Former marine Christopher Farrell was fired from the Apprentice this week after his team failed to sell enough authentic German crisps made in Britain to companies in Hamburg.

Despite bringing in a total of €17,995, team Synergy, whose members included Jamie Lester, Liz Locke and Chris Bates as project manager, lost to opponents Apollo.

Lord Sugar criticised the team for missing an early-morning appointment, giving the competition the opportunity to secure the lucrative deal instead.

Although Mr Farrell attempted to point the finger at Mr Lester, the former Ilford Jewish Primary School pupil said: “I am no way going to be the fall-guy.” He added: “I wanted to be the team leader, but everyone said Chris.”

Despite this being the sixth week Mr Bates was brought into the boardroom, Lord Sugar chose to fire Mr Farrell, who he said lacked “that spark of entrepreneurial genius.”

Although Mr Lester managed to escape, Lord Sugar told him: “I don’t think on this task you were very well organized and you can talk until you’re blue in the face but you’re not going to convince me of that either.

“You’re sliding down in my estimation.”