Apprentice candidate Kieran McCartney has quit the show after a string of task failures, storming out of the boardroom before Lord Sugar could fire him. The 27-year-old estate agent lost the latest challenge to create a pet lifestyle brand and product, sealing his exit.
McCartney had struck a dramatic 'win or walk' agreement with Lord Sugar in a previous episode, after landing on the losing team in a live shopping channel task. He demanded to be project manager on task 10, promising to walk if he lost. Lord Sugar granted his request but warned him the task was unrelated to selling houses.
The pact backfired when McCartney's cat product failed to attract sales. After missing out on a place in the final five and Lord Sugar's £250,000 investment, McCartney said: 'It was win or walk. I'm not a beg. I'm not going to beg for my place, a deal's a deal.' He added: 'I could have stayed if I had fought for my spot.'
Alongside McCartney's departure, teammate Rothna Akhtar, who confessed to a fear of animals, was also fired. Reflecting on her exit, she said: 'It was gut-wrenching when you're so close to making final five.'
Last month, McCartney admitted struggling with a cocaine addiction, spending around £500 a week on drugs, but insisted he was clean during filming. He denied being 'wired' on the show, saying he brought 200 cigarettes into the house to cope with stress.
