Apprentice Lorraine cleared in police check

Apprentice Lorraine cleared in police check (Image credit: Talkback Thames)

The Apprentice producers say no issues were uncovered when Lorraine Tighe underwent police checks during selection, as reports emerged that she had been dragged into an £8 million fraud probe. The Sun reports that HM Revenue and Customs has been investigating Lorraine's father, construction tycoon Jim Tighe, over suspicions about unpaid tax, although no charges have been brought. The 36-year-old Apprentice candidate, who worked in his offices several years ago, told the newspaper that she had been asked questions as part of the investigation. But she insisted she had nothing to do with her father's books. It was not clear whether or not the issue was raised when mother-of-two Lorraine was vetted for the show. A spokeswoman for The Apprentice gave a brief statement which said: "As part of the selection process the producers arrange police checks on all candidates. "No issues were uncovered during this process." HM Revenue and Customs declined to comment on the matter. Get exclusive access to your favourite stars. Subscribe to TV Times magazine

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Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.