Apprentice winner Simon: 'volcanic' Katie's the new Jade Goody

The former public schoolboy who snatched the £100,000 job with Sir Alan Sugar from favourite, single mother Kristina Grimes, said of the so-called 'pantomime villainess': If there's a place for Jade Goody, I'm sure there's more than enough space for Katie Hopkins."

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Ambrose told The Sun: "She's very resilient and strong to the point of being volcanic, so I'm sure she's fine. To be honest, I felt more sorry for her parents because they're from quite a small community and I can imagine they're at their wits' end."

The new Apprentice revealed he emailed Hopkins, who has boasted of a string of affairs with married men, when all the affairs were being revealed in the papers to offer support. But he had not yet received a response.

But despite all negative publicity surrounding the self-styled 'alpha female', he said: "There's a place for everyone in the workplace, even someone like Katie — although hers is not as long-term because clearly sh****g the boss is not a long-term option.

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"I emailed her a while back when all her affairs were being revealed in the papers to say I hoped she was dealing with it OK. Hopefully she'll reply because I like Katie."

Simon hit back at critics who have called him a "posh twerp". The 27-year old declared in the final that he would work his "cotton socks off" for Sir Alan. Prompting Sir Alan to hand him a bunch of cotton socks during the spin-off show The Apprentice: You're Fired!

Generous Simon paid tribute to fellow finalist Kristina, who was in tears after taking second place.

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And, after several critics and some of the contestants complained that the single mother should have won, he admits he feels guilty about taking the job she wanted so much.

He said: "Kristina is devastated — and I'm devastated for her. I know how much she thought she was going to win. I always knew I was an outsider.

"During the filming of the You're Hired BBC2 show after the result I was trying to give her a steely look because she was about to cry and I was trying to say to her, 'Don't do it, you're strong.'

"I wanted to cry too. I've put her on a pedestal all along. That's where she belongs.

"She'll be fine, though. In previous years the runner-up has gone on to do very well so I'm sure it'll be the same for her. She'll probably end up working for Sir Alan for a bigger wage than me!"

Simon went to Cambridge University then took a high-flying job in the City. When he was made redundant he went travelling.

During the show his constant joking around fooled people into thinking he was less of the threat he eventually became. But he insists he is a bright and talented worker who deserved the job looking after Sir Alan's property portfolio.

He said: "Everyone's entitled to their opinion and I respect their freedom to say that I'm a posh twerp.

"In today's society, the tag of being posh is not a positive one and I've got to shake that off.

He added: "I don't think what I've learnt is down to my public schooling or university. I think what Sir Alan saw in me is a bit of flair, a bit of creativity.

"You can't learn that at school. I think I'd have that no matter what my background.

Despite coming from a wealthy background, and turning down the chance to be his multi-millionaire dad's partner in the jewellery business he built from scratch, Simon fought back against criticism that he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and credits his mother with his drive to be independent.

He said: "My parents split when I was three and my older sister Caroline and I had a tumultuous time when I was young.

"My mother always taught me you have to be independent and stand on your own two feet. If you can't do that, you can't do anything in life.

Joker Simon revealed a softer side as he spoke about the on-off relationship he has shared with an unnamed singer for the past three years.

Clearly trying hard to make it work despite the obstacles said: "It's not easy having a long-distance relationship, especially not one of that distance.

"She's a great girl and I love her to pieces but she lives so far away. That's not a situation that's likely to change in the near future, sadly."

The day after his win Simon headed straight to work training as a chartered surveyor before heading a project to build a hotel and golf complex near Stansted Airport in Essex.

Before he became the Apprentice, Simon's ambition was to be a millionaire by the time he was 30. But it seems Sir Alan's lofty achievements has encourgaed him to set his sights even higher.

Simon said: "I always used to want to be a millionaire by the time I'm 30 but that doesn't mean that much any more.

"So I've moved the goalposts. I want to gross a million pounds a year now. That's about £20,000 a week, isn't it? I think that would do me."