Apprentice winner claims Viglen job was 'a sham'

Series six winner Stella English claims to have seen Lord Sugar only five times over 13 months

A former Viglen employee and winner of the BBC's The Apprentice has claimed her £100,000-a-year job at the reseller was that of an "overpaid lackey" during an employment tribunal yesterday, according to reports.

Stella English, who won series six of the reality show which was aired in 2010, claimed constructive dismissal after telling the East London Tribunal Service she was left with no choice but to resign after being told that her boss Lord Alan Sugar would not be renewing her contract.

English, who used to be a manager at a Japanese investment bank after leaving school with no qualifications, initially worked at Viglen before moving to YouView, but told the hearing her employment was "a sham".

According to reports, during the hearing which continues today, English claims Viglen boss Bordan Tkachuk told her on the first day of her probation period that there was "no job" for her at the company.

She claims that despite being given a desk and a telephone, there were no specific duties assigned to her within the firm, and that she saw Sugar only five times in her 13 months of employment at Viglen.

English said at the tribunal yesterday that her employees at Viglen were unkind to her as she took the role of another employee who was paid only £35,000 for the same job. She added that after being moved to Sugar's YouView company in June 2011, she experienced a similar reception from colleagues.

Despite this, English told the hearing that she enjoyed her role at YouView before the "bombshell" was dropped that her contract was not being renewed. Her tribunal continues today.

Last week, Sugar was reported to have had a furious row with Channel 5 owner and YouView shareholder Richard Desmond, which ended with the media tycoon yelling "you're fired!" at Sugar, who has since stepped down as chairman.

Of his departure, Sugar said: "My job is complete and I will now focus my time and attention into my other businesses."

TalkTalk Group chairman Sir Charles Dunstone will take over the reins as interim YouView chairman with immediate effect.