The Apprentice: Meet the new candidates looking to impress Lord Sugar
One contestant claims his first word as a baby was ‘profit’
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
After a two-year hiatus, one of the UK’s most chaotic competition series,The Apprentice, is back.
Lord Alan Sugar is returning to point at people and shout “You’re fired!” and deliver iconic put-downs such as: “Fair? The only fair you’re gonna get is your bloody train fare home.”
And a whole new set of candidates will be stepping over one another to impress him.
Meet all 16 of them below.
Aaron Willis
The 38-year-old flight operations instructor from Chorley, Lancashire served in the RAF for 12 years and is now setting out to start his own security business.
His other previous jobs include work as a milkman, horseman and a butcher.
He is apparently “hungry for success” and at a stage now where he “can’t let anyone stand in his way”.
Akeem Bundu-Kamara
The 29-year-old Londoner is a financial strategy manager who considers himself a people’s person who loves being around others. He’s also a “numbers guy” who will take part in the competition from a “calculated point of view”.
Akshay Thakrar
The 28-year-old digital marketing agency owner from London believes sleeping is a “waste of time”.
He claims his first word as a baby was “profit”.
Thakrar speaks seven languages and he says his friends call him AK47 because he’s “a killer salesperson”.
Alex Short
The 27-year-old owner of a commercial cleaning company from Hertford says he is “not going to stop” until he gets where he wants to go.
Short says: “I would compare myself to a Ferrari, shiny on the outside but under the bonnet, there is a lot of fire and I’m coming for you.”
Amy Anzel
The 48-year-old beauty brand owner from London has previously worked in “sales, showbiz and jingles”.
She says: “I can be nice when I need to be, but when I unfortunately have to be a bitch, I will…”
Brittany Carter
The 25-year-old front of house hotel manager from Bristol is looking for Lord Sugar’s help in launching her business idea for the first alcoholic protein drink.
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
She says: “My motto for life is, ‘Always look on the bright side and be grateful for everything.’ Every day when I wake up, I write 10 things that I am grateful for and when I go to sleep, I reflect on 5 things I am grateful for from that day.”
Conor Gilsenan
The 28-year-old sales executive and former pro rugby player is from London. He says he is“hyper-motivated by money” and describes himself as a “corporate panther”.
His business idea consists of a fleet of food and beverage vendors targeted at music and sports events.
Francesca Kennedy Wallbank
The 26-year-old owner of a sustainability company is from Surrey.
She is an eco-conscious, mathematics graduate who comes from a line of successful entrepreneurs.
Wallbank says: “I’ve never lost anything, I always win.”
Harry Mahmood
The 35-year-old regional operations manager from the West Midlands says he is ispired by the kindness of his grandparents to help and support people.
He says he is “the Asian version of Lord Sugar” and he hopes they can work together to develop his bath bomb business and become “the bad boys of the bath bomb world together.”
Harpreet Kaur
The 30-year-old from West Yorkshire owns a dessert parlour.
She plans to “level up” her successful, six-figure coffee and cakes business to become a leading brand in the UK.
Kaur says: “I’m definitely not in business to make friends, I’m here to make money, and I’m pretty sure Lord Sugar isn’t looking for a new mate.”
Kathryn Louise Burn
The 29-year-old from Swindon owns an online pyjama store, and she has high hopes for it.
She wants her pyjamas to be “worn by everyone”.
Burn describes herself as both “kind” and “savage”.
Navid Sole
The 27-year-old Londoner is a pharmacist and Nicki Minaj superfan.
He aspires to create a successful pharmacy business with Lord Sugar.
He says: “Nothing intimidates me because I just feel like I’m a strong character, strong person, strong mindset.”
Nick Showering
The 31-year-old finance manager from London wants make a name for himself in the drinks industry with his line of flavoured water.
He plans to beat his competitors by “killing them with kindess” and he says he is “an animal in the boardroom”.
Sophie Wilding
The 32-year-old from Cheltenham owns a boutique cocktail bar and describes herself as “magical and enchanting”.
Wilding feels winning is “in her DNA” and that her ideas are truly “out of the ordinary”.
Shama Amin
The 41-year-old is a children’s nursery owner from Bradford and a mother of five.
She says: “Being a lady of colour, wearing a headscarf as well, and the challenges that we face on a daily basis, I just want to be a living example for the Asian women and South Asian women out there.”
Stephanie Affleck
The 28-year-old from Kent owns an online children’s shop.
She says: “I’m an East London girl, and I’ve got that no nonsense sort of work ethic. I’ve got grit, determination – and I’m determined to be successful.”
The Apprentice series 16 begins on BBC One on 6 January 2022.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies