Apprentice hopeful Raef Bjayou axed

12:53pm Thursday 22nd May 2008

Raef Bjayou believes The Apprentice turned him into a "great leader", despite being axed from the show.

Bjayou, 27, said he was fired by Sir Alan Sugar because he was not "gritty" enough.

The ever-confident entrepreneur said he was dropped by the business tycoon because he was not as "in your face" as his rivals.

He said: "I learnt a lot about myself on The Apprentice, about how I can improve myself as a businessman.

"I learnt that as a leader if you are put in charge of a group of people, to use the legal jargon, the burden of proof is on you to prove what other people's skills are."

He added of becoming the latest candidate to leave the BBC1 series: "I just think I didn't come across as gritty enough.

"The others are more in your face, and that's how Sir Alan got to where he is today."

Bjayou, a former school captain, has described himself as a "terrific conversationalist and raconteur with incredible charisma".

On being fired by Sir Alan, Bjayou, who lives in north-west London, said: "That wasn't an argument. Defending yourself in an interview process is different."

Bjayou, who says he owns four properties, each worth around £400,000, tipped Claire Young to win, but said: "I'd like Lee (McQueen) to win, he's got a hunger for it."

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