[Red Moon]

The Apprentice: Two girls fired for cheating in Morocco

Sir Alan Sugar will tell two female contestants "You're BOTH fired!" in a sensational double eviction on The Apprentice.

Gobsmacked Sir Alan steps in after the two teammates turn on each other amid a vicious row over cheating and bribery.

He sacks one for cheating and another for "inappropriate behaviour" - the first time two contestants have been fired at the same time in the show's threeyear run.

The pair clashed after they were dressed down for trying to bribe market traders in a challenge set in Morocco.

A show insider said: "The contestants are nasty and bitchy about each other every week but this is on a whole new level.

"Viewers' jaws will be hitting the floor as the girls almost come to blows."

The scenes unfold after the 11 remaining contestants - all battling for a £100,000 job in one of Sir Alan's companies - are sent to the city of Marrakech in the North African country.

The Amstrad boss gives them the task of getting the best possible price for 10 items by haggling with stallholders in the maze of souks.

The contestants are split into two mixed teams - one of five, the other of six. Astonishingly, one team pays off a trader to refuse to deal with the other team.

But their actions are observed by Sir Alan's business sidekicks, Margaret Mountford and Nick Hewer. And when they tell the 61-year-old of the ruse back in the boardroom, he's furious.

The show source said: "When Sir Alan learns what they've been up to he completely blows his top.

"He has never, ever, been as angry as this. The team with the two girls tries to bribe and cheat its way to success and that's just not acceptable."

The episode, to be shown next month, sees Sir Alan immediately declaring the other team winners.

Then, instead of calling in the losing team's leader with two others to face being fired as normal, he orders the entire team before him.

After demanding an explanation of their underhand tactics, the two girls and one of the lads start trading insults and blaming each other for the fiasco.

Enraged, Sir Alan sacks one of the girls immediately for inappropriate behaviour. He then fires the other as the other contestants look on in stunned silence. The source said: "Sir Alan is absolutely disgusted and orders one of the girls who has been letting rip to get out.

"He is furious at her aggressive and bitchy behaviour. He then fires the other one for allowing the cheating to take place."

The Sunday Mirror knows the identity of the girls but is keeping their names secret to avoid ruining viewers' enjoyment of the show.

Last week, one of the fired contestants revealed details of the clash to colleagues where she currently works.

A source at the company who tipped us off said: "It was shocking stuff. No-one will believe it, but this girl is quite a confrontational character, so it's not a total surprise.

"It's a shame for her to go out in such a way because she could have gone on to become this year's Apprentice. I'm sure she's regretting opening her big mouth now, though."

A spokesman for the show said last night: "We do not comment on future episodes."

Source: Sunday Mirror