Sir Alan's one liners could prompt multiple discrimination claims

Entertaining his one liners may be but according to Tony Bourne, Senior partner and Head of Employment Law at Glovers solicitors, they should serve as a cautionary tale to today's businesses as his comments, in a real interview and hiring process, could have broken a whole raft of anti discrimination legislation.

The episode in which Ghazal was fired was a perfect example. The footage shows Sir Alan saying You're 23 years old - that's very very young - I'm wondering whether that's too young.

Legislation outlawing discrimination on the basis of age was introduced in October 2006, says Bourne and if these comments had been made in a real interview process, Ghazelle would have had a claim against the company concerned.

There was also an episode in which one of Sir Alan's aides asked Katie: Are you an archetypal woman in business - or can you adapt? Bourne points out that if, in a real interview situation this was used as a reason for not employing her, it would be actionable under the Sex Discrimination Act.

Additionally, when Katie said she was concerned about her 'childcare provisions', Sugar said I can't wait around for you to make a phone call. I need an answer now.

Tony Bourne explains how this could also amount to sex discrimination. On the face of it, if there was a general rule that all employees must have their childcare in place to be offered a role, that may seem reasonable, but because most women are the child carers, the result has a predominantly unfair effect on one particular gender, i.e. women.

The whole boardroom atmosphere is also questionable. When firing and just prior to firing, Sugar frequently jabs his finger, raises his voice and uses phrases including You're a failure, You're a lightweight, You're an utter shambles, You're a mess.

While the boardroom in this situation is obviously a prop in a game show, if the candidates were actually employees then such language could constitute bullying justifying an unfair dismissal claim adds Bourne.

Today's employers are faced with an increasing amount of workplace related legislation. The Apprentice was great television but also a timely illustration of how easy it is for employers to cross the line into illegality!