UK NEWS

YOU'RE HIRED! LEE WINS APPRENTICE

Lee McQueen: Crowned winner

Thursday June 12,2008

By Elisa Roche

MILKMAN’S son Lee McQueen walked away with a £100,000-a-year job as he was crowned winner of The Apprentice last night.

Millions tuned in to watch the handsome recruitment sales manager steal the crown from three finalists with his formula for a new aftershave.

Afterwards the 30-year-old admitted he would love to splash out on a sports car, just like his namesake, Steve McQueen.

THE FLASHY APPRENTICE HOT SHOTS WE LOVED TO HATE - WHERE ARE THEY NOW?...

“I always said I’d buy a sports car if I won,” he revealed. “We did a task on the show where we were hiring out an Aston Martin. It would be nice if I got given one for winning this, wouldn’t it? Then I could drive around like 007.”

“I’ve never earned this much in my life,” he laughed, having seen off stiff competition for a job with tycoon Sir Alan Sugar from runner-up Claire Young.

Hirer and firer Sir Alan, 61, said his new employee made “a very convincing” apprentice.

McQueen, from Princes Risborough, Bucks, won over viewers and Sir Alan during the 11-week show with his combination of business acumen and good manners.

He had a bizarre tendency to refer to himself in the third person, with such lines as “Lee McQueen is concerned”. And he coined the catchphrase: “That’s what I’m talkin’ about!”

Last night McQueen insisted that he was tougher than people might think, and would not be afraid to go back to the boardroom to ask for a raise.

THE FLASHY APPRENTICE HOT SHOTS WE LOVED TO HATE - WHERE ARE THEY NOW?...

“I will show Sir Alan that he picked the right man for the job, and if I do an amazing deal, then I won’t be shy about asking for a pay rise,” he quipped. “Unlike some former Apprentice winners, I have every intention of being a success.” His job will involve managing a new hush-hush business venture.

McQueen, who has dated girlfriend Nicola Jellyman for nine years, admitted he had received intriguing offers from female viewers. “I have had some very naughty offers sent to me,” he said. “I don’t think Nicola will be very pleased.”

McQueen’s reputation on the show as a nice guy only faltered in week six when he flew into a rage at contestant Sara Dhada, 25.

When he applied to appear on the series, producers were won over by how he had helped his mother to buy her home.

And off-camera he continued to impress, writing messages to all the evictees. “Lee is very well brought up and left little notes of encouragement for his fellow contestants,” said an insider at The Apprentice.

Finalists Helene Speight, 32, Alex Wotherspoon, 24, and Claire Young, 29, walked away empty-handed from the BBC reality show.

They were joined by rejected contestants from all previous episodes who returned for the last programme.

Last year’s final saw 27-year-old Simon Ambrose claim victory and was watched by almost seven million viewers.

THE FLASHY APPRENTICE HOT SHOTS WE LOVED TO HATE - WHERE ARE THEY NOW?...