HE was once known as the grumpiest man on TV – but these days Lord Sugar dishes out more funny one-liners than firings.
The Apprentice boss has delivered more quips in the current series of the BBC One show than ever before, sparking rumours he has employed a gag writer.
In this year’s opener he made 12 jokes while meeting the candidates in the boardroom, which beats the combined total he dished out in the first 11 series of the hit show.
A TV insider said: “There’s certainly been a shift in tone in regards to Lord Sugar.
“He used to be quite snarly towards the candidates, saying he had no time for ‘bulls***ters and ‘a***lickers’. He was really quite intimidating.
“But now he’s more like a comedian, making light of their business plans and personalities even though he barely knows them. He is obviously getting calmer with age.”
Some of Lord Sugar’s one-liners have brought some much-needed light relief to the boardroom.
His best gags so far in this series include a pop at pie firm boss Phil Turner: “Your grandma started making pies in the Thirties? They must be a bit stale by now.”
His barb towards fitness coach Sam Saadet: “You call yourself the Del Boy of business. Is that because you’re a plonker?”
And not forgetting his take down of wellness brand owner Dr Asif Munaf after reading his CV: “You’ve got some claims here mate — ‘beauty, body, brains, business’ but it should be five Bs . . . bollocks!” Lord Sugar insists he writes all his own material.
But he does run them past a very influential figure in his life, his wife Ann.
Lord Sugar said: “‘My wife looks over my jokes.
“First of all, my jokes are spur of the moment.
“If I knew what they were and what the scenarios are, I could perhaps explain it.
“But they do roll off my tongue and they just come out as we are going along. This is not a scripted show.
“But she watches the programme, saying, ‘You’re just like your mother and uncle John, a joker’.”
I can wait for his stand-up tour.
BRIDGERTON fans left wanting by the Netflix bonkbuster’s limp second series will be thrilled to hear the new effort is back to its raunchy best.
Nicola Coughlan, who plays Penelope Featherington, said: “It’s steamy! I was like, ‘Oh wow… are we really doing that?’
“But we had a laugh with it and had fun.”
The latest series will air in two parts, with the first launching on May 16 and the second part out June 13.
Her love interest Luke Newton, who plays Colin Bridgerton, said: “You’re expecting that with this show but I think we’ve really ramped it up. It’s steamy across the board – like there’s lots of people across the ’Ton that are just at it.”
And Claudia Jessie, who plays Penelope’s best friend Eloise Bridgerton described the series as: “Phwoar”.
THE BBC will tell the story of ABBA’s greatest years to mark half a century since the Swedish band’s Eurovision triumph in Brighton in 1974.
The new documentary film, ABBA: Against All Odds, will include stories from sources close to the group and is due on BBC One and iPlayer in May.
CRIME drama Strike – from the books by JK Rowling – is returning to the BBC for another series with Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger.
The Ink Black Heart, coming soon, will see private detectives Cormoran and Robin on a quest to identify the mysterious figure harassing people online.
ROMANCE is blossoming in the second helping of ITV comedy drama The Dry.
Roisin Gallagher will be back as Shiv Sheridan, who in series one returned to Dublin after years of partying in London.
She grappled with staying sober through a series of unfortunate events.
But in a first look at the new episodes – due to air on ITVX from March 14 – another spanner is thrown in the works as newcomer Alex arrives on the scene.
Seven months on from the events of last series, a sober and celibate Shiv could be swept off her feet by the new lad, played by Sam Keeley.
The eight-parter also sees the return of Ciaran Hinds as dad Tom and Pom Boyd as mum Bernie.
