APPRENTICE hopeful Ricky Martin, pictured from Hampshire narrowly escaped being fired by Lord Alan Sugar last night after his team flopped.

In episode three, the 26-year-old, a professional wrestler from Stubbington, was part of a team tasked with producing and selling condiments.

But his team, Phoenix, was plunged into hot water after an overcooked batch of their Mediterranean table sauce forced the group to hike their sale prices.

They then sold only half as many as the opposing team.

He was brought back into the boardroom by project Manager Katie Wright.

But it was Ricky’s teammate Micheal Copp, 22, from Essex, who got the chop after for his lacklustre performance he blamed on gastric flu.

After finding himself on the receiving end of a boardroom attack from Ricky, Copp warned future contestants to be vigilant.

“You need to get your point across and make sure to drum it home, and be wary of people in there who can dress things