The BBC has intervened to demand stricter background checks on candidates for The Apprentice, following the discovery of racist and sexist social media posts made by a contestant on the upcoming series.
Offensive Historical Posts Uncovered
Levi Hodgetts-Hague, a 33-year-old from South Yorkshire set to appear on the new series, made the posts over a decade ago. According to The Sun on Sunday, which first reported the story, the messages included derogatory remarks about Muslims and women.
One post from October 2012, referencing the extradition of radical cleric Abu Hamza, reportedly described him as a "dirty Muslim preacher". Another from May 2013 mocked the concept of Islam as a religion of peace. Further posts expressed support for far-right activist Tommy Robinson and used offensive slang to describe women from Doncaster.
Apology and BBC Response
Hodgetts-Hague issued a full apology after the newspaper alerted the broadcaster, stating he was "ashamed and embarrassed". He said the posts "are not a reflection of the values I uphold today" and apologised to his fellow candidates and the production team.
A BBC spokesperson confirmed the corporation was previously unaware of the comments, calling them "totally unacceptable". The broadcaster has now asked the independent production company, Naked, for "further assurances on their social media checks", stating the process was not completed satisfactorily in this instance.
Production Company to Review Vetting Process
A spokesperson for Naked, the production company behind The Apprentice, said they work with third-party providers to conduct comprehensive background checks. They acknowledged that on this occasion, the checks "failed to flag the offensive posts" and confirmed the process would be reviewed.
The company added that Hodgetts-Hague had been spoken to about the behaviour and had apologised, insisting the posts do not reflect who he is now. The new series of The Apprentice, where 20 candidates compete for a £250,000 investment from Lord Alan Sugar, is scheduled to begin on January 29.
