"I know they would have been disappointed"
Dr Paul Midha has revealed why he turned down Lord Alan Sugar’s offer, which ultimately led to him missing out on The Apprentice final.
The iconic interview round aired on April 11, 2024, where four of Lord Sugar’s trusted aides grilled the candidates on their business plans and CVs.
Along with Paul, Flo Edwards, Phil Turner, Rachel Woolford and Tre Lowe faced tough questions from the interviewers.
The episode ended with a triple firing but not before Lord Sugar made a business offer that would have seen Paul in the final.
But surprisingly, the dental practice owner rejected Lord Sugar’s offer and was subsequently fired “with great respect”.
Phil Turner and Rachel Woolford were then named the two finalists.
The interviewers were baffled why Paul was proposing a scrubs business when he has a wealth of knowledge in dentistry and told him it was a failure waiting to happen.
Paul Midha emerged as a strong favourite when he decided to amend his business plan, news which he told Lord Sugar in the boardroom.
After firing Tre and Flo, Lord Sugar was interested in Paul’s business plan and asked:
“Can I just make it clear we are talking about a 50 per cent partnership with you for a quarter of a million pounds?”
However, Paul said he would use Lord Sugar’s £250,000 to open a second practice rather than splitting the success of his current business.
Lord Sugar was not keen on Paul’s counter-proposal and fired him instead.
He told Paul: “Paul, I wish you well but, unfortunately, because you’re not prepared to share the whole business with me, I’m afraid to say, with great respect, you’re fired.”
In his exit speech, Paul said he was proud to have finished third in the business show.
He has now revealed why he turned down Lord Sugar’s offer, saying it stemmed from not wanting to “disappoint” his family.
Paul explained: “At the end of the day, it is a process, but this is my life as well and I had to do what was right from a business sense, from a commercial sense [and] from a personal sense as well.
“If I were to take in that deal and I went home and my family have seen the journey and the struggles that I’ve been on to get to where I am, I know they would have been disappointed and heartbroken if I would have taken that deal because I would have been devaluing myself.”
Paul also said that a third option was proposed but did not air.
Lord Sugar suggested a brand new three-surgery dental practice be opened, but “wanted it all”.
Paul added: “I couldn’t do it no matter how much I wanted to.
“So I hope I haven’t disappointed the UK public. I hope they can understand my decision. And thank you so much for the love they [have] shown me so far.”
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