Apprentice loser Michael Sophocles drowns his sorrows after revelations about his 'escort' past

The 25-year-old telesales executive was fired from the reality TV show last night for failing to complete the task of hiring out a fleet of supercars.

After news of his exit spread, Michael joined a brunette female companion at the Beauchamp pub in Knightsbridge - the same pub where Chelsea footballer Frank Lampard was spotted with a mystery blonde just days earlier.

Out on the town: Michael Sophocles, who was fired from The Apprentice last night, drowns his sorrows with some female pals in a London pub

And to make matters worse for the north Londoner, his friends today dished the dirt on his secret life as an escort, to which he resorted after racking up thousands of pounds in debt while at Edinburgh University.

They claimed he was paid £50 an hour - £100 if he had sex with the clients, some of whom they described as 'total mingers'.

A friend told the Sun: 'Most of the women weren't stunners. Michael likes to think he's a ladies' man but he had to shut his eyes and think of England as he had sex with them.'

Time's up: A moody Michael Sophocles outside the Beauchamp pub in Knightsbridge

The friend said his parents had been horrified to find out. 'Michael wasn't proud of himself and Costas and Denise were mortified.'

After weeks of clinging on by his finger nails, Michael was finally ousted from The Apprentice in last night's episode.

Begging for his life in the boardroom, he pleaded: ‘I am naïve, I’m a young man, I’ve shown glimmers of brilliance.’

However Sir Alan laughed: ‘Don’t get carried away with yourself, you’re no Bill Gates, trust me…You’re fired!’.

You're fired: Michael Sophocles finally gets the boot from the Apprentice after showing very little passion for the luxury car task

Amazingly, the 25 year-old remained upbeat about the rejection. He claimed: 'I think Sir Alan liked me. He obviously saw something in me, which reminded him of what he was like when he was younger and that can only be a good thing.'

The telesales executive who bragged at the start: ‘I am an exhibitionist, I am fearless, I want money and I am unscrupulous’, was given his marching orders by Sir Alan after failing to impress on a task renting supercars to the public.

The vehicles included a Lamborghini, a Ferrari, the very latest Aston Martin and the Pagini Zonda – a car so rare very few people would ever have driven one.

Renaissance, led by Michael chose the mid-range selection that includes the Ferrari and Spyker, while Alpha opted for the Aston Martin and the Zonda, which rents for £2750 a day.

Mr Sophocles has come under fire in recent weeks over his integrity and his ability. He put on his application form that he was 'a good Jewish' boy, but in an earlier task revealed he did not know what the term Kosher meant and was forced to admit that he was actually half-Catholic, half-Jewish.

Desperate measures: Michael chases a customer down the street to give him his sales pitch

In another scene he was filmed trying to bribe a sales assistant in a bid to beat the other team.

He said at the start of the task: 'I just feel worn out. I think in the last couple of weeks I've had it harder than anyone. I've got to pick myself up from the last task and I need to make sure I win this task. I keep saying that and I keep losing, but this task I really need to win.'

But Mr Sophocles, who describes himself as 'an exceptional individual', could not even remember the names of the cars he was attempting to rent out to the public. He split the team into two, deciding to work on his own, while Helene Speight and Claire Young worked together.

Picking up the pieces: A tired Micheal picks up the rubbish in Portobello market during his task

Alpha's Lucinda Ledgerwood in her famous little red riding hood jacket argues again with Lee McQueen while diplomatic Alex Wotherspoon refuses to get involved

Mr Sophocles initially went to London's affluent Knightsbridge area to rent out his cars but found he could only park on a quiet side road, before then deciding that a better sales area is Portobello Road Market.

In perhaps the most cringeworthy scenes of the series, Mr Sophocles is shown chasing a customer down the street to persuade him to rent the car after the man walks away from his sales pitch.

He shouted: 'You can't let me down like this, at least do it for an hour, you're going to regret it - £67.00 that's all it is.'

And in a last desperate attempt to close the deal he even suggests he will go to the man's business meeting with him.

Michael, Claire Young (r) and Helene Speight (l) are brought back into the boardroom to feel the wrath of Sir Alan

In the end Alpha raised £11,815 while Renaissance managed just £2,114. Sir Alan asked Mr Sophocles: 'Do you honestly think you were going to sell cars at Portabello Road market?

'Michael it's getting to the time now where I'm having to think about where people could slot in to my organisation. Now I take on board that you've very young, and in the past 10 weeks you've told me you learnt from your mistakes, but that you are super sales person. But you didn't sell much did you?'

Sir Alan was also angry at Helene describing her as looking like the Mona Lisa and accuses her of having nothing to offer: 'Let me tell you something, he (Michael) is a disaster zone, and you may be wondering what he is still doing here but he's young and does have some good points about him, she (Claire) has got a mouth the size of the Blackwall tunnel, but is a great salesperson and a great presenter. You – I see nothing.'

You're fired: Sir Alan points the finger at Michael, whose luck finally ran out in the television reality show

Both Claire and Helene told the veteran entrepreneur that Mr Sophocles, who survived at the last three boardroom evictions, should go.

He desperately attempted to defend himself: 'I've admitted I've been wrong a million times, I'm sure you are bored to tears of it. I am naïve, I am a young man, I've got a lot to learn but I think I have shown you glimmers of brilliance.'

The last ditch plea was not enough to save him, as Sir Alan chose to give Claire and Helene a reprieve.

He said: 'It's a tough one Michael, but I think this time I have to say You're Fired.'

Michael, who described himself as a good Jewish boy on his CV, failed to impress Sir Alan and became the ninth victim to leave The Apprentice

Total shambles: Michael collects his things and leaves Sir Alan's headquarters