How The Apprentice creator Mark Burnett went from east London to Donald Trump's inner circle (via the Falklands) - as British TV producer who kickstarted the incoming president's reality career is chosen as his special envoy to the UK
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Donald Trump's new choice of special envoy to the UK is making a return of sorts to his roots - having grown up in east London before fighting for Britain in the Falklands. TV producer Mark Burnett is the son of parents who both worked in motor firm Ford's factory in Dagenham, before he signed up as a paratrooper serving not only in the 1982 conflict against Argentina but also in Northern Ireland.
![[Mark Burnett, brought up in Dagenham in east London, has become one of America's most successful TV producers - he is pictured with his third wife, Irish actress Roma Downey]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/22/10/93397613-14218493-image-a-17_1734861827984.jpg)
Yet it was after a move to California that Mr Burnett really made his name and fortune as the pioneer behind such hit shows as Survivor and The Apprentice. And his hiring of Donald Trump as the power-brandishing frontman of that latter series is said to have helped propel the tycoon towards the US presidency.
![[Donald Trump, pictured with producer Mark Burnett, starred in 14 seasons of NBC show The Apprentice between 2004 and 2015 - before being elected US president the following year]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/22/10/93397603-14218493-image-m-19_1734861876003.jpg)
Mr Burnett, 64, has described himself as 'Robin' to the US president-elect's 'Batman' - and also called Mr Trump his 'soulmate' after 14 The Apprentice seasons together, in what he called 'one of the greatest relationships of my life'. And Mr Trump, who defeated Democrat candidate Kamala Harris in the November election and is preparing for his second term in the White House after four years away, has returned the praise for Mr Burnett in his new announcement this weekend.
![[Mark Burnett, pictured at a movie screening in Beverly Hills, California in April 2018, moved to the US in 1982 after serving in the British Army including fighting in the Falklands War]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/22/10/93396681-14218493-image-m-21_1734861947129.jpg)
Mr Trump posted on social media platform Truth Social, saying: 'It is my great honour to appoint Mark Burnett as the Special Envoy to the United Kingdom. 'With a distinguished career in television production and business, Mark brings a unique blend of diplomatic acumen and international recognition to this important role.
![[Mark Burnett (left) has described himself as 'Robin' to Donald Trump's (right) 'Batman']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/22/10/93396655-14218493-image-a-22_1734862000020.jpg)
