The Apprentice fired candidate Thomas Skinner interview: ‘Lord Sugar and I would have had a laugh together’

The latest Apprentice candidate to be fired by Lord Sugar has been revealed – and he has no hard feelings whatsoever.

For the show’s ninth challenge, the candidates were asked to sign up and represent a new music artist.

Things didn’t end too well for 28-year-old pillow company owner Thomas Skinner, though, who was sent home in a shock double firing alongside Marianne Rawlins.

Following his elimination, we spoke with Skinner – this year’s fan favourite – about his experience on the show, what we didn’t see in the final boardroom, and why he believes other candidates could do with Lord Sugar’s investment more than him.

You were the best candidate!

I can’t believe I’ve gone. What’s happened?

Was Lord Sugar right to fire you?

Look, it’s a difficult one. There’s lots of diversity in The Apprentice this year, people with all different skills. I hold my hands up: I am very loud and outspoken, but in my line of work I’ve done very well for myself being who I am while selling and getting on with people – that’s what I do. Whereas some of the others might be better at doing a spreadsheet than I am, or doing a polygraph or whatever. I don’t know how to do all that. Every single person in that process deserves to be there. I’m always going to be alright. I’m always going to go out and earn some money. I’m never going to struggle because I’m hungry. I’m up every morning grafting and getting to work. The others could do with the investment more than I do.

Lord Sugar clearly really liked you.

I think we’d have had a laugh if we worked together. We would have got on well.

The speech he gave before firing you was really touching. How was it hearing those words?

I nearly started crying. When he goes, “If I were a general in the trenches” – I like how he made himself a general, by the way – “I’d want you by my side,” I thought that was a nice touch. 

Considering you’d lost nine tasks, do you think his hands were tied?

If you’d been in that camp, mate, you’d have lost those tasks as well. But I got a banging fry up [in the cafe], and a lovely cup of tea.

There were quite a lot of big personalities this year. How did you find working alongside those?

I’m used to going to work on my own. I’m used to sitting in meetings or sitting in market stalls where it’s just me doing the bits and pieces, me getting deals. So going into that process and having to deal with people who all want to show their skills as well, it was difficult. What happened was, I’d say an idea and everyone would go, “Yeah, that’s great Tom, yeah we’’ll do it” and they’d all run with it. Then, when we lost, they’d go, “Tom’s right f***ed up with this.” It was difficult, but I really enjoyed it.

You were accused of bulldozing your ideas on to a lot of project managers. Was that fair?

Look, if I had done something wrong, I’d be the first to say it. Let’s be honest, if they made a mistake, it was easy to blame me because I ain’t a snake. It was easy to put the blame on me.

Is there anyone who you’re surprised is still in the competition?

Dean, bless him. I love him – he’s my little mate – but what is going on there? He didn’t even know how to do his tie up. I had to do it in the morning for him, and show him how to use a washing machine.

You’re definitely this year’s fan favourite candidate. How has that experience been?

Do you know what? I’ve had so much love. It’s been so nice. I’m not lying to you, but I wake up to about two or three hundred message on Twitter every day. It’s the nicest feeling in the world.

As a West Ham fan, was it hard not to ask Karren Brady about questions about the team in the boardroom?

Yeah, very hard. Sometimes I’d want to scream and shout about West Ham, but I couldn’t. I think I should be up for manager this season.

Fancy being Prime Minister?

Mate, I’d do the lot.

What was your personal highlight?

You don’t see all the boardroom so you didn’t see the whole speech Lord Sugar gave me. He honestly really did a lovely speech about being in the trenches, about how he admires me and that he knows I’m gonna do well. It was so nice. Karren [Brady] and Claude [Littner] were saying nice things about me. It made me feel like I was in a different class – it was a really nice touch. Meeting everyone, as well. I met people I never would have met in my walk of life and it was nice to make new friends. It was one big highlight for me.

You seemed to cancel a lot fo this year’s drama out. Did it feel like that while participating?

I felt like I was the dad of the group. When people got really stressed out and upset in the process, I was the one making them a fry up or saying, “Come on, have a cup of tea or have a fag.” I just chilled everyone out.

Who are you backing for the win?

I don’t know. I couldn’t pick one. I think they all deserve to win. I’d choose between Pamela, Carina or Scarlett. 

Did you expect to make it to the end?

No. When they give you a call to tell you they want to pick you for the show, I honestly put the phone down thinking it was my mates winding me up. So when I realised I was actually gonna be on it, I went and got some new shirts, new ties, suits, shoes – all my gear. Then when I got there, I looked around that room and thought, “What’s going on? What have I signed up for here?”

What’s next for you?

I don’t know. I’m gonna keep doing what I’m doing. I’m up every single day at four in the morning to get down the yard selling beds and mattresses, so I’m gonna keep working that and keep building a business.  

The Apprentice continues every Wednesday at 9pm on BBC One