Sulky sacked Jordan says he'll be bigger than Sugar

The 16-year-old from Co Wicklow fired a parting shot as he was driven away in Alan Sugar's Rolls Royce from the TV studios.

"I'm gutted that I'm leaving. It just annoys me so much to know that there are people left in that house and in the competition that I know I am better than.

"I think give it five years and I can be just as successful, if not more successful, than Lord Sugar," he declared.

Jordan, who set up his first business at the age of 12, was made project manager of his team Instinct which underwent a boys versus girls challenge to sell €500 worth of cheese on market stalls.

The boys in Instinct made a loss of £210.01 -- while the girls' team Revolution creamed off a £143.88 profit.

Jordan decided to bring Rhys Rosser (17) and Tim Ankers (also 17) back into the boardroom for the first showdown of the series.

But he was told by Lord Sugar: "Jordan, because you couldn't control these people I'm going to have to say it's a difficult thing to be the first person to go...28,000 young people applied for this.

"Whilst they were sitting on their armchairs scoffing crisps and drinking cola, you made it here. And don't ever forget that.

"Jordan, with regret -- you're fired."

Speaking after getting the boot, Jordan said: "Lord Sugar is not just the grumpy man we see in the boardroom, his judgments can be harsh, but they are fair."

He added: "I wasn't entirely comfortable with being the project manager of the first task, especially when I had no idea what it would involve selling, but someone had to step up.

"As the task progressed I found it increasingly difficult to manage people that were all there to show off their talents and seemed to forget we were supposed to be working as a team, rather than individuals, for our own good.

"After the task finished, I knew we hadn't done well, I couldn't sleep that night. I got three hours' sleep, and when it came to the boardroom, I was ready to collapse.

"I lost my fighting power in the end and I didn't perform on the day as I should have, therefore I had to take the responsibility."

He said appearing on the show had raised his awareness of his passion for business and he is currently working on a juice bar project in Dublin.

Jordan is also about to launch a natural skincare range and is looking for retailers to work with.

He said: "The company will be named Honesty Skin Care and I think the word honesty fits in well with the way in which I conduct my business."

The £25,000 (€29,300) prize at the end of the series will be controlled by Alan Sugar and will be carefully handed out like pocket money when the winner wants to take on a suitable venture.

The next episode of Junior Apprentice is next Wednesday at 9pm on BBC1.

See Michael O'Doherty p 33