Katie Hopkins

] He later retracted his statement and confirmed that they had made love outdoors.cite web|url=http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/apprentice/news_030607_katie.shtml|title=I caught two-timing Katie bed-handed|accessmonthday=06-14|accessyear=2007|publisher=News of the World]

Response

Katie emerged as a sort of a hate figure in the media, especially on internet forums, during her time on the programme [cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=574278|title=Digital Spy Forums-KATIE: The ULTIMATE Apprentice VILLAN!!!|accessmonthday=06-15|accessyear=2007|publisher=Digital Spy] , although Sir Alan Sugar has come to her defence. [cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/05_may/11/ross.shtml|title=Sir Alan tells Jonathan about The Apprentice and fame|accessmonthday=06-15|accessyear=2007|publisher=BBC Press Office]

The tabloid newspapers also criticised her, comparing her to such fictional characters as Cruella De Vil, Widow Twankey, Darth Vader, J.R. Ewing, The Wicked Witch of the West, Miss Piggy, Catherine Tramell and Patrick Bateman. [cite web|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/columnists/carroll/tm_method=full%26objectid=19217308%26siteid=89520-name_page.html|title=Katie Hopkins|accessmonthday=06-15|accessyear=2007|publisher=The Mirror] cite web|url=http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/columnists/annasmith/tm_method=full%26objectid=19240387%26siteid=98487-name_page.html|title=How Henry thing goes!|accessmonthday=06-15|accessyear=2007|publisher=The Sunday Mirror] [cite web|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/columnists/parsons/tm_method=full%26objectid=19098458%26siteid=89520-name_page.html|title=Pearly Grates|accessmonthday=06-15|accessyear=2007|publisher=The Mirror] [cite web|url=http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/sunday/tm_method=full%26objectid=19238066%26siteid=98487-name_page.html|title=3 Out in Face-off|accessmonthday=06-15|accessyear=2007|publisher=The Sunday Mirror] [cite news|first=Kevin|last=O’Sullivan|title=Gimme five|url=http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/showbiz/tv/2007/06/10/gimme-five-98487-19275206/|publisher=Sunday Mirror|date=2007-06-10|accessdate=2007-07-23] [cite news|first=Janice|last=Turner|title=Katie Hopkins: captain of my bad-girl team|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/janice_turner/article1907414.ece|publisher=The Times|date=2007-06-09|accessdate=2007-07-23] She has also been compared to real people, such as Ruth Badger, Princess Diana, Simon Cowell, Princess Anne, Margaret Thatcher and Jade Goody. [cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/columnists/columnists.html?in_article_id=461037&in_page_id=1772&in_author_id=259&in_check=N|title=What will Apprentice villainess Katie Hopkins do next? Oh, tut, tut!|accessmonthday=06-15|accessyear=2007|publisher=The Daily Mail] [cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=462145&in_page_id=1773|title=Apprentice winner Simon: 'volcanic' Katie's the new Jade Goody|accessmonthday=06-16|accessyear=2007|publisher=The Daily Mail] Her red cheeks have also drawn comment.

"Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "Notting Hill" writer Richard Curtis expressed his distaste for Hopkins, jokingly vowing to kill her when he accepted his Fellowship award at the 2007 BAFTA awards. [cite web |url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/breaking/story.asp?j=253874945&p=z5387576x&n=253875831|title=Casualty stuns soap rivals to net first BAFTA|accessmonthday=06-15|accessyear=2007 |publisher=Irish Examiner] Her fellow contestants have questioned why she took part in the programme, while fellow candidate Lohit Kalburgi referred to Hopkins when he claimed he didn't want to be "the bitch". Simon Ambrose, a fellow contestant, told "Nuts Magazine" that he once "had a crush on her", [cite web|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/article.html?in_article_id=53313&in_page_id=7&in_a_source=|title=Apprentice Simon had crush on Katie|accessmonthday=06-16|accessyear=2007 |publisher=Metro] and also criticised Katie’s much-publicised personal life as he came from a "broken home". Fellow contestant and rival Kristina Grimes said that Katie left the programme of her own accord as “she would have eventually got the axe”. Ambrose also quoted Hopkins' friends' claim that her sole intention of participating in the programme was to start a media career.

Aftermath

Hopkins, like all other "Apprentice" candidates, appeared on the accompanying spin-off programme, "The Apprentice: You're Fired!", receiving a mixed response from the studio audience. When video clips of her comments about other candidates were shown, Hopkins explained that they were "quite funny". Michelle Mone, the founder of lingerie company, Ultimo and a guest on the episode, verbally attacked Hopkins, calling her "exceptionally selfish" and made remarks such as "You've given businesswomen a bad name". [cite web|url=http://www.dollymix.tv/2007/06/katie_quits_the_apprentice_in.html|title=Katie quits The Apprentice in a storm of maternal feelings... and her best quotes|accessmonthday=06-15|accessyear=2007|publisher=Dolly Mix] After this incident, Mone was dubbed as the "bra woman" by the media. [cite news|first=John|last=Plunkett|title=The Apprentice - series three, episode 11|url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/organgrinder/2007/06/the_apprentice_series_three_ep_10.html|publisher=The Guardian |date=2007-06-06|accessdate=2007-07-24] In the final episode of "The Apprentice: You're Fired!", Sir Alan branded Hopkins as sad and unemployable. [cite web |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=461885&in_page_id=1773 |title=Sir Alan's blast to disgraced Apprentice Katie Hopkins: 'You're unemployable!' |accessmonthday=06-14 |accessyear=2007 |authorlink= |publisher=Daily Mail] . Hopkins' comments on leaving the programme contained support for Simon Ambrose to win "The Apprentice", and revealed a desire to "smash a glass ceiling" over rival Kristina Grimes' head. [cite web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2001320029-2007260330,00.html|title=First time I've told a man 'no'|accessmonthday=06-15|accessyear=2007|publisher=The Sun]

After her appearance on the show, Hopkins signed two exclusive deals to sell her story; a newspaper deal with The News of the World and a magazine deal with Emap, the company behind heat and Grazia magazines. [cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2097757,00.html|title=Apprentice star signs News of the World deal|accessmonthday=06-15|accessyear=2007|publisher=The Guardian] In her "News of the World" interview, Hopkins played down media reports that she had broken marriages, but did reveal that she has had 10 lovers and had sex with a man in the barracks at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.cite web |url=http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/apprentice/news_1006_katie.shtml|title=I’m 10 out of 10 in bed!|accessmonthday=06-15|accessyear=2007|publisher=The News of the World] She told the paper that Michelle Mone, who had verbally attacked her on "The Apprentice: You’re Fired!", was probably "just happy to be out of the underwear factory for the day". [cite web |url=http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/videoplayer/videoshowbiz.php?videoid=http://del.interoute.com/?id=96d28f0a-76d2-47be-9efd-ea770c8ff1b7&delivery=stream# |title=Apprentice Katie gives her straight video verdict on Michelle from You're Fired |accessmonthday=06-15 |accessyear=2007 |publisher=The News of the World] She also told the paper that she lost her virginity aged 17 after leaving a convent school and that she hopes to be a Member of Parliament for the British Conservative Party, like Margaret Thatcher.

The day after Hopkins' final "Apprentice" episode aired, two prominent news stories emerged about her; step daughter Charlotte McKinney told the "Daily Mail" that Hopkins had ruined her family and driven the teenager to anorexia by sending her cards with stick men drawn on them, [cite web |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=460026&in_page_id=1773 |title=Apprentice Katie Hopkins 'wrecked my family' |accessmonthday=06-15 |accessyear=2007 |publisher=Daily Mail] and another "Mail" article reported that fans of the programme were accusing the BBC of fixing her walk-out. [cite web |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=460375&in_page_id=1773 |title=Apprentice fans accuse the BBC of rigging Katie's walkout |accessmonthday=06-15 |accessyear=2007 |publisher=The Daily Mail]

Hopkins revealed in an interview with BBC Radio Kent that she had great respect for Sir Alan Sugar, and that she believed she would have won the programme had she been in the final episode. She also said that the media's attitudes towards her did not affect her, but it did affect her family.cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/kent/realmedia/audio/kents_best/thursday.ram|title=Katie Hopkins BBC Radio Kent Interview |accessmonthday=06-15|accessyear=2007|publisher=BBC Radio Kent] When talking to Fiona Phillips in an interview aired on GMTV Today on the morning of the final Apprentice episode, Hopkins suggested that, had she accepted Sir Alan's offer of a place in the final, she would have emerged victorious, despite that Sir Alan Sugar said that if she wanted to press-on he would fire her, irrespective of who she was competing with. [cite episode|title=Katie Hopkins Interview|series=GMTV|station=ITV1|airdate=June 13 2007|season=14] Hopkins told BBC Radio 1 that she has not yet ruled out a media career [cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6740000/newsid_6746800?redirect=6746827.stm&news=1&bbram=1&bbwm=1&nbram=1&nbwm=1&prefs=1 |title=Radio 1 Newsbeat-Katie Hopkins Interview |accessmonthday=06-15 |accessyear=2007 |publisher=BBC Radio 1] but has expressed an interest in starting a business venture. [cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2007/06/13/katie_hopkins_apprentice_feature.shtml |title=What Katie did next... |accessmonthday=06-14|accessyear=2007|publisher=BBC Berkshire]

She has appeared in an episode of "8 out of 10 Cats" and has also been a guest-star on "Loose Women" and "The Friday Night Project". [cite web|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/showbiz/tv/todaystv/tm_method=full%26objectid=19300905%26siteid=89520-name_page.html|title=Eight out of Ten Cats|accessmonthday=06-16|accessyear=2007|publisher=The Mirror] [cite web|url=http://www.holymoly.co.uk/news/28/the-apprentices-katie-hopkins-fondles-some-sex-toys-783.html |title=Katie Hopkins makes like a cock|accessmonthday=06-17|accessyear=2007|publisher=Holy Moly] [cite web |url=http://geo.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/F/fnp/episodes/s5_ep4.html|title=Show Four: Melanie C |accessmonthday=07-08|accessyear=2007|publisher=Channel 4] Hopkins wrote a column for the "Express and Echo" newspaper in Exeter, much to the criticism of its readers, but was eventually asked to leave after a poll was put onto the publication's website asking if she should continue with the post. [cite web |last=Fletcher
first=Alex |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/a77388/apprentice-hopkins-fired-from-paper.html |title='Apprentice' Hopkins fired from paper |accessdate=2008-01-18 |date=2007-10-10 |publisher=Digital Spy] She has most recently presented a "Five Live Report" on family life and working mothers for BBC Radio 5 Live and contributed an article on the same subject to BBC Online. [cite news |first=Katie |last=Hopkins |title=Gateway to the world feels just like a parish hall |url=http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=136993&command=displayContent&sourceNode=244961&contentPK=17892541&folderPk=113914&pNodeId=244962 |publisher=Express and Echo |pages=1 |page=1 |date=July 21 2007 |accessdate=2007-07-30]

exism controversy

Sir Alan Sugar's questioning Katie about her childcare arrangements led to him being accused of sexism by the Trade Union Congress, The Equal Opportunities Commission and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation. [cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/realitytv/a60107/sir-alan-sugar-accused-of-sexism.html |title=Sir Alan Sugar accused of sexism |accessmonthday=06-15 |accessyear=2007 |publisher=Digital Spy] He was accused of violating the 1975 Sex Discrimination Act. [cite web |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article1901452.ece |title=Sugar faces sexism row as ex-Apprentice sells story |accessmonthday=06-15 |accessyear=2007 |publisher=The Times] This incident created a huge controversy and was well documented in the media. [cite web |url=http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/features/display.var.1456687.0.0.php|title=Katie gone at last, but was the firing squad fair?|accessmonthday=06-15|accessyear=2007|publisher=The Herald] [cite web|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/news/article2633484.ece|title=Sugar accused of sexism after apprentice quits|accessmonthday=06-15|accessyear=2007|publisher=The Belfast Telegraph] [cite web|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/article-23399689-details/Sir+Alan+accused+of+sexism+towards+Apprentice+villain+Katie/article.do|title=Sir Alan accused of sexism towards Apprentice villain Katie|accessmonthday=06-15|accessyear=2007|publisher=This is London] cite web|url=http://business.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2098403,00.html|title=All fired up|accessmonthday=06-15 |accessyear=2007|publisher=The Guardian] Sir Alan argued his case in an interview with GMTV host Fiona Phillips, stating that he was well aware of the rules.cite episode|title=Sir Alan Sugar Interview|series=GMTV|station=ITV1|airdate=June 13 2007|season=14]

Met Office firing

In May 2007, reports emerged that Hopkins was being investigated at her job in the Met Office due to her expenses claims, which allegedly included a bill for dinner with "Apprentice" co-star Tre Azam. [cite web |url=http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/sunday/tm_method=full%26objectid=19135255%26siteid=98487-name_page.html|title=Katie & the exes factor|accessmonthday=06-15|accessyear=2007|publisher=The Sunday Mirror] On June 12 2007, the BBC reported that Hopkins had been dismissed from her job at the Meteorological Office.cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6743877.stm|title=Apprentice contender Katie fired|accessmonthday=06-15 |accessyear=2007|publisher=BBC News] A Met Office statement said that she did not meet the required standards to complete her probationary period, and confirmed that her performance on "The Apprentice" and confessions about her private life were a factor in her dismissal. [cite web |url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2007/0612/theapprentice.html |title=Katie Hopkins fired from real job |accessmonthday=06-15 |accessyear=2007 |publisher=RTÉ] The spokesperson also stated that Hopkins was on a salary of less than £90,000, the salary she claimed for her job before the Met Office.

Hopkins later declared that she is taking the organisation to a tribunal over the decision. She has stated that the media were informed of her dismissal only an hour after she was fired and believes she has been used as a scapegoat. [cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/a60912/apprentice-star-katie-im-a-scapegoat.html |title='Apprentice' star Katie: 'I'm a scapegoat' |accessmonthday=06-15 |accessyear=2007 |publisher=Digital Spy]

"I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!"

Hopkins joined the 2007 series of "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!" as a replacement for Malcolm McLaren, who dropped out just before the show started.cite news |title=Janice Dickinson warns Katie Hopkins: 'I'm reigning queen of bitches' |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=493459&in_page_id=1846&ICO=IM_A_CELEBRITY&ICL=TOPART |publisher=The Daily Mail |date=2007-11-15 |accessdate=2007-11-24 ] Reports of an appearance by Hopkins had appeared by as early as June 2007. [cite news |first=Nick |last=Levine |title=Katie Hopkins to appear on 'I'm A Celeb'? |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/celebrity/a62031/katie-hopkins-to-appear-on-im-a-celeb.html |publisher=Digital Spy |date=2007-06-20 |accessdate=2007-11-24 ] Hopkins was the second celebrity voted out of the camp on Thursday 22 November 2007.

Hopkins took part in one "Bushtucker trial" in which she won ten stars out of a possible ten. For her task she was forced to remain in a coffin suspended over a canopy that began filling with cockroaches.

References

External links

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/apprentice "The Apprentice"] at bbc.co.uk
*imdb name|2682570
*tvtome person|id=590772|name=Katie Hopkins