Claude Littner Explains Delayed Tribute to Apprentice Star Stuart Baggs
Claude Littner, the renowned businessman and former adviser on BBC's The Apprentice, has doubled down on his recent social media tribute to Stuart Baggs, a former contestant who passed away over a decade ago. The 76-year-old took to X, formerly known as Twitter, on April 8 to share what he described as 'sad news' about the death of the 'brilliant' telecommunications specialist.
Confusion Over Timing Sparks Fan Backlash
Stuart Baggs died in July 2015 at the age of 27, just one week after his birthday, following a fatal asthma attack. His appearance on The Apprentice in 2010 had made him the youngest-ever contestant at the time, aged 21. Claude Littner recalled Baggs as a 'memorable interviewee' who left him 'stunned' when the entrepreneur boldly claimed he was 'a brand' during the show's brutal interviews challenge.
However, fans were quick to express confusion in the comments section, noting that Baggs had died over eleven years ago. One user wrote, 'You said it was news, but it was 11 years ago,' while another questioned, 'Why has it taken you 11 years?' A third added, 'This happened 11 years ago, you even posted about it at the time.'
Clarification and Defence from Supporters
In response, Claude Littner later posted an explanation on X, stating that his tribute was 'tagging on to Lord Sugar's reminder of my interview with Stuart, with the current interviews being screened 9pm tomorrow.' He emphasised that he was aware of the timing and intended to honour Baggs in light of the upcoming episode.
Despite the criticism, some followers defended Littner. One supporter penned, 'Of course Claude knows he hasn’t just passed away! You are allowed to make a comment like that years after someone has passed!' Another agreed, 'He posted about Stuart's death 11 years ago himself,' while a third concluded, 'Better late than never, the brand would have appreciated this tweet.'
Details of Stuart Baggs' Tragic Death
Stuart Baggs' death was ruled as due to natural causes, with officers confirming he had 'suffered from asthma for many years and died as a result of his condition.' In 2015, it emerged that he had been working punishing 18-hour days before his passing, suffering from insomnia and stress related to his business ventures.
A close friend, Amy Burns, revealed that Baggs had been elated about the future but was struggling with health issues. She said, 'He wasn’t feeling down or anything... He was messaging me all night saying, "I’ve got insomnia. I can’t sleep. I’ve been working really, really hard."'
Claude Littner's Recent Apprentice Involvement
Claude Littner's own future on The Apprentice has been a topic of discussion recently. He missed series 19 due to a horror cycling accident in April 2021, which nearly cost him his leg and required nine operations. During his recovery, he was replaced by series one winner Tim Campbell, though sources indicate Littner may still appear in the new series on a part-time basis.
In a health update, Littner expressed gratitude, saying, '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.' He described the incident as a freak accident, possibly caused by hitting a pothole while riding at low speed.
The Apprentice continues to air, with the interviews episode scheduled for April 9 at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer, prompting Littner's reflective tribute to a standout character from the show's history.
