Apprentice star Claude Littner pens memoir

Little, Brown has acquired an autobiography and business guide by Claude Littner, best known as Lord Sugar’s mercilessly tough aide on BBC1’s "The Apprentice". 

Single-Minded, both a memoir and an insider’s account of how business really works, will be published by Little, Brown's Piatkus imprint in October to coincide with the new 12th series of "The Apprentice", priced £18.99 in hardback.

The only person to have featured in all 11 series of "The Apprentice" aside from Lord Sugar himself, the book will explore "diabolical corporate silliness", recounting confrontations in the board room, both on and off screen, while the overall theme of his book is "turning things around", referring to both his own career after an "unpromising" start to the numerous "basket-case" companies he has rescued.

He founded the Claude Littner Business School at the University of West London and was also chief executive of Tottenham Hotspur during a tumultuous period for the club. 

Littner, who is active in helping young people to get a head start in business, said: "At 17, I was told in no uncertain terms that I would never amount to anything. If this book inspires people to believe in themselves and play to their strengths, then writing of my adventures will have been rewarding."

Commissioning editor Meri Pentikäinen acquired world rights to the work direct from the author. She said: "Even though I will avoid ever pitching a business idea to Claude, I am thrilled to be working with someone of his calibre. Readers who only know him through The Apprentice might be surprised at the variety of his experience and how much more there is to what’s presented in the programme."