Shadow Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has made a formal complaint to the BBC over its decision to allow Sir Alan Sugar to continue to present The Apprentice despite being a government adviser.

He had earlier said that the businessman could not combine his roles of BBC presenter and government adviser and questioned “the strength of the BBC’s rules on political impartiality”.

The BBC said Sir Alan could not take any public appearances in his role during next year’s series. That means he will not be ale to campaign publically during the build up to a possible general election next May.

Director-General Mark Thompson wrote to Mr Hunt saying Sir Alan’s role was limited to advising the government on business matters but he “could not play any direct role in formulating government policies or endorsing the government.”