'I'm not cracking up' says latest Apprentice reject

The 27-year-old single mum said she was emotional because she was missing her nine-year-old daughter, Ja-Dae.

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Jadine Johnson cried after Sir Alan gave her the boot off reality show The Apprentice

Four years ago she was sectioned under the Mental Health Act and hospitalised after battling chronic depression.

Friends expressed fears that she would not be able to cope with the strain of competing for a £100,000 job with Sir Alan Sugar.

A happier looking Jadine returns to face the music on sister show 'The Apprentice: You're fired'

But Jadine said: "I went through that four or five years ago. I think it's an awful thing to suggest I wouldn't be able to cope now, and the wrong message to send out.

"When you come through something like that it shows your strength and what you can achieve. "If I can help people who have been through similar situations, and be positive and move forward, I would love to do that. I hope I can."

Viewers saw her break down on the show and Tre accused her of being emotionally unstable. Jadine said: "I was having a hard time because I was missing my daughter so much.

"Not having any contact with her was so hard. We rarely got to call home because filming the show was so hectic.

"My daughter was staying with my family. She was really excited about me being on TV and said she got butterflies when she watched me. It was quite emotional for her.

"When I was getting told off in the boardroom she was crying, 'Don't talk to my mum like that!' When we saw each other again she sat on my lap for about an hour and wouldn't let go."

Jadine said appearing on The Apprentice had been "a life-changing experience".

And she stuck up for Katie Hopkins, who has emerged as the bitchiest character on the show. She said: "I shared a room with Katie at one point and I got on with her really well.

"I think Katie is being witty when she says the things she does. People are taking it to mean she's being awful, but they shouldn't take her seriously. She's just being funny."

And she tipped Lohit Kalburgi as the surprise package of this series.

The 25-year-old telecommunications manager has barely figured in the show so far.

But Jadine said: "Lohit plays a very cool game. He has stayed out of the limelight but he will rise when he needs to rise. He's got secret weapons, I think he'll come out of himself." Jadine was fired after her team failed their task selling to trade.

Sir Alan told team leader Tre he had "messed up double-barrel" but decided to spare him.