Former 'Apprentice' Star Blames Working From Home for Health Issues

Saira Khan, a participant in the inaugural season of the BBC's "The Apprentice," has voiced concerns that the widespread adoption of working from home (WFH) has detrimental effects on individuals' drive and physical well-being. Khan, 56, shared that she sustained a slipped disc due to prolonged periods of inactivity while working remotely.

"I got a slipped disc because I went from going to an office and doing that little commute, to sitting at home in front of a computer," Khan stated at the Employee Network Awards 2026 in London. She described her frustration with virtual meetings and the lack of in-person interaction, suggesting that extended periods of sedentary work can lead to compressed discs and other health issues such as hunching and eye strain, in addition to social isolation.

The trend of working from home surged during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Khan, who is also the founder of a skincare brand and a former panelist on "Loose Women," emphasized the importance of the office environment for professional development. "I learned all my skills in an office," she said. "If you're a young person working from home, what do you know apart from what you're seeing of your colleagues? I miss that element of getting us all together. We should be going back to the office."

Her comments come amid ongoing debates about return-to-office policies. Barclays employees, for instance, recently protested after the bank increased its requirement for in-office work from two to three days a week.

In separate news from the event, writer Imogen Lycett Green, 60, married documentary filmmaker Nick Broomfield, 78. The couple met at a railway station in East Sussex. Actress Fiona Shaw, 68, expressed regret over not having children, citing societal norms and professional focus in Ireland as reasons for not pursuing motherhood earlier in her life. Comedian Anil Bhoyrul recounted a parenting experiment where his children were sent to school in Bolivia, a plan he now advises against. Singer and model Leah Weller, daughter of Paul Weller, celebrated her 35th birthday with a dramatic display involving alcohol and a lit candle. Meanwhile, actor Josh O'Connor performed in "Golden Boy" at the Almeida Theatre in London with a head bandage, which was noted as not being part of the production, a situation potentially linked to his known clumsiness, including an incident with an Emmy award.