Lord Alan Sugar calls Katie Hopkins an 'idiot' for her Twitter remarks about Cilla Black's death

Lord Alan Sugar has hit back at former Apprentice star Katie Hopkins following remarks she posted on Twitter about people commenting on Cilla Black’s death.

If there are any celebrities who haven't yet tweeted their sadness over Cilla, please report to Sincerity Services immediately #rushtogush

— Katie Hopkins (@KTHopkins) August 2, 2015

I understand people love Cilla. But the race to proclaim this on Twitter is a curious thing. https://t.co/S8q8NL0rn1

— Katie Hopkins (@KTHopkins) August 2, 2015

(Ian West/PA)

Lord Sugar then retweeted the comments, making it VERY clear what he thought of them.

.@KTHopkins RT: understand people love Cilla. But the race to proclaim this on Twitter is a curious thing……why don't you shut up idiot!

— Lord Sugar (@Lord_Sugar) August 2, 2015

Katie, who made her name on Lord Sugar’s TV show The Apprentice, had clearly heard worse and sent a further cheeky reply.

Calm down @Lord_Sugar, you know you love your favourite Apprentice really …https://t.co/W9qawzeS9K

— Katie Hopkins (@KTHopkins) August 2, 2015

But Lord Sugar was having none of it.

Enough with the controversy BS you need to know where to draw the line . This was too far https://t.co/ysJeLAWPVJ

— Lord Sugar (@Lord_Sugar) August 2, 2015

Cilla, who lived in Estepona on the Costa del Sol, died aged 72.

The singer and TV entertainer – who suffered from hearing problems and arthritis – reportedly died overnight after flying to Spain with her son Robert.

Her publicist Nick Fiveash said in a brief statement: “It is with deep sorrow that I confirm today the passing of singer and TV personality Cilla Black.

“Details of her death will be announced following the coroner’s report. Her family have asked for their privacy to be respected at this time.”

A host of stars took to Twitter to pay tribute to Cilla, among them Sheridan Smith, who recently played her in an ITV biopic.

I'm absolutely devastated to hear the tragic n #ltw pic.twitter.com/r4UJndo2dH

— Sheridan Smith (@Sheridansmith1) August 2, 2015