A BURY businessman spoke of his “shock” as he became the latest contestant to be fired from The Apprentice.

Samuel Boateng was the seventh person to be fired on series 12 of the hit BBC show.

He said: “At the time I was surprised by the decision. It was a shock when he said those words to me because obviously I wasn’t expecting it.

“I thought I was going to win, it was a bit surreal to be kicked off.”

Sales manager Samuel was on the losing team tonight as the teams had to sell products at a boat show.

Lord Sugar axed him from the process for having the "self-control of an Italian government" after his team failed spectacularly in a selling task.

He told sales manager Samuel - who went against Nagesan's strategy and altered the price of one of the items - that he has a "total disregard when being told what to do" before firing him.

Samuel, aged 27, said: “I don’t think it was fair that I was pulled back in to the board room given that it was a sales task and yet again I was one of the highest sellers.

“It is totally down to Lord Sugar, I obviously don’t think it’s fair but it is his money.”

Although the former student of Castlebrook High School and Holy Cross College pupil missed out on the £250,000 prize Samuel does not regret the experience.

He said: “It has been great. The other contestants are all really nice and we have made some great memories.”

After leaving Bury, Samuel has gone on to work for various companies and is currently an area sales manager for a major car brand responsible for managing and generating new business for over 700 firms across London.

Since the show Samuel has been enjoying the exposure it has brought him.

He said: “We are in talks with investors for the launch of a new company. It is all going really well.

“Lord Sugar carries a lot of prowess within the business world so we have all benefitted from him investing in us and letting us go on the show.

“It is a massive platform, just being on there is big enough gesture of support from Lord Sugar.”

Tonight's show featured the first double firing of the series as Lord Sugar gave "diabolical" team leader Karthik Nagesan the boot before he returned to the boardroom for the official showdown.

Samuel said: “Every candidate left has different skill sets and they’re all different characters, there’s not one that stands out so anyone would be a deserving winner.

“On a personal level it would be good to see Sofiane or Paul win because I get on with them both really well and think they are quite misunderstood.”