It looks as though Lord Alan Sugar has truly got his work cut out for him this year, with 18 brand new ‘Apprentice’ candidates having now been unveiled.
Last week, it was confirmed that the new series of the BBC One reality series would be hitting our screens for a 12th year next month, with the show now making the jump to Thursday nights.
With the boardroom doors almost ready to be thrown open once again, we’ve now been introduced to this year’s contestants, and you can rest assured, the one-liners are out in force yet again.
Yes, hearing the new ‘Apprentice’ candidates’ introductory statements (kind of like a ‘Real Housewives’ tagline but with a loose business twist) is undeniably one of the highlights of the TV calendar, and there are some real doozies among this year’s line-up...
Oliver Nohl-Oser
BBCBoundless
Age: 33
Profession: Owner of a food distribution business
In his own words: “Sometimes I feel like James Bond when I’m in my suit.”
Profession: Owner of a food distribution business
In his own words: “Sometimes I feel like James Bond when I’m in my suit.”
Rebecca Jeffrey
BBCBoundless
Age: 31
Profession: Owner of a design and marketing business
In her own words: “I’m proof that you can get things done without whinging.”
Profession: Owner of a design and marketing business
In her own words: “I’m proof that you can get things done without whinging.”
Samuel Boateng
BBCBoundless
Age: 27
Profession: Sales manager
In his own words: “My creativity, my passion, my charm, and my likeability all roll into one, creating one perfect guy.”
Profession: Sales manager
In his own words: “My creativity, my passion, my charm, and my likeability all roll into one, creating one perfect guy.”
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Grainne McCoy
BBCBoundless
Age: 31
Profession: Make-up studio owner
In her own words: “I need guidance and a little bit of mentoring to help me make that first million.”
Profession: Make-up studio owner
In her own words: “I need guidance and a little bit of mentoring to help me make that first million.”
Courtney Wood
BBCBoundless
Age: 29
Profession: Owner of a novelty gift company
In his own words: “How would I describe myself in one sentence? I'll give you one word: 'awesome'.”
Profession: Owner of a novelty gift company
In his own words: “How would I describe myself in one sentence? I'll give you one word: 'awesome'.”
Aleksandra King
BBCBoundless
Age: 38
Profession: Owner of a business consultancy firm
In her own words: “Like the Tasmanian devil in the famous cartoon, I will torpedo my way through to the win.”
Profession: Owner of a business consultancy firm
In her own words: “Like the Tasmanian devil in the famous cartoon, I will torpedo my way through to the win.”
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Jessica Cunningham
BBCBoundless
Age: 29
Profession: Online fashion entrepreneur
In her own words: “A motto I live by is: there is no competition if you're already winning.”
Profession: Online fashion entrepreneur
In her own words: “A motto I live by is: there is no competition if you're already winning.”
JD O'Brien
BBCBoundless
Age: 37
Owner: Beachwear company
In his own words: “I won’t suffer fools. I will get upset by other candidates who don’t know their arse from their elbow.”
Owner: Beachwear company
In his own words: “I won’t suffer fools. I will get upset by other candidates who don’t know their arse from their elbow.”
Dillon St. Paul
BBCBoundless
Age: 37
Profession: Art director at a fashion magazine
In his own words: “Sometimes batting the eyelashes can get you a lot in business. Hence, the mascara comes in handy – so they can see those lashes.”
Profession: Art director at a fashion magazine
In his own words: “Sometimes batting the eyelashes can get you a lot in business. Hence, the mascara comes in handy – so they can see those lashes.”
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Karthik Nagesan
BBCBoundless
Age: 33
Profession: Owner of IT consultancy company
In his own words: “If I wanted to be like everyone else, I’d have waxed my monobrow.”
Profession: Owner of IT consultancy company
In his own words: “If I wanted to be like everyone else, I’d have waxed my monobrow.”
Sofiane Khelfa
BBCBoundless
Age: 32
Profession: Senior sales executive
In his own words: “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.”
Profession: Senior sales executive
In his own words: “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.”
Natalie Hughes
BBCBoundless
Age: 30
Profession: Hair and beauty salon owner
In her own words: “I started at a young age, I'm a hustler, I've got the hustler’s ambition.”
Profession: Hair and beauty salon owner
In her own words: “I started at a young age, I'm a hustler, I've got the hustler’s ambition.”
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Paul Sullivan
BBCBoundless
Age: 38
Profession: Owner of a marketing agency
In his own words: “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.”
Profession: Owner of a marketing agency
In his own words: “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.”
Michelle Niziol
BBCBoundless
Age: 35
Profession: Owner of a property consultancy company
In her own words: “I work 15 to 17 hours every day. 100 per cent, I'm a workaholic.”
Profession: Owner of a property consultancy company
In her own words: “I work 15 to 17 hours every day. 100 per cent, I'm a workaholic.”
Frances Bishop
BBCBoundless
Age: 25
Profession: Owner of a children's clothes company
In her own words: “I’m a pocket rocket. I’m quite fiery and live by the rule ‘kill them with kindness’.”
Profession: Owner of a children's clothes company
In her own words: “I’m a pocket rocket. I’m quite fiery and live by the rule ‘kill them with kindness’.”
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Mukai Noiri
BBCBoundless
Age: 36
Profession: Digital marketing manager
In his own words: "I feel sorry for Lord Sugar, past contestants have been weak."
Profession: Digital marketing manager
In his own words: "I feel sorry for Lord Sugar, past contestants have been weak."
Alana Spencer
BBCBoundless
Age: 24
Profession: Cake company owner
In her own words: “I'll stop at nothing to get what I want.”
Profession: Cake company owner
In her own words: “I'll stop at nothing to get what I want.”
Trishna Thakrar
BBCBoundless
Age: 28
Profession: Recruiter
In her own words: “My only tactic is to be myself; this alone will make sure I win.”
Profession: Recruiter
In her own words: “My only tactic is to be myself; this alone will make sure I win.”
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The new series of ‘The Apprentice’ kicks off on Thursday 6 October at 9pm on BBC One.