Reece Donnelly, a contestant on the 2023 series of The Apprentice, has broken his silence on his sudden exit from the show, claiming he was forced to withdraw due to illness. The 25-year-old theatre school owner left the competition in the sixth week, after falling ill before a task in Dubai.
Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, Donnelly explained that he became unwell during a task and was still receiving medical treatment when the next episode began filming. 'I took unwell during a task and I was still receiving medical treatment when they moved onto the next episode,' he said. 'We shoot in sequence so we had already moved onto the challenge, I was still under medical advice and I think it was a real shame.'
Donnelly, who runs the Theatre School of Scotland, said he was 'absolutely gutted' to leave for medical reasons. 'I wanted nothing more than to win,' he added. However, he now sees a silver lining, noting that he does not have to give Lord Sugar 50% of his business or take advice from someone not expert in his field.
Despite his exit, Donnelly said he remains on good terms with the show's producers and would consider returning for an All Stars series. 'I have a really good relationship with the show, with the producers, everyone involved,' he said. 'I'd probably still be there now if I had the option.'
