Apprentice candidate becomes the first EVER to quit before her task has even begun, saying 'I'm really sorry, I'm just not enjoying it. I just want to go home'

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The Apprentice's Aleksandra King made show history on Thursday night when she became the first EVER candidate to quit the show prior to tackling a task.

Taking her teammates by surprise during the brainstorming process ahead of this week's task, Aleksandra, 38, declared she'd had enough.

The business consultant interrupted the group discussion, saying: 'You guys, I just have to say something — I’m going to leave the process. I’m really sorry, I’m just not enjoying it.'

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Out of the blue: The Apprentice's Aleksandra King made show history on Thursday night when she became the first EVER candidate to quit the show prior to tackling a task

Taken aback, Mukai Noiri, 36, responded: 'We're just starting a task it's not the ideal moment.'

Having made up her mind, Aleksandra said a brief goodbye before swiftly exiting the room. 

Team leader Grainne McCoy, 31, tried to settle the situation, saying: 'Ok, that's a bit of a shock to the system. I actually thought it was a joke.' 

Coming clean: Taking her teammates by surprise during the brainstorming process ahead of this week's task, Aleksandra, 38, declared she'd had enough

She's off: Having made up her mind, Aleksandra said a brief goodbye before swiftly exiting the room

Explaining her decision to camera, Aleksandra said: 'I have found the process overwhelming and stressful and really intense. I just want to go home.

‘I just want to go home to my kids and my husband. Now. Right now.’ 

Back in the room, Grainne said: 'She obviously didn't think she was strong enough to be in this, but we need to get on with this.'

Falling short: Aleksandra entered the show full of fighting spirit, but failed to live up to her own words

Following her exit from the show, Aleksandra told BANG Showbiz: 'I can't tell you in exact detail how much contact I was allowed with my family but, for me, the restricted contact was not good enough. 

'I would have liked to have picked up the phone and just said, "How are you guys? OK, Great." I was not able to do that. I've got a nine-year-old, a seven-year-old and a five-year-old but it's the work-life balance thing because there are other mums in there who have younger kids and it was OK for them. 

'But for me, I started to get slightly irritated because I felt like why is this even a business tip, what has lack of contact with my family got to do with it? It was winding me up and going on in my head.'

Had enough: Aleksandra wanted to see her husband and children

Although she was only in the competition for four weeks, Aleksandra began to realise Lord Sugar wasn't the best person to go into business with because he had his own way of doing things and reminded her too much of her own father.

She explained: 'I was thinking about my future and what I found was that there was a bit of a blame culture there that caused a lot of unnecessary stress for people and brought out the bad in some people. 

'I know that can work. Lord Sugar is massively successful and he has his way of doing things but I just feel, for me, I wish I could do it in a more collaborative way and instead of carving each other up, working together.

Walk out the door: Aleksandra boldly claimed she would produce the best business plan Lord Sugar had ever seen, but left the show before making good on her promise.

'He's so similar to my father. They are really nice, they're both successful and they do things in their own way. But they are very dominating, you sort of feel like you're a kid at home with Lord Sugar. Although I love and respect my dad, I'm not going to run my house the same way he has. And it's sort of the same with Lord Sugar. I feel like he's had his time and he's doing his thing in his own way but it's not really for me.'

She entered the show full of fighting spirit, telling the BBC cameras: 'I am a huge personality. I don’t fear any candidates.

'I am a meteor bounding down from space going towards my goal, and I am going to blow everything and everyone out of the water. 

Homesick: Aleksandra said the lack of contact with her family wound her up

'Once I get something into my mind, there is absolutely no stopping me – and I will just bulldoze everything and everyone through to get to where I wanna go.'

She boldly claimed she would produce the best business plan Lord Sugar had ever seen, but left the show before making good on her promise.

In the boardroom, Lord Sugar pulled no punches on Aleksandra's exit, saying: 'Those who are observant will realise we are missing one of our contestants.' 

Referencing the tough nature of the show, he added: 'As I said to you a few weeks ago, the process is very, very tough and if you can’t hack it, get out! And that’s exactly what Aleksandra did.’ 

Adding: 'On the positive front, I've saved myself a cab fare.' 

The show must go on: In the boardroom, Lord Sugar pulled no punches on Aleksandra's exit