Dara Ó Briain has quit ‘The Apprentice: You’re Fired!’.
The 42-year-old comedian has presented the spin-off show since 2010, but has decided to retire from the show because he has interviewed so many people.
He said: "After five years hosting ‘You’re Fired’, I’ve decided to pass the chair on to someone else.
"In that time, I’ve interviewed 84 wannabe apprentices."
The host – who has two children with his wife, Susan – joked he feels he may turn into harsh ‘The Apprentice’ professional interviewer Claude Littner if he stays on the programme, but admitted his commitment to comedy is what made him decide to leave the show.
He explained: "If I interview any more, I’ll turn into Claude Littner. Mainly though, I’m back on tour again this year and I’d like to enjoy getting laughs off my own incompetence for a while."
No replacement for the stand-up comic has yet been announced, but he wished his luck to his successor, adding the job is "lots of fun".
He continued: "Best of luck to whoever takes over the chair, you’ll have lots of fun with them."
The news of Dara’s departure comes a month after Lord Alan Sugar’s trusted adviser Nick Hewer announced he would be leaving the main ‘The Apprentice’ programme after 10 years.
In a statement, he said: "I’ve been pondering my departure from ‘The Apprentice’ for a while and have decided that year 10 is the appropriate time. So I leave with relief, tinged with regret.
"Anyone can do what Karren and I have been doing, but it takes stamina to follow the candidates week after week, and my stamina is not up to those long weeks."
Dara Ó Briain quits The Apprentice: You’re Fired!
