Apprentice Hopeful Details Cocaine Addiction and Recovery Journey
One of the entrepreneurial hopefuls on this year's The Apprentice has publicly discussed his struggle with a severe cocaine addiction, costing up to £500 per week, prior to appearing on the show. Estate agent Kieran McCartney, aged 27, revealed that he used his work phone to contact drug dealers during company hours, arranging meetings near his East London workplace under the guise of cigarette breaks.
Personal Tragedy and Descent into Addiction
Kieran attributed his downward spiral to the death of his father after a battle with prostate cancer, which he said sent him 'off the rails'. This led to a period of depression and suicidal thoughts, during which he frequented pubs alone up to five times a week while spending heavily on cocaine. He shared that his addiction strained friendships, as friends were embarrassed by his behaviour while under the influence.
Recovery and Denial of Drug Use During Filming
In an interview with The Sun, Kieran denied using drugs while filming for The Apprentice but admitted it took three months after the show to cease drug use entirely. He expressed relief, stating, 'I could have been doing like £400 a week - £500 a week, I'm a lot better off now!' He credited his mother Paula for his recovery, emphasising her support was crucial to his turnaround.
Kieran's Self-Description and Professional Outlook
Ahead of the series, Kieran described himself as 'hungry, motivated, and super positive', highlighting his dedication to clients and friends. He noted his commitment to building strong relationships and delivering exceptional results in both personal and professional spheres.
Fired Apprentice Candidate Criticises Sacking Decision
In related news, the latest fired candidate from The Apprentice, Rajan Gill, has criticised his 'undeserved' dismissal and taken aim at Lord Sugar and fellow contestant Levi Hague. Rajan argued that Levi should have been fired instead, claiming he 'put himself out there' more during the competition.
Task Details and Boardroom Drama
The episode involved creating a virtual reality demo for a new game to secure investments. Team Lawrence, led by Lawrence Rosenburg, developed an aerobics game featuring chasing frogs but secured only £55,000 in investment. In contrast, the opposing team, including Harry Clough and Karishma Vijay, won with £205,000 for a futuristic running game. Lawrence brought Levi and Rajan into the boardroom, where Rajan was ultimately fired.
Rajan's Defence and Criticism of Levi
Rajan defended his performance, citing his roles as sub-project manager twice and success in corporate negotiations. He stated, 'I don't think I deserve to be fired, to be honest', and criticised Levi for lack of consistency. However, he admitted he would not change his approach, valuing his authentic self throughout the process.
Team Challenges and Investor Feedback
During the task, Rajan faced criticism from teammates for dismissing ideas without offering alternatives. Investors panned Team Lawrence's logo as 'boring and aggressive', and experts, including influencer Grace Beverley, laughed at their presentation, highlighting the team's lack of structure and substance.
Support Resources: If affected by issues in this article, contact drug helpline FRANK at 0300 123 6600, Alcohol Anonymous at 0800 917 7650 or help@aamail.org, and Samaritans at 116 123 or jo@samaritans.org.
