AN Apprentice star who quit the 2016 series of the show has claimed that bosses would sabotage the tasks to make them look stupid. Aleksandra King told a probe into reality TV that she decided to walk away from the series as it was “psychologically damaging”. The Daily Star report that Aleksandra has written to […]
AN Apprentice star who quit the 2016 series of the show has claimed that bosses would sabotage the tasks to make them look stupid.
Aleksandra King told a probe into reality TV that she decided to walk away from the series as it was “psychologically damaging”.
The Daily Star report that Aleksandra has written to MPs for the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee’s inquiry.
Describing the sweet task that made her reach breaking point, the 41-year-old businesswoman said that she and her fellow candidates checked their stock before leaving it with producers.
She detailed: “Upon returning, we were shocked to see that not only was there stock missing but that our candy sticks were also cracked.
“I was conscious this would damage my reputation and addressed it with production at the time stating that I know what they did.”
She also slammed the mansion she and other candidates stayed in for their duration – insisting that it wasn’t as luxurious as it appears on screen.
Instead, hopefuls are left with irregular meals and limited sleep – claiming that this is to “ensure candidates are physically and mentally weakened”.
Aleksandra added that producers banned the candidates from speaking when not on camera in order to create more drama when filming.
Concluding her statement, the star wrote: “By the time I made the decision to leave the show I was at the end of my line.
“I am happy to support this committee in ensuring that future candidates do not become victims of emotional abuse at the expense of ‘entertainment'”.
Rebecca Jeffery, 34, also appeared on the 2016 series and has spoken out against production too.
She said: “The filming process itself is a highly intensive and high-pressure environment.
“Losing your autonomy for up to six weeks during which you have very limited contact with your support network, friends and family, can make resettling back into your normal life immediately afterwards very strange.
“Personally I found that around three months after the high of The Apprentice, I was still trying to deal with the impact.”
A spokesperson for the show insisted: “The well-being of the candidates is of paramount importance.”
Aftercare and safeguarding in reality TV has come under scrutiny after Steve Dymond took his own life after failing a lie detector test on The Jeremy Kyle Show back in May.
Two Love Island stars, Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon, also passed away from suicide within months of each other after finding fame on the programme.
