The Apprentice fans baffled as Claude Littner announces death of show star who passed away ELEVEN YEARS ago in confusing post

Fans of The Apprentice were left stunned after Claude Littner announced the death of the previous contestant, who passed away 11 years ago.

The British businessman, who was one of Lord Sugar’s advisors on the BBC One series, paid tribute to Stuart Baggs, who died aged 27 in 2015 after an asthma attack.

Officers were called to his home on July 30, where they discovered his body and confirmed that he ‘had suffered from asthma for many years and died as a result of the condition’. It was ruled that the death resulted from ‘natural causes’.

Claud, 76, yesterday praised Stuart for his performance in the interview phase of the programme.

He posted on X: ‘Really sad news about the passing of Stuart Baggs. A memorable interviewee on The Apprentice. He stunned me with his unforgettable response, claiming that he was a “brand.” Wonderful. RIP.’

British businessman commemorated Stuart Baggs, who died at the age of 27 after an asthma attack in 2015

Fans responded to Claude’s post with surprise, explaining that it had been more than a decade since Stuart’s passing.

One wrote: ‘It happened in 2015 if I’m not mistaken Claude. He’s a great character. He went on Channel 4’s Celebrity Coach Trip and was really great at that too.’

Another chimed in: ‘Yes it was so sad but Claude died in 2015,’ while a third added: ‘That was 11 years ago,’ along with a thinking emoji.

In 2015, it was revealed that Stuart, the BBC show’s youngest ever contestant, had been working out for punishment for 18 days before he died of an asthma attack.

Friends explained that Stuart, known as ‘Baggs The Brand’, had insomnia problems due to his stressful job.

The businessman, who lives in Douglas on the Isle of Man, had built a new 4G internet center that would revolutionize communications on the island.

However, in the days before the launch of the new product, he complained of feeling unwell and talked about the heavy toll his job was taking on him.

He worked 18 hours a day and slept only four hours a night; Friends say he was exhausted from stress and anxiety.

Close friend Amy Burns said she was working very long hours, stressed and not sleeping properly.

She said she spoke to him in the days leading up to his sudden death and was concerned about his health because he complained of not feeling well.

Fans responded to Claude’s post with confusion, explaining that it had been more than a decade since Stuart’s death.

In 2015, it was revealed that Stuart, the BBC show’s youngest ever contestant, had been working out for punishment for 18 days before he died of an asthma attack.

He added: ‘He said he felt sick, he told me he wasn’t drinking. We were talking most of the night. He didn’t feel sad or anything and was happy for the future.

‘I was going to meet him but he was so stressed and working so hard and he was texting me all night saying, ‘I have insomnia.’ I can’t sleep. “I was working really hard,” he said.

‘That was the first thing that came to my mind. I wondered what he might have taken, but it seemed like he wasn’t relying on anything to get him through. I can clearly say that he will not do anything to himself. ‘He wouldn’t do that to the people around him.’

She became The Apprentice’s youngest ever nominee when she appeared on the show in 2010, aged just 21; that title was taken over by Ryan-Mark Parsons, who was 19 when he appeared on the show.

The Plymouth-born entrepreneur became known for boasting about his ability to succeed, with claims such as ‘Everything I touch sells’.

She was later kicked out of the competition in the semi-finals, and the series was eventually won by 30-year-old investment banker Stella English.

At the time, Lord Sugar wrote to fans on social media: ‘Terrible news that Stuart Baggs has died. I offer my sincere condolences to his family and friends. One of the standout characters on The Apprentice RIP.’

Last year Claude The future of BBC The Apprentice has been revealed after it missed series 19 due to a horror accident.

The businessman was forced to miss the boardroom in 2021 after suffering a serious cycling accident, revealing he nearly lost his leg and needed nine surgeries as a result.

Claude was previously an advisor to Lord Alan Sugar alongside Baroness Karren Brady, before he was replaced by series one winner Tim Campbell.

Claude explained that his wounds were now ‘fully healed’ and admitted that it was ‘not his decision’ whether he returned to the meeting room or not.

At the time, a source revealed that the millionaire businessman would continue to appear in the new series, but not full-time.

A source told Sun: ‘The team really missed having Claude and his expertise on a full-time basis but Tim has been an excellent replacement.

The 75-year-old businessman was forced to miss the boardroom in 2021 after suffering a serious cycling accident, revealing he nearly lost his leg and needed nine surgeries as a result.

‘He still remains very much outside the show and, just like last year, will feature in interviews with the candidates later in the new series.’

The interviews normally take place in the eleventh episode of each series, and see the remaining five candidates and their job offers scrutinized and discussed by industry experts and entrepreneurs.

As he left, Claude insisted that he would keep a close eye on the candidates’ antics from his couch rather than the boardroom.

He said in a statement: ‘While I’m disappointed I won’t be in the boardroom or carrying out missions in the upcoming series, I’ll definitely be glued to the action from my sofa.’

Tim, who replaced Claude as the first winner of the business reality competition almost 17 years ago, previously admitted he was stunned when his former mentor Lord Alan Sugar asked him to join the show and did not believe the offer was real at first.

In an interview with Radio Times magazine, he recalled thinking: ‘Is this a joke? I don’t see people rushing in with cameras and yelling “Gotcha!” I thought you would say. ‘Why is he phoning?’ I thought. When he explained, ‘Are you serious?’ I said. It was so crazy.’

Viewers, who have been on The Apprentice since 2015, were upset and concerned when Claude was not featured in the first episode of the season last year.

Earlier this year Claude admitted it was ‘not his decision’ whether he returned to the boardroom but a source has now said the businessman will continue to appear in the new series but not full-time.

Claude has previously expressed the potential for a full return for the 2025 season.

One fan tweeted: ‘I miss Claude Littner on the apprentice again this year! ‘I was hoping you’d come back…’ Claude replied: ‘Maybe next year. ”No distribution”.’

Claude was replaced by Tim at the last minute at the start of the 2022 series, with Sir Alan explaining to the candidates before pointing at Tim: ‘You might be wondering why this gentleman is here.’

‘Unfortunately Claude is not very well and Tim will be helping me for the next 11 weeks.’

Claude was seriously injured during a freak E-bike accident that occurred in April 2021. He underwent nine surgeries to save his leg and had to learn to walk again after the incident near his home in London.

As a result, Claude missed the final two seasons of The Apprentice while focusing on his recovery. He made a brief return for a single episode in 2023 before Tim stepped in again.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain last year, Claude gave an update on his health, saying: ‘I’m doing wonderfully well, thank you. I am so grateful to the ambulance crew for looking after me and of course to the surgeons at St Mary’s who put me back together.

‘It was a freak accident. I think someone was keeping an eye on me, but if someone had kept a better eye on me, I wouldn’t have had the accident; I was lucky the ambulance went behind me.

‘I was just messing around, I must not have been doing more than 10 kilometers per hour on this kind of two-lane road.’

‘The next thing I knew I was on the left side of the street, my bike was in the middle of the road and I didn’t know what happened.

‘I suspect I hit a pothole or something like that but I must have been completely lost at impact because the next thing I know I’m lying on the ground.’