Ex 'The Apprentice' contestant Richard Woods was shocked at being "absolutely taken apart" by Linda Plant.
Booted out: Apprentice contestant Richard Woods
The confident Digital Marketing Director - who was on the winning team eight times this season and was expected to get to the final - made it to the final five contestants but faced a gruelling interview with Lord Sugar's newest adviser, who left him "crying for mum", after she found flaws in his business plan.
Richard - who was booted out at the final hurdle in last night's (16.12.15) episode of the BBC show - exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "I got absolutely taken apart by Linda Plant, who was this lovely person and we get on great. And she leaves me in a blubbering mess and I'm crying for mum. I did not expect it. She literally interrogated me. I felt like I was in Guantanamo Bay. It was not good. It was horrendous."
But the 31 year old says he knew he had lost his chance at the final when the panel saw that his business plan, titled 'Trail Blazer', was too similar to the venture he owns with his brother.
He recalled: "It was so frustratingly close that I could feel it was slipping through my fingers and it was like trying to hold water in the cup of your hands. I went in there thinking they were going to love me... but I've come full circle, I am already doing what I went in there to pitch to do. The difference being is that I wanted to do it with a billionaire person who is able to ignite fires that I could only dream of making.
Despite his disappointment, Richard - who is married with a young child and has another baby on the way - revealed he has become good friends with his mentors.
Asked will he keep in touch with Lord Sugar, Claude Littner and Karen Brady, he said: "Oh definitely, I've invited them to my baby's Christening. My wife's pregnant. We actually found out just before going into the house and today is actually her due date. The 16th December. So she's with me now and I'm keeping my eye on her.
Oxford university student Vana Koutsomitis and Plumber Joseph Valente will now battle it out to become Lord Sugar's new partner and win a £250,000 investment in their business plan, in the final of 'The Apprentice' at 9 pm on Sunday December 20 on BBC One.
Tagged in Lord Alan Sugar