'The Apprentice' contestant questioned over construction tax probe

Lorraine Tighe, a contestant in the new series of BBC TV show The Apprentice, has been questioned by Revenue and Customs officials as part of an investigation into an alleged £8m fraud at her father's construction company, it has been revealed.

The Sun reported that a European arrest warrant was in force for Jim Tighe, 53, who has left his Kent home for Ireland after his construction businesses collapsed.

Tighe is alleged not to have paid tax or VAT on more than £47m in receipts on building projects between 2004 and 2006. He owned a string of companies including AJ Connell and Havendrive, both of which have been wound up.

His daughter worked as a contracts manager for one of the companies, Barnhorn Construction, for three years.

Barnhorn was taken over by liquidators and wound up in July 2004.

Lorraine Tighe told the paper that she could not comment due to a clause in her Apprentice contract. Her father also declined to comment.

An Apprentice spokesman said: "As part of the selection process the producers arrange police checks on all candidates. No issues were uncovered at this stage."