Sacked Apprentice star Jonny Heaver reveals terror over facial scarring backlash – and new career away from BBC show
JONNY Heaver has revealed his terror of appearing on The Apprentice over his facial scars - after being praised by fans.
The entrepreneur became the latest candidate to be axed from the BBC business show this week.
Viewers watched as he was fired by Lord Sugar and sent packing from the boardroom after his team failed to win the latest task, set in Turkey.
Following his exit, Jonny has admitted he was nervous about potential backlash about his facial scars from viewers when he signed up to The Apprentice.
The xx business owner was born with a melanocytic nevus - which is also known as a birthmark - covering half of his face.
With doctors concerned it could be cancerous, he underwent surgery when he was younger to have the mark removed, which left him with scarring.
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Speaking about his fears before signing up to The Apprentice, Jonny exclusively told The Sun: "It did make me a little bit nervous, but obviously I expected it.
"I was completely terrified about it, but obviously there was a part of me that was nervous in case the hate messages were really severe.
"But I have been so lucky with the public support. Obviously I know if you are searching for something you will find a hater, of course you will.
"But actually the public really got behind me and I'm just so, so grateful. I really feel like I've been hugely supportive."
Jonny added: "So I feel incredibly lucky and incredibly blessed and incredibly relieved about that public support I've had."
With his newfound popularity, Jonny now plans to raise awareness of his condition alongside growing his company Achiever Tutoring.
He explained: "I really want to work closer with charities which, you know, are advocates for facial differences."
Changing Faces - a charity that advocates for individuals with visible to the face and body - have been in Jonny's DMs.
He said: "I haven't quite been able to get through them all. But yeah, obviously Changing Faces is a massive one.
"I would love to get involved with them as well. And there's a lot of smaller charities as well who've been in touch who I really look forward to working with
The Apprentice biggest moments
THE Apprentice has been a fan favourite ever since it burst onto the box in 2005.
Here we take a look at five of the biggest moments over the years on the hit BBC One show.
Tim Campbell - Former London Underground transport manager Tim Campbell won the first series of the reality show in 2005. He is now one of Lord Sugar's aides on the show.
Sarah Lynn and James White - For the first and only time in the show's history, both finalists were crowned winners in 2017.
Amy Anzel - Season 16's fired candidate Amy Anzel was BANNED from the final celebration show, after a tit-for-tat exchange over Lord Sugar’s mocking tweets.
Michelle Dewberry - Telecoms consultant Michelle Dewberry won the second series of the show in 2006. However, after winning a six-figure job with Lord Sugar she lasted just four months before she sensationally quit.
Selena Waterman-Smith - We’re used to tensions running high in the boardroom, but in 2015 a disagreement between two candidates spilled over – for the first time - into a physical bust-up. Events manager Selina Waterman-Smith was given a verbal warning by show bosses for her role in an off-camera scrap with Charleine Wain.