A FORMER apprentice star has been blasted by viewers for saying people from Brighton “smell” during an appearance on a popular dating show.

Ryan-Mark Parsons made the comment while on a date with Luke from Worthing during Tuesday’s episode of E4 show Celeb’s Go Dating.

Luke told Ryan-Mark, who shot to fame on the 2019 series of the Apprentice, that he had travelled from Brighton to London for the date.

Ryan-Mark said: “I found that when I went to Brighton everyone stunk.”

After the date, life coach Anna Williamson, who provides the celebrities with dating advice during the show, told Ryan-Mark his comments were “rude, crude and vulgar.”

She told him: “You told him that where he lives and where he comes from that the people who live there smell.”

To which Ryan-Mark replied: “Well, they do.”

Viewers were quick to take to social media to defend the city and criticise Ryan-Mark.

Fellow Apprentice star Thomas Skinner, who stared alongside Ryan-Mark on The Apprentice, said: “Ryan Mark you little posh t***. I LOVE Brighton.”

One Twitter user said: “Wow Ryan-Mark. Before you go slamming any doors, you might want to check yourself.

“There is a fine line between being and being totally snide. You said all people from Brighton stink, what were you expecting? A Medal?!”

Celebs Go Dating, which started in 2016, sees matchmaker Paul Carrick Brunson and life coach Anna attempt to match stars with members of the public.

The pair will pick apart the celebrities’ dating histories and give tips on romance.

During the pandemic, Celebs Go Dating returned with a socially distanced spin-off, with famous singletons dating from their homes, or outdoors while following social-distancing guidelines.

Dating expert Anna said she was “so excited” to restart the dating agency.

She said: “We are really intrigued to see what dating looks like for the celebs now the world is opening back up and seeing how our dates get on.”

Paul, the programme’s “love doctor”, added: “I can’t wait to throw the agency doors back wide open.

“This series will be an exciting experiment to see how our celebs deal with dating now the world is returning to a more normal way of life.

“This series line-up is very eclectic, and I can’t wait to get stuck right in with helping them find love.”

Celebs Go Dating is produced by Lime Pictures and airs on E4 in 2022.

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