Apprentice fired after costs row

Human resources consultant Paula Jones has become the latest Apprentice to hear the words "You're fired" from Sir Alan Sugar on the BBC One show.

Jones, 29, from the West Midlands, was told to leave after heading up a team tasked with making cosmetic products.

A fatal miscalculation by Jones and her team-mate Yasmina Siadatan, 27, led to production costs reaching £1,141.24.

Jones blamed Siadatan and Ben Clarke, who were in charge of finances, but Sir Alan held Jones ultimately responsible.

Jones branded Clarke a "thug" after he denied being at fault and repeatedly shouted over her in the boardroom.

The row led Sir Alan to declare: "Never mind making soap, this sounds like a... soap opera."

He told Jones: "You made quite a good product and people think you're a good team leader."

But after hearing that she had believed costs of fragrances to total "about a fiver", when in fact they had totalled closer to £700, he said she had to take responsibility.

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