'The Apprentice ruined my life'Fired contestant says he is in financial trouble after giving up job to appear on reality TV show.
A Flitwick man who took part in a TV reality show claims his life has been ruined after appearing on The Apprentice.
Ian Stringer, 26, was voted off the show last week, having resigned from his £30,000-a-year job before the series began.
But in an interview with a national newspaper this week, he told how he now has no job, has thousands of pounds of debts and his home is set to be repossessed.
Mr Stringer said: "It has been hell. I'm on the edge of bankruptcy. I can't pay my mortgage, I can't pay off my credit card, I owe my solicitor £600 but I can't even pay my £200 electricity bill. My home will be repossessed if we don't sell it fast.
"I've got zero money in the bank, an empty fridge, and just £15 in my pocket. That's all I'm worth."
Mr Stringer, a father-of-two who still works as a radio sports reporter, was given the boot by Sir Alan Sugar in front of a television audience of 7.3 million.
But he also made the headlines during his time on the show about how he left his wife and their newborn baby.
Mr Stringer said: "I was absolutely gutted when Sir Alan told me, 'You're fired'. I believed I would win – and would be able to clear my debts. I really thought Kevin Shaw was going to be fired because he messed up as head chef."
And he added: "Leaving my marital home was far worse than leaving The Apprentice, because I have two children I adore. But I have no regrets about what's happened.
"I have cried myself to sleep 100 times and my life has been turned upside down. I will pull myself up – I've just got to keep my sense of humour.
"I still consider myself a winner – I'll bounce back and prove it.
"I don't feel like a ... I still can't say that word."
BedfordToday
