I’ve got no regrets.

“Sir Alan phoned to say on Friday what the outcome was. He said he tried to get the BBC to let him hire us both but he wasn’t allowed because of the format of the show.

“It’s a massive compliment and he said we were the best people he’s ever had in the final.”

Of her time gracing our screens she said her favourite moments were the tele-shopping task, where she strutted her air guitar skills for the nation, and the week-five cereal task where, as project manager, she romped to victory.