Oliver Medforth has become the first contestant to depart the new series of The Apprentice after encountering some difficulties making a brownie.
The sales executive boasted of running five retail shops, from Newcastle to Swindon for his family distillery and setting up a soft drink brand before being fired by Alan Sugar during Thursday's episode on BBC One.
During the boardroom, Sugar said: "Ollie, it's funny that you're amongst eight colleagues and quite a few of them didn't know what you did, and so I say no smoke without fire.
"It's a tough one, Ollie. I'm sorry to say, mate, you're fired."
Medforth - who did not put himself forward as project leader or as head of the sub-team - had been looking forward to the sales tasks before being let go.
His departure followed the hosting of a Scottish Highlands corporate away day that saw chaos in the kitchen and tardy tours.
Chartered company secretary Onyeka Nweze and music producer Virdi Singh Mazaria were both chosen as the project managers for the female and male teams, respectively.
During the episode, Medforth did not make his voice heard when the sub-team leader, pie company owner Phil Turner, opted for expensive meals and no alcohol as the welcome drink became a bottle of water.
Medforth also asked lots of questions of Turner in the kitchen while making food for the corporate client and did not seem to know that the abbreviation tbsp stands for tablespoon.
"I've never been in the kitchen before," Medforth said when he was tasked with making a brownie and seemed to forget to put flour in the dessert.
The food was also served late and their guests thought the food had been microwaved, the episode showed.
Project manager Virdi Singh Mazaria decided to take management consultant Steve Darken and Medforth into the boardroom with him - they lost the task when the client asked for a refund of 52%.
Medforth was blamed by his fellow competitors for being "quiet" during the task and was then told he would not be receiving Sugar's £250,000 investment.
In the taxi after being sent home, he said: "[I'm] a little bit disappointed to go out first, it's been a fantastic experience on this process, and I wish each and every candidate the best of luck."
During the episode, when the verdict was being revealed by Sugar's helper Tim Campbell, contestant Asif Munaf mistakenly clapped thinking he had won the task.
Before series 18 began, wellness brand owner Munaf apologised for social media remarks and received specialist training from The Apprentice team to "understand why his posts may cause offence", which the production had become aware of after he left filming.
"We are committed to providing an inclusive environment on and off screen," a spokesperson for The Apprentice said.
In a statement, Munaf said: "I apologise for any offence caused by my online content/social media. It was not my intention to offend anyone, and I am of course open to all views.
"The beliefs I hold and have shared are based on the values that I was brought up with."
The Apprentice, with Irish contestant Maura Rath among the hopefuls, continues on Thursdays on BBC One.
Source: Press Association
