Sugar slams 'Mr Nasty' image

Updated 07.19 Tue Mar 18 2008

Keywords: Mr Nasty, Sir Alan Sugar, The Apprentice

Sir Alan Sugar has slammed his Mr Nasty TV image claiming he is the victim of selective editing.

The successful businessman has criticised the programme-makers of the Apprentice for portraying him as a fearsome figure and leaving his jokes out of the show.

Sir Alan says he's always arguing with producers for editing out his funny bits and focusing on in his temper tantrums

Sir Alan says he's always arguing with producers for editing out his funny bits and focusing on in his temper tantrums.

The 60-year-old, thought to be worth about £800 million, said: "It's a continual argument I have with the production people.

"But like it or not, and I don't like it that much, there's a perception of me just banging the table and shouting.

"The BBC has categorised me as Mr Nasty, so all the humour ends up on the cutting-room floor."

The tycoon is gearing up to front the fourth series of the Apprentice and the winner of the show will be given a job with a six-figure salary within Sir Alan's business empire.

This year's 16 contestants are said to include a radio sports presenter, a woman who claims to be descended from royalty, an IT expert who won a payout after suing her City law firm, two trainee barristers and a business analyst.