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The Apprentice winner's first task... to seal wedding deal
Rashid Razaq, Evening Standard13 Jun 2008
The winner of The Apprentice today revealed his first task in his new job will be to ask for a holiday so he can propose to his girlfriend. After 12 weeks of back-biting, grovelling and massive self-delusion among the candidates, Sir Alan Sugar finally chose recruitment sales manager Lee McQueen as his apprentice in the hit BBC business show.
The 30-year-old, known for his catchphrase "That's what I'm talking about" and an infamous "reverse Pterodactyl" dinosaur impression, landed the £100,000-a-year job after beating favourite Claire Young.
McQueen, from Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, paid tribute to his defeated rival, dispelling rumours the pair were dating by revealing he intends to now marry long-term partner Nicola Jellyman.
He said: "I've got my dream job and I've already got my dream girl. I suppose now I should go down on one knee and ask her to marry me. I heard all these rumours but they were just that. Me and Nicola are solid.
"I'm a big fan of Claire professionally. I was backing her to win. I even started thinking how I'd quite happily ask her for a job if she ended up working for Sir Alan.
"One of the first things I'm going to have to do when I join Sir Alan's company is to ask him for some time off so we can go on holiday. And I should treat Nicola to something nice like some fancy new shoes."
The son of a milkman, McQueen - a fan of Spurs, the club his new boss has some history with - was chosen over Young, despite being found out for lying on his CV, claiming to have attended college for two years when in fact he dropped out after four months.
He said: "It was a massive mistake and I got a serious grilling from Sir Alan. I deserved that. I shouldn't have lied. But it was a mistake and it didn't reflect on my skills.
"I've got a chip on my shoulder about my education because I didn't do very well at school. I once worked as a catering manager at Harrow School, which was full of posh kids getting a great education. I think that might have something to do with my insecurities."
Millions of viewers watched last night's episode as McQueen and Young beat rival project managers Alex Wotherspoon and Helene Speight in launching a roulette-inspired men's fragrance. McQueen overcame his fear of public speaking, impressing Sir Alan with a presentation far better than his shambolic attempt in an earlier task.
Now he will be put to work on launching a new digital advertising venture at Amstrad's headquarters in Brentwood, Essex.
McQueen said: "It's a really good opportunity. But for me, it's not about working in particular areas, it is about working with him [Sir Alan]. This guy is worth £800 million. If we can make a half or even a quarter per cent of what he's worth, that makes me a multi-millionaire."
Reader views (1)
Isn't it great how we are supposed to celebrate an admitted fraudster who lied on his CV for financial gain. There was me thinking that was a criminal offence?
- Jon, London, 12/06/2008 15:21
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