'Apprentice' makers deny axe report

Makers of the 'Apprentice' have denied reports that the Bill Cullen-fronted show is to be axed after four years.

"Contrary to media reports The Apprentice is one of the strongest performing shows in Irish TV and continues to be," said Larry Bass of production company Screentime Shinawil, which makes the show aired on TV3.

Today's Irish Daily Mirror in a front-page report had claimed the show faced the chop due to "the poor standard of contestants".

The report quoted an insider as saying that the show, which also stars Jackie Lavin and Brian Purcell as Cullen's no-nonsense aides, had "wrung dry" the pool of talent available in Ireland.

However Mr Bass said he was "shocked and disappointed" at the report, and said the company was in talks with format owner Mark Burnett productions to expand the Apprentice brand in Ireland.

Mr Bass said the article was "completely incorrect and unsubstantiated" and damaged his company's reputation.

Officials at TV3 confirmed that a further series of the show is in the pipeline and said today's story was "misleading".

" No contact was made by the newspaper with TV3 regarding the story," a TV3 statement said.

'The Apprentice' airs on TV3 at 9pm on Monday evenings.