'Evil' Morgan wins US Apprentice

Former tabloid editor Piers Morgan has won the US version of Celebrity Apprentice, beating former boxing star Lennox Lewis and singer Trace Adkins.

Morgan, who is also a judge on America's Got Talent, won the contest after raising $500,000 (£250,000) more than the other contestants combined.

In the final boardroom session the 42-year-old described himself as an "evil, obnoxious, disgusting Brit".

X Factor judge Simon Cowell was one of many pals who donated cash to Morgan.

'Vicious guy'

Cowell paid $100,000 (£50,000) for a shopping trip with Ivanka Trump, whose father Donald hosts the show, on the show's final task - a charity auction.

The Duchess of York helped Morgan out by offering an afternoon tea date with herself as a prize.

As he announced the winner, Trump described Morgan as "a vicious guy".

"You did an amazing job and you beat the hell out of everybody. And you won by far more than anybody"
Donald Trump

He added: "You're tough, you're smart, you're probably brilliant, I'm not sure. You're certainly not diplomatic.

"But you did an amazing job and you beat the hell out of everybody. And you won by far more than anybody."

Morgan revealed he had considered quitting the show after an argument with Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth, a star of the US version of The Apprentice, got personal.

Despite that he said he "nothing but fond memories" of the series.

"I think I've made some friends for life," he added.

Morgan signed up to the show after US producers spotted him in Comic Relief does the Apprentice last year - in which he was the only contestant to be fired.

Unlike the UK version, however, America's Celebrity Apprentice was a full series, running over two months.

After being "hired", Morgan won $250,000 (£125,000) for his chosen charity.

Morgan became the youngest newspaper editor in Britain when he took charge of News of the World at 28.

But in 2004, he was fired as editor of the Daily Mirror after he allowed publication of what appeared to be pictures of Iraqi prisoners being abused by British army personnel. The photos were later revealed to be fakes.