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| Apprentice 'off ill' on first day | Apprentice 'off ill' on first day |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Apprentice Lee McQueen has called in sick on his first day of work for new boss Sir Alan Sugar. | Apprentice Lee McQueen has called in sick on his first day of work for new boss Sir Alan Sugar. |
| The 30-year-old winner of the BBC's reality show The Apprentice phoned the office yesterday, saying he was suffering from a "flu-like virus". | |
| He fell ill last week while on holiday with his girlfriend in Spain, and told bosses he wasn't feeling well when he returned at the weekend. | |
| McQueen is expected to start work "in a few days". | McQueen is expected to start work "in a few days". |
| A spokesman for Sir Alan said: "We've known he's not been well for three or four days. | A spokesman for Sir Alan said: "We've known he's not been well for three or four days. |
| "He's frustrated that he can't be at work because he wants to get going but he knows that he needs to be at home." | "He's frustrated that he can't be at work because he wants to get going but he knows that he needs to be at home." |
| He also denied reports that Sir Alan was not happy about it. | He also denied reports that Sir Alan was not happy about it. |
| "He's certainly not furious," he said. "People get ill and he understands that." | "He's certainly not furious," he said. "People get ill and he understands that." |
| McQueen, who won the £100,000 a year job after a gruelling 12-week process, is expected to start work "in a few days". | McQueen, who won the £100,000 a year job after a gruelling 12-week process, is expected to start work "in a few days". |
| He was hired to launch a digital advertising product despite being caught out lying on his CV during the show. | He was hired to launch a digital advertising product despite being caught out lying on his CV during the show. |
| McQueen's first day coincided with Sir Alan's announcement that he is to step down as chairman of computer and electronic firm Amstrad. | McQueen's first day coincided with Sir Alan's announcement that he is to step down as chairman of computer and electronic firm Amstrad. |
| But the self-made multi-millionaire, who left school at 16 and founded Amstrad at the age of 21, has insisted he is not retiring. | But the self-made multi-millionaire, who left school at 16 and founded Amstrad at the age of 21, has insisted he is not retiring. |
| He will be back on TV screens starring in a fifth series of The Apprentice next year. | He will be back on TV screens starring in a fifth series of The Apprentice next year. |