VM: Popular opinion seems to be that you fired yourself Ifti?
Ifti: "Yes, I didn't realise it at the time, I thought Sir Alan would give me maybe an hour off to go and see my family and my sick son but I realise now he couldn't have done that!"
VM: Were you upset to be fired?
Ifti: "Very. It was a devastating blow. I really felt like I could have won. It took me about two months to get over it after I went back home. It was the hardest thing I've ever dealt with in my life. I had expected to be fired for business reasons."
VM: And yet, you hardly took part in the dog task?
Ifti: "I know but my son's illness was just playing on my mind. I am very close to my family and if my son is ill then I need to be there. I couldn't concentrate. He was ill when I left home to join the house so it was always playing on my mind."
VM: What did you do when you went back home?
Rory: "I've started up my own tile business which is doing well. I aim to open a few more shops by the end of the year."
VM: Does The Apprentice actually teach you anything about business?
Ifti: "It teaches you about human nature, about backstabbing and backchat. I 'm not like that so I found it very difficult. But it does give you confidence in business. I think it's difficult because now contestants are going on the show just to be on TV rather than to succeed in business."
VM: Who do you think will win?
Ifti: "Katie. She seems to be very popular. Simon too. He's devious and calculating and he has a gameplan."
VM: You're a big Tae Kwon Do enthusiast. Aren't you aiming to join the 2012 Olympic team?
Ifti: "Well, it's not an Olympic sport yet. It's only a demonstration sport. I might be a bit too old for the team to be honest! (Ifti is 33).."
VM: Can you break concrete with your bare hands?
Ifti: "Yes. I've done that before. And with my head. But I don't advise it!"
VM: Did you feel like doing that to Tre in the house?
Ifti: "Yes, but I had to remember that I'm a spiritual, peace-loving person!"
VM: Would you do something like this again?
Ifti: I don't know. You have to be prepared to give up a massive part of your life. I don't think I'd want to go through that again."
Have your say on The Apprentice here
4th April, 2007