The Apprentice returns next week with a record 18 contestants who will be fighting to win the series and Lord Sugar's £250,000 business investment
Lord Sugar will have to decide between 18 new candidates in the new series of The Apprentice, when it returns to BBC1 on Thursday, October 6.
Meet the nine men and nine women hoping to win his business investment:
Alana Spencer (above)
Age: 24
Occupation: Cake company owner
Lives: Ceredigion, Wales
Key information: Alana is the owner of a baking company and describes herself as determined, creative and charming. She started her first business – a chocolate company – at 17 before moving on to selling cakes.
Top quote: “I am incredibly hard-working, driven and I’ll stop at nothing to get what I want.”
Aleksandra King
Age: 38
Occupation: Business consultancy owner
Lives: London
Key information: Fluent in seven languages, Aleksandra also describes herself as altruistic and extremely confident, while she also believes she has a gift for spotting a good business opportunity and can sell to anyone.
Top quote: “Like the Tasmanian devil in the famous cartoon, I will torpedo my way through to the win.”
Courtney Wood
Age: 29
Occupation: Novelty gift company owner
Lives: Essex
Key information: Courtney designs and creates novelty gifts which he supplies to national and international retailers and describes himself as fun with a positive attitude. He believes his confidence is one of his strongest attributes.
Top quote: “How would I describe myself in one sentence? I’ll give you one word: awesome.”
Dillon St Paul
Age: 37
Occupation: Art Director, fashion magazine
Lives: Dublin, Ireland
Key information: Dillon describes himself as talented, kind, very funny and super-creative. He intends to be 'Machiavellian' about tasks and will tell white lies if he needs to.
Top quote: “Sometimes batting the eyelashes can get you a lot in business. Hence, the mascara comes in handy – so they can see those lashes.”
Frances Bishop
Age: 25
Occupation: Children’s clothing company owner
Lives: Doncaster
Key information: Frances describes herself as talkative with a feisty personality, which she believes is what has got her so far in the business world. She wants to impress Lord Sugar with her strong, positive outlook.
Top quote: “I’m a pocket rocket. I’m quite fiery and live by the rule ‘kill them with kindness’.”
Grainne McCoy
Age: 31
Occupation: Make-up studio owner
Lives: Northern Ireland
Key information: With her makeup business, Grainne works throughout the country on projects from film sets to fashion shows. She says her hunger and passion push her to succeed and she puts maximum effort into everything she does.
Top quote: “I need guidance and a little bit of mentoring to help me make that first million.”
JD O’Brien
Age: 37
Occupation: Beachwear company owner
Lives: London
Key information: JD believes he can make the best of any situation while still being a 'good bloke'. He says he is going to put in the hard work and aims to make no mistakes along the way.
Top quote: “I won’t suffer fools. I will get upset by other candidates who don’t know their arse from their elbow.”
Jessica Cunningham
Age: 29
Occupation: Online fashion entrepreneur
Lives: Derbyshire
Key information: Jessica is the operations director for a PR and marketing agency as well as her online fashion business. She believes her positive, helpful attitude will propel her through tasks. She wants to get close to the other candidates to find out how they operate, analyse their strengths and weaknesses and attempt to use them to her advantage.
Top quote: “A motto I live by is: There is no competition if you’re already winning.”
Karthik Nagesan
Age: 33
Occupation: IT consultancy owner
Lives: Northamptonshire
Key information: Karthik says his friends would describe him as a born leader who takes charge and blazes a trail. He cites his role model as Alexander the Great because he is a master strategist and a brilliant tactician.
Top quote: “If I wanted to be like everyone else, I’d have waxed my monobrow.”
Michelle Niziol
Age: 35
Occupation: Property consultancy owner
Lives: Oxfordshire
Key information: Michelle founded and owns three companies in mortgages, property and lettings and describes herself as straight-talking, passionate and honest, but admits that she can sometimes be bossy and impatient.
Top quote: “I work 15 to 17 hours every day. 100%, I’m a workaholic.”
Mukai Noiri
Age: 36
Occupation: Digital marketing manager in fashion
Lives: London
Key information: Mukai has lived in six countries across three continents and recently gave up his position as a senior communications manager to focus on his business idea. He believes his charm is one of his strongest qualities, but is also a straight-talker.
Top quote: “I feel sorry for Lord Sugar because previous applicants have been weak.”
Natalie Hughes
Age: 30
Occupation: Hair and beauty salon owner
Lives: Glasgow
Key information: Natalie owns and runs two beauty and clothing businesses and considers her best quality to be her quick thinking, but she is also a persuasive talker who insists that nothing embarrasses her.
Top quote: “I started at a young age, I’m a hustler, I’ve got the hustler’s ambition.”
Oliver Nohl-Oser
Age: 33
Occupation: Food distribution business owner
Lives: Wiltshire
Key information: Oliver is the founder and director of a sausage manufacturer which supplies supermarkets both in the UK and internationally. He believes his greatest business skills lie in his marketing ability and his powers of persuasion.
Top quote: “Sometimes I feel like James Bond when I’m in my suit.”
Paul Sullivan
Age: 38
Occupation: Marketing agency owner
Lives: Chigwell, Essex
Key information: Paul is the director and owner of a marketing company that specialises in finance, technology, construction and property. He is a self-proclaimed charmer but doesn’t think he needs a unique selling point to win; consistency and sincerity will put him ahead, he says.
Top quote: “I’ll play the team when I need to be part of the team, but I’m here to win; I’m not here to make up the numbers.”
Rebecca Jeffery
Age: 31
Occupation: Design and marketing agency owner
Lives: Greater Manchester
Key information: Rebecca works as both the account manager and creative director for a marketing and design business. She prides herself on being relentless and possessing an infectious enthusiasm but admits that numbers and calculations are a weakness for her.
Top quote: “People often foolishly mistake my enthusiasm for silliness or positivity for naivety. I’m proof that you can get things done without whingeing.”
Samuel Boateng
Age: 27
Occupation: Sales manager for a major car brand
Lives: London
Key information: Samuel is responsible for managing and generating new business for more than 700 businesses across London. He regards his ability in developing new and innovative ideas to be his strongest business skill, and says he has excellent public speaking abilities.
Top quote: “My creativity, my passion, my charm and my likeability all roll into one, creating one perfect guy.”
Sofiane Khelfa
Age: 32
Occupation: Technology senior sales executive
Lives: Essex
Key information: Sofiane works in a high-end retail store, negotiating technology sales with high profile clients and says he has the ability to adapt, deliver and build lasting relationships with people in business. He says his friends might call him overzealous, but he believes when he gets down to business, his skills and personality will shine.
Top quote: “The best survivors in the world are the people who adapt, and I’m the best at adapting. I’m like a chameleon. I adapt to anything, anywhere, anytime.”
Trishna Thakrar
Age: 28
Occupation: Recruitment agent in IT
Lives: London
Key information: A former semi-professional football player, Trishna now works for a large IT company providing internal recruitment services. She says her friends would describe her as engaging and funny and believes her best business skill lies in her charm, but that her sensitivity could be her downfall as, if you cross her, she will not hold back.
Top quote: “My only tactic is to be myself; this alone will make sure I win.”
