The Apprentice’s Karren Brady steps in to task to help settle emotional team leader

THE Apprentice's Karren Brady was forced to intervene on Thursday night's disastrous ad episode - not just to criticise but also lend a helping hand.

Lord Sugar's usually stern assessor showed her caring side as she helped calm down team leader Jessica Cunningham, 29, as she looked set to go into a complete meltdown.

When the girls' team met with a professional photographer to help them create pictures for bus shelter posters and interactive displays for their 'Japanese' jeans that Jessica completely unravelled.

The groups were challenged this week to market a pair of Japanese made jeans – including a campaign, the packaging, and pitch to a leading board of experts.

However, cracks soon began to emerge across both teams as they both made major mistakes in their bid for this week’s win.

Jessica Cunningham – who The Sun revealed had just finished working on a horror movie where she’s attacked by a clown – told the photographer that they couldn't find the jeans.

This prompted Karren to say in bemusement: "What do you mean you can't find the jeans?"

Jessica revealed that they had put the jeans down in the last location and hadn't picked them back up again.

Karren then pointedly remarked: "So you're doing photographs for your jean campaign without your jeans?"

At which point Jessica realised that she had royally mucked up and promptly choked up as she swallowed and said "Right".

Jessica glanced up as she willed herself not to cry. When she couldn't help the tears she mumbled, "I'm so sorry."

Karren tried to pull her back to her senses, realising that Jessica was about to have a meltdown.

Lord Sugar's assistant then put a hand on her arm and told her to "take a breath and calm yourself down".

She added: "We'll all be here when you're ready."

Jessica then ducked outside for some fresh air as she gathered her thoughts.

Inside her teammates weren't quite so comforting.

IT consultant Trishna Thakrar, 28, remarked: "Right guys, let's try and pull this together, let's try and talk while she's not here. We can't rely on her, yeah?"

And neither was former The Apprentice contestant Luisa Zissman, who blasted Jessica for her tearful outburst and claimed that businesswomen should never show weakness.

Surprisingly Jessica wasn't fired for her major mistakes on the task.

Instead, team member Natalie Hughes, 30, had the finger pointed at her after she claimed that she was vital to the team because she had 'done the make-up and cleaning'.

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