Karren Brady, 52, has thrown her support behind The Apprentice finalist Kathryn Burn, 29, who said viewers “sexualised” her for sharing scantily clad photographs on Instagram. Kathryn, who came second to Harpreet Kaur in Thursday’s tense finale, said “she is allowed” to be glamorous and a successful businesswoman at the same time.

Kathryn fumed: “It was like, ‘How dare she be in a bikini and be a businesswoman’.

“People were saying that because we wore bikinis, our business plans must be s**t.

“But I’m allowed to do that as well as work hard and own a business.

“They sexualised us,” she told The Sun.

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After seeing Kathryn in action throughout this year’s series as Lord Alan Sugar’s aide, Karren said it was “annoying” that Kathryn’s skills were being overshadowed by “outdated” attitudes.

Writing in her column for the aforementioned publication, Karren said both Kathryn and Harpreet “did brilliantly” to make it to The Apprentice final and that they “both proved themselves as true businesswomen”.

She continued: “As [Kathryn] rightly pointed out, she is allowed to celebrate her glamorous side as well as working hard and owning a company.

“But Kathryn says some viewers seem to have the opinion that she can’t pose in a bikini and be a businesswoman, as if it’s simply not possible to have both brains and beauty. In fact, the list of women who have both is endless.

When asked whether she felt the need to push the ladies’ confidence in the boardroom, Karren replied: “The one thing they don’t lack on The Apprentice is confidence and whether that’s sometimes misplaced, that’s another question altogether.

“I think the women on The Apprentice this year have done remarkable and are doing very well.”

Karren joined the show in 2009 as a replacement for Margaret Mountford.

She has sat alongside tough interviewer Claude Littner as well as former winner Tim Campbell when Claude was unable to take part after a cycling injury.

The business magnate opened up about the relationship she has with her colleagues behind the scenes.

She said: “It’s a great show to be part of and we all get on really well.

“You know, in lots of television shows people don’t get on particularly well and, in our house, we get on very well, we’re very supportive of each other’s companies.

“You look back at the previous winners, they employ hundreds of people, have successful businesses, have independence and realise their dream of being a business owner.

“We believe in the show and what we’re trying to do.”