HE'S the only gay in the boardroom-out of the closet and determined to go straight. . . to the top!

Apprentice Howard Ebison, who captained the boys' team to victory in the opening episode, is in a long-term relationship with a hunky older MAN, the News of the World can reveal.

The supremely confident wannabe business champ is the first openly homosexual bloke to compete on the hit BBC1 reality show.

Insiders insist picky boss Sir Alan Sugar WAS aware of it and had NO PROBLEM with it.

A source on the show revealed: "Howard didn't ever hide his sexuality.

"He's out but he doesn't think it should define him, especially in a business sense. He doesn't think it will stop him making any less money for Sir Alan in the future."

The 24-year-old retail business manager from Derby led the men's team to a win in the car washing task on the first show of the new series.

Dancing

And behind the scenes at the plush penthouse where contestants stay he started to confide in his fellow candidates about his personal life.

Our insider added: "Howard told the younger female contestants first because he felt more comfortable talking to them about it.

"They were all completely fine with it and encouraged him to tell everyone. Eventually he opened up about it and nobody minded in the slightest.

"And because they then spoke about it in front of Sir Alan's watchdog sidekicks Nick and Margaret the information got fed back to the boardroom boss.

"But It didn't bother him one bit, he's not interested in that sort of personal background stuff."

Our exclusive pictures show Howard-who has also won awards for his dancing prowess-out partying with his boyfriend Brett Bennett, a fellow businessman who is ten years his senior.

The pair met three years ago through a friend and are said to be in a faithful, happy relationship.

A pal disclosed: "They're a very solid couple and completely in love. They're very much into each other and often go out and about in Derby. They'd seen each other out on the local scene and had been instantly attracted to each other.

"But they properly hit it off when they got together at a friend's party.

"It's a completely normal, loving relationship. They love their life and are very happy together.

"All of Howard's close friends and family know about his sexuality so he feels he hasn't anything to hide.

"But he's not some sort of gay activist who's going to be jumping up and down shouting about it. He doesn't feel he has to be. He's open about it all and liberal.

"But it's just part of his life, not a lifestyle."

Howard's sex preference is unlikely to affect his chances of becoming Sir Alan's next £100,000 Apprentice.

The fiercest contender in the show's history, runner-up Ruth Badger, was also its first lesbian star.

We told how the boardroom pitbull's marriage broke down after her husband Ian discovered a string of text messages from two girl lovers.

Howard, who was born in Surrey, is an area manager in charge of ten pubs. He's also a part- qualified accountant with an honours degree in maths and business studies.

But his previous jobs include a paper round which he despised and working at the local fish and chip shop.

He described himself to the show's producers as "family orientated" with ambitions to further his career.

Service

One day he plans to launch his own consultancy firm specialising in customer service.

"I am a credible businessman who wants to go far," he said with total self-belief.

"I'm incredibly ambitious. If I don't go far down this route I shall go far down another route."

Got an Apprentice story? Call 0207 782 1001, email newsdesk@notw.co.uk or text 63300

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