'The Apprentice' series 16 candidates revealed including a former Irish rugby pro, an RAF instructor, and more

The Apprentice 2022 - the sixteen new contestants with Lord Alan Sugar
The Apprentice 2022 - the sixteen new contestants are all keen to impress Lord Alan Sugar. (Image credit: BBC/Boundless/Ray Burmiston)

The Apprentice returns this week for another round of grueling business challenges, and the BBC has finally revealed the 16 entrepreneurs who are set to take part in the latest series. 

Once again, these ambitious new professionals will all be vying for the chance to secure a life-changing £250,000 investment in their business from Lord Alan Sugar.

As ever, the entrepreneurs come from a range of different business backgrounds, including everything from sales and marketing to the world of professional rugby and the RAF! 

Here are just a few of the hopefuls looking to become Lord Sugar's latest business partner in The Apprentice 2022. Will any of them be our winners?

Conor Gilsenan

Conor Gilsenan for The Apprentice 2022

Conor Gilsenan is a former rugby star. (Image credit: BBC)

Conor is a 28-year-old sales executive, but you might also recognize him from the rugby pitch. 

He was a member of the Ireland U18 and U20 rugby union teams and was part of the London Irish squad until he retired for medical reasons in August 2020.

He says "I'm going to be the corporate panther in the boardroom, I'm going to get it done, and I'm going to be Lord Sugar's perfect business partner."

Sophie Wilding

Sophie Wilding for The Apprentice 2022

Sophie Wilding has a boutique cocktail bar. (Image credit: BBC)

32-year-old hospitality business owner Sophie has big renovations plans for her boutique cocktail bar in Cheltenham. 

Sophie describes herself as magical and enchanting, has witch school qualifications under her belt, and is determined to make her mark in the competition, stating: "Failure is not an option, winning is part of my DNA".

Aaron Willis

Aaron Willis for The Apprentice 2022

Aaron is a RAF Flight Operations Instructor. (Image credit: BBC)

Aaron is a 38-year-old RAF Flight Operations Instructor who has plans to start his own security business. He's served in the RAF for 12 years and has previously worked as a milkman, butcher and horseman; now, he's a salesman who is "hungry for success".

Aaron said "My strongest point is that I can sell, to anybody and I think that's the reason why my business will be a success, because people will buy from me."

Kathryn Burn

Kathryn Burn for The Apprentice 2022.

Kathryn owns an online pyjama business. (Image credit: BBC)

29-year-old Kathryn is a business owner from Swindon. She's worked in a range of jobs including being a mortgage advisor and events manager but now has big plans for her online pyjama business. 

She believes her PJs will one day be "worn by everyone" and has described herself as ambitious, kind and often "savage". Kathryn has made it clear she's put herself forward to win, and isn't in The Apprentice to make friends.

Harry Mahmood

Harry Mahmood for The Apprentice 2022

Harry plans to expand his bath bomb business.  (Image credit: BBC)

Harry is a 35-year-old regional operations manager from the West Midlands who has entered The Apprentice to try and secure investment to grow his bath bomb business and hopes to work with Lord Sugar to become "the bad boys of the bath bomb world together".

To find out more about the other contestants in the new series, see our guide to The  Apprentice 2022

The Apprentice series 16 starts at 9 pm on Thursday, Jan. 6 on BBC1 and BBC iPlayer. 

For more information on all the latest shows, check out our TV Guide.

Martin Shore
Staff Writer at WhatToWatch.com

Martin is a Staff Writer with WhatToWatch.com, where he produces a variety of articles focused on the latest and greatest films and TV shows. 

Some of his favorite shows are What We Do In The Shadows, Bridgerton, Gangs of London, The Witcher, Doctor Who, and Ghosts. When he’s not watching TV or at the movies, Martin’s probably still in front of a screen playing the latest video games, reading, or watching the NFL.