THE Apprentice star Lottie Lion has revealed that she’s quit the UK for Bali and won’t be coming back.
Lottie – who was just 19 when she was fired by Lord Sugar in 2019 – previously opened up about her regret on taking part on the BBC One business show.
Apprentice star Lottie Lion has quit the UK for BaliCredit: Instagram
The former librarian spoke about her regrets on taking part on the BBC showCredit: BBC/Boundless
Lottie became Lord Sugar’s most controversial contestant since Katie Hopkins — facing constant public abuse, including being spat on in the street.
She has since taken a step back from fame and was even forced to delete her social media.
Lottie is now enjoying life in Bali and has no plans on returning anytime soon.
She said: “I will not be back in the UK for the foreseeable.
“I am still working remotely but for the next four weeks I am going to be volunteering 15 hours a week with the Bali Animal Welfare rescue centre in Ubud.”
She went onto say that her new role will be “emotional” and “challenging” as she helps injured animals.
Last year, Lottie told how the The Apprentice experience took a toll on her mental health.
She said: “We are in a nationwide mental health crisis, and I’m one of the people that have suffered.
“There were times when I didn’t want to have to bother anymore, or carry on. A few months ago I deleted my social media because I needed a detox.
“Another Apprentice candidate contacted the BBC producers asking if I was okay. The producers contacted me way too late.
“I went back with a really s***** email: ‘I’m not going to be part of your box-ticking b*******, you know that I’m not okay’.
“They never responded. That just goes to show they don’t care.”
She added: “One of the producers admitted I was originally cast as the ‘quiet intellect’ but I ended up being the ‘controversial one’.
“Everyone has to fill a box for the entertainment levels.”
She also revealed that the BBC forced her to change her name from Charlotte to Lottie.
She said: “My name is Charlotte and has never been Lottie. The BBC wanted me to be ‘Lottie Lion the Librarian’.
“They loved all the L sounds, and that was it. I went along with it. They created this persona.
“I really wanted to go on the show, so agreed to it. Lottie Lion is catchy so I understand why.”
The BBC banned Lottie from appearing in spin-off shows You’re Fired and You’re Hired after fellow contestants made complaints.
She had told rival Lubna Farhan — whose parents are Pakistani — to “Shut up, Gandhi” in a WhatsApp group. Lottie, who also romped off-screen with fellow candidate Lewis Ellis, has also been accused of making negative comments about transgender women.
She later apologised for calling Lord Sugar a racist and “offending anyone”.
She last worked as a business analyst in Bristol and said: “It is very difficult to find jobs. I’ve been applying. I have been trying to set up my own business.
“I have income from social media as an influencer. I do ad-hoc consultancy. Otherwise I’m living off savings. It was all okay until lockdown hit. I’m a social butterfly. Not having a family has been hard
“I know I wasn’t likeable. The way I was edited I didn’t like myself. It was a toxic thing to be humiliated on national TV.
“The BBC said to me after they’d never had the level of exposure from a candidate I had, because of everything that happened. I am trying to bury much of it.”
Lottie said the experience took a toll on her mental healthCredit: BBC