Margaret Mountford’s absence from The Apprentice did not go unnoticed by fans last night – who were outraged that she had been replaced by former winner Ricky Martin.

The 63-year-old lawyer and businesswoman was an adviser to Lord Sugar on the BBC show from 2005 to 2009, when she stepped down from the role to be replaced by Karren Brady.

But Margaret has always returned for the interview round to grill candidates about their outrageous claims on their CV, and viewers loved her famous sceptical one-eyebrow raise.

Margaret Mountford grills an Apprentice hopeful
Margaret Mountford grills an Apprentice hopeful (BBC)

Margaret revealed in a recent interview with whatsontv.co.uk: “They didn’t ask me back. I suppose I was fired!”

She added: “No, obviously they weren’t going to want me to carry on doing interviews forever, and nor did I want to do them forever.”

Ricky – who won the show in 2012 despite being ridiculed by Margaret for comparing himself to Norse God Thor on his CV – filled her spot behind the interview desk as he now runs a recruitment company with Lord Sugar.

But fans were not happy and took to social media to express their dismay.