Biography: James McQuillan

James McQuillan from Surrey, is aged thirty two, and has an MA Hons in Economics. His career is stated to be Senior Commercial Manager and is described as a "family man" meaning married with kids.

We don't yet know which company he works for, but a former colleague James Little, mentions that he worked with James McQuillan 8 years ago when James McQuillan was head of buying at One.Tel.  

James McQuillan is described as a former child chess champion, and indeed the word is that when he was 9 years old he was ranked 21st in the UK's league of young chess players (as yet unverified). Chess websites are furiously aruing and debating whether he really was a chess champion and are scouring all the records for evidence as we speak. He also loves football and participates as a part time referee.  According to the Sun, as a hard-up student, heused to be a strip club bouncer f several clubs in Edinburgh

He wasn't memorable in the first episode of the series (blink and you would have missed him), but perhaps that's not a bad thing. Often winners of shows such as The Apprentice keep their heads down in the first few weeks to avoid being drawn into the boardroom for an early firing.

We also know according to reports in the press, that he has avoided being called up as team leader in episode two - which means that if he can continue to keep a low profile, he is through to the next round.

Update 22nd April 2009 James had a shaky episode two, when he got brought into the boardroom and began yapping away for England, irritating Sir Alan. He was team leader in episode three, and his team lost again - but James was saved from being sacked by Margaret Mountford, one of Sir Alan's observers, who told Sir Alan that James was actually calmer and a good manager away from the boardroom. Since then he has gone from strength to strength coming up with very good ideas, especially in episode five. 

Update 20th May 2009. James was team leader for the second time this series and again he lost. while he survived this espisode, his card is definitely marked, and he will probably get fired at the next opportunity Sir Alan gets. 

Update 3rd June 2009 James got fired in the interview episode. He wasn't great at being interrogated and his light-hearted manner clearly killed his chances.