Stars of hit TV show The Apprentice and the King of Rock and Roll Elvis have been battling it out in Bradford’s charity shops.

Ellie Reed, of Baildon, and fellow Apprentice Clare Young swapped the boardroom for the counter at Darley Street’s Marie Curie Cancer Care charity shop challenging each other in a best-dressed mannequin contest to help draw in customers.

The pair were ‘hired’ by Approach PR company who took over the charity shop for the day as part of the Be Involved “Be Boutique” challenge.

Ellie, who won her own fight against cervical cancer, won the first round of the window dressing contest with her smart red and black boardroom look but Clare argued her mannequin was better despite the customer vote because she put more garments on it, therefore increasing its market value.

Ellie said: “I’m a cancer survivor so I’m glad to be here to help. My husband’s dad, who had motor neurone disease, was cared for at the Marie Curie Hospice and they made it as good an experience for our family as they could there. The staff were amazing. My two grandmas also died from cancer.

“Supporting charities is something we should all do. I give my unwanted clothes away to charity. I’ve got to admit I haven’t bought much from charity shops until now but I’m going to change that now that I’ve been really impressed with what I’ve seen.”

In all, four organisations took up the charity challenge being organised by Bradford Chamber of Commerce – its members were at the Oxfam store.

Meanwhile in Ivegate Elvis Presley tribute act Mark Memphis was ‘hired’ by social landlord Incommunities to help it drum up trade at the Cancer Research UK shop.

Sarah Knight, whose usual day job is as a housing officer for Incommunities, said “It’s a real learning curve but we’ve had brilliant fun and had lots of customers in. Elvis has been charming lots of ladies. It’s been buzzing.”

  • Read more in Friday’s T&A