Lauren Riley has denied having a "steamy affair" with James Hill during 'The Apprentice'.

The 28-year-old solicitor - who was fired by Lord Alan Sugar on last night's (19.11.14) episode of the BBC reality series - was rumoured to have enjoyed a fling with her fellow candidate when the show was filmed earlier this year, but she's now spoken out to deny the claims.

Lauren Riley denies having a "steamy affair" with fellow candidate James Hill during filming of the current series of 'The Apprentice'.

Speaking exclusively to Fmalefirst she said: "I did read rumours and I was flattered by James' claims of a steamy affair but it's just not the case. I'm sorry to disappoint people ... It's hard to read because I was there for business and investment in my idea and that was my focus."

The brunette beauty also claimed her dismissal from the process after being taken back into the boardroom with Daniel Lassman by project manager Mark Wright following their team's failure in the advertising task, wasn't entirely fair.

She explained: "I think Dan and Mark are pretty savvy and they know that their arguments are a good source of entertainment and there's quite a hefty focus on entertainment in this year's show and that's obviously served them quite well when it comes to remaining in the process."

Lauren continued: "I think to remain in the process any longer I would've had to have started employing the tactics of some of the other candidates that remain and I wasn't willing to compromise in that respect."

And Lauren is now hoping that one of the three remaining female candidates - Roisin Hogan, Katie Bulmer-Cooke and Bianca Miller - will win the £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar as she doesn't think those who have "employed tactics and played games" should "prosper".

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