Jana Denzel, a contestant on The Apprentice, made headlines on Thursday night after unexpectedly quitting the competition during a tense boardroom moment.
His departure came amid a scandal that sparked discussions about race and language, leaving viewers stunned.
Jana’s exit marked the fifth elimination of the season, as he voluntarily chose to walk away from the show.
A Bold Decision to Step Away
During the episode, the candidates were tasked with creating and branding a new chocolate Easter egg, followed by pitching their product to industry buyers.
However, when the results were announced in the boardroom, Jana took everyone by surprise.
Before the outcome was revealed, he told Lord Sugar and the team, “Sorry, Lord Sugar, I just wanted to say I’m proud of everyone’s contributions.
I know how much some of the others want this, but I’ll be honest, I’m not sure I want it as badly as they do.
So, whether we win or lose, I’d like to step away from the process.”
After the task results showed that Team Parallel, led by Jana, had lost, Lord Sugar gave him one final chance to reconsider.
Jana confirmed his decision to leave, prompting Lord Sugar to wish him well: “It’s been a pleasure having you here… you seem like a stand-up fellow.”
Jana’s Heartfelt Reasoning for Quitting
Jana opened up about his decision after the boardroom moment, explaining that while his time on the show had been incredible, he realized that the competition wasn’t the right fit for him.
“My business and my family have always been my priority, and I wanted to get back to them,” Jana shared.
He expressed gratitude for the opportunity and for the people he met along the way, but emphasized that his passion for his cosmetic dentistry practice was where his focus truly lay.
Running a successful practice on Harley Street, with high-profile clients including A-list celebrities and Grammy winners, Jana had hoped that winning Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment could help him take his business to the next level.
But ultimately, he decided that it was time to return to what truly mattered to him.
The Controversial “Race Row” Incident
Jana’s exit from the show also followed an incident where he was accused of using racially insensitive language.
During a task, he reportedly referred to a black person as “coloured,” which upset two female members of his team.
Although this incident sparked controversy, the BBC clarified that Jana’s exit was unrelated to the comment, which had been addressed internally.
Sources close to the production revealed that Jana was required to undergo diversity training after the comment was flagged by his team and the production team.
Jana, who has previously spoken about his pride in his Sri Lankan heritage and refugee background, participated in discussions with producers to ensure he understood the impact of his remark.
However, The Apprentice assured fans that there was no ill-intent behind his comment and that the issue had been resolved privately.
Moving Forward
Despite the controversy, Jana’s decision to leave the competition had nothing to do with the race-row incident, according to BBC representatives.
They offered their full support to Jana and confirmed that he had withdrawn from the process for entirely separate reasons.
For now, Jana will continue to focus on his thriving dental business, where he enjoys a growing client base and hopes to expand even further.
Jana’s exit from The Apprentice will air in a future episode, but viewers won’t see the controversial remark on screen.
The show airs Thursdays at 9 pm on BBC One, with episodes available to stream on iPlayer.