Gordon Ramsay has fired back at Lord Alan Sugar after he accused him of ripping off The Apprentice with new show Gordon Ramsay's Future Food Stars.
The three-star Michelin chef, 56, launched the BBC series last year, which sees 12 foodie entrepreneurs compete for a hefty investment of £150,000 of Ramsay's own money to fund their business.
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Throughout the show, Ramsay puts the contenders through a series of food-related challenges.
Back in January, Lord Sugar, 76, suggested that Ramsay should stick to 'cooking' rather than 'try and 'replicate the elimination process of The Apprentice'.
Ouch.
"He had something, which was like, I don’t know how the lawyers allowed it because it was a virtual rip-off of The Apprentice. No disrespect to Gordon but stick to your day job mate that’s all I would say," Lord Sugar said.
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However, the famous TV-chef has responded to the accusations in the most Gordon Ramsay way possible.
"The guy is a Lord for a reason, so if he’s gonna spank my a**e he’s allowed to," he told the Metro.
"I’m very proud of Future Food Stars because of the talent we’re unearthing.
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"The Apprentice is an amazing show, it’s an American format around a boardroom. I come from a kitchen.
"So when the BBC asked me to create an exciting competition with the unsung heroes and the new talent coming through, the future-facing stars of the industry…. I was blown away."
The Hell's Kitchen star then said any suggestion that Future Food Stars was a 'rip-off' of The Apprentice is 'absolute b*****ks'.
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Ramsay told The Sun: "He has no right to start throwing his toys out the pram.
"Do you think Simon Cowell started complaining about The Voice when he was running The X Factor? Of course he didn’t.
"There is more than enough room for both shows on the BBC. Come on Alan! Share the f***ing love!’
He continued: "One of his contestants who ran a cupcake firm got in touch.
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"What is a cupcake firm going to Alan Sugar for money for?
"They should be coming to me.
"Anyway, she said to me, 'I love the show, I am a huge supporter, how can I apply to come on?'
"I wanted to send it and say, 'See, you are b****ing about me but your contestants are dying to come on the show!'."
The new season of Gordon Ramsay's Future Food Stars is set to air on the BBC in the upcoming months.
Topics: Gordon Ramsay, Celebrity, TV and Film, BBC
Anish Vij