The BBC has broken its silence over The Apprentice contestant Dr Jana Denzel's early exit from the show, addressing reports of an "ill-informed" comment made during filming.
The cosmetic dentist from London's Harley Street was spoken to by production staff after referring to a character as "coloured" during a task.
The broadcaster confirmed action was taken following the incident, though they emphasised there was "no ill-intent" behind the remark.
Dr Denzel's departure from the competition will be shown in an upcoming episode, with the BBC stating his exit was "completely unrelated" to the controversial comment.
According to reports, Dr Denzel's final appearance will air in episode 5 on Thursday, February 27.
Sources indicate he made the decision to leave the show before being informed his "use of language was not acceptable".
The incident occurred during one of the programme's business tasks, though specific details of the challenge have not been revealed.
His departure comes after last week's episode, which saw Middlesbrough hair transplant consultant Carlo Brancati become the third candidate fired by Lord Sugar.
A spokesperson for The Apprentice told The Sun: "We were made aware of an ill-informed comment made by Jana during the process and action was taken."
"Whilst we have made it very clear to Jana that his use of language was not acceptable, we are confident there was no ill-intent behind it and the concerns of all parties involved have been addressed and resolved."
Dr Jana Denzel decided to leave The Apprentice early
BBC
The statement continued: "Jana withdrew from the process for completely unrelated and separate reasons, and he has our full support."
The BBC's response comes amid growing interest in the circumstances surrounding Dr Denzel's departure from the popular business competition.
Prior to joining the show, Dr Denzel had expressed ambitions to transform his dental practice "into a national force... offering exceptional care and innovative products".
He had told producers: "Lord Sugar is known for making smart, bold investments, and my business has the potential to disrupt and transform the UK dental industry."
His exit follows other contestants who have previously left the show early, including children's nursery owner Shama Amin in 2022 and Glasgow-based theatre school owner Reece Donnelly in 2023, both citing health reasons.
Production staff routinely offer support to candidates who decide to leave the competition before being fired.
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The upcoming episode of The Apprentice will see Denzel leaving the show
BBC
The Apprentice continues to air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer every Thursday at 9pm.
The current series marks the 19th season of the long-running business competition show.
Before the new series began, Lord Sugar expressed his hopes for the programme's impact, saying: "I hope that my programme encourages (hard work) of course. I would like those people to grasp something and realise you've got to physically go and do something."
Viewers can watch Dr Denzel's final appearance in the boardroom when episode 5 airs on February 27 at 9pm.
