YOU'RE HIRED!
Who is in the final of The Apprentice 2023 and what time is it on BBC?
Including the unlucky candidates who were fired
THE latest series of The Apprentice has involved plenty of ups and downs.
But like all good things, the show must come to an end and there are just TWO finalists left in the competition fighting to become Lord Alan Sugar's latest business partner.
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Who are The Apprentice 2024 finalists?
Season 18 of The Apprentice started off with 18 new candidates, all hoping to win over Lord Sugar.
Each wee another hopeful left the boardroom forever, after the business man said those famous words, “you’re fired!”.
However, for two lucky candidates they are still in with a shot of winning that £250K investment.
After beating off the competition in the dreaded interview round, Phil Turner and Rachel Woolford are through to The Apprentice season 18 final.
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Phil Turner
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Pie company owner Phil Phil Turner has had a rocky time on The Apprentice, and was on the losing team nine times during the show.
Speaking to the BBC about his time on The Apprentice, and making it to the final he said: "It’s not been the easiest journey but I’ve held my head high and kept going each week.
"Now I’m ready to give it one more shot to show that Lord Sugar was right to see something in me and that I can be his next business partner."
Viewers were just as surprised to see Phil in the final too.
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During the grueling interview stage of the show, he concerned Lord Sugar's advisors with his lack of numbers in his business plan.
He was also grilled by Mike Soutar over the date he claims his business was established and was accused of "lying to customers".
'That's the biggest shock', cry furious fans of The Apprentice as contestant makes it to the final amid controversy
But it seemed an emotional moment with Claudine Collins about his family pulled him back into the running.
However, some fans weren't too pleased that he had made it to the final.
To make it to the final is a dream and I’m just so excited now to showcase my business that I’ve poured my heart and soul into.
Rachel Woolford
"Surely Phil has the lowest win rate to ever reach the final of #TheApprentice," one wrote.
"Phil is gonna win the show after winning one task," said a second.
Rachel Woolford
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Paul will go up against boutique fitness studio owner Rachel Woolford, who is hoping to secure Lord Sugar's investment into her business.
She was just as stunned as Paul to be in the final, and told the BBC: "I can’t quite believe that I’ve made it to this point.
"This has been such a competitive series with incredible candidates that I’m in absolute awe of."
Rachel added: "To make it to the final is a dream and I’m just so excited now to showcase my business that I’ve poured my heart and soul into."
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Who has been fired from The Apprentice 2024?
Week One - Oliver Medforth
No one ever wants to be the first to go, but sadly someone always has to.
The unlucky candidate was sales executive Oliver Medforth.
Speaking after he had been fired, he said: “It was upsetting to go out first, but it’s given me an opportunity to go on to do something else - and I’ve actually got an alternative flourless chocolate brownie business.
"It came about off the back of what happened on the show where I was left on my own to do the dessert, and I wouldn’t have been doing this if I hadn’t been fired first.
"The brownies are already out now and available to buy."
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Weeks Two to Three - Paul Bowen and Dr Asif Munaf
Week two saw pie company director Paul Bowen follow Oliver out of the door.
Unfortunately he quickly found himself eliminated from the show after a disastrous attempt to flog chocolate mini-cheesecakes to fruit and veg advocates, Innocent Drinks.
The Scot held his hands up to making a mistake by pushing the sweet tarts in a meeting with the rest of his team.
While Lord Sugar admired his self awareness, he stated: "There were simply too many mistakes and so it is with regret Paul, you’re fired."
After Paul, wellness brand owner Dr Asif Munaf was next to be "fired".
Shortly after his exit, he was embroiled in a anti-semitic row.
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Week Four Jack Davies and Amina Khan
There was an explosive double eviction for week four.
First up in the firing line was recruitment director Jack Davies.
Following his exit he told : "I'm definitely gutted, I was shocked because I didn't see it coming to be completely honest with you, but it is what it is.
"It's one of those scenarios where anything could happen and you got to be prepared for it I guess.
"A double firing is always a risk and there hadn't been one yet, but I didn't think it was going to be that task."
Closing following him in the taxi was pharmacist and business owner, Amina Khan
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Weeks Five to Eight - Onyeka Nweze, Sam Saadet, Virdi Singh Mazaria, Noor Bouziane
Looking at week five and chartered company secretary Onyeka Nweze got the boot.
Softening the blow, Lord Sugar said: “It is with regret that you’re fired.
Afterward, Onyeka admitted she was “surprised” to be the team member that was fired.
She said: “To have the opportunity to be on that platform is amazing.
"It was quite surprising to get that goodbye from Lord Sugar – to have him acknowledge my intelligence on national television is definitely a plus."
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She was followed by pre and post-natal fitness coach Sam Saadet in week six.
Stepping into week seven and music producer Virdi Singh Mazaria, music producer was fired.
The following week sales executive Noor Bouziane got the boot.
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Week Nine - Maura Rath and Raj Chohan
Week nine saw another brutal double eviction.
Yoga company owner Maura Rath was fired first, narrowly missing out on the quarter final.
But she was closely followed by mortgage broker Raj Chohan.
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Week Ten - Steve Darken and Foluso Falade
The Apprentice season 18's quarter-final saw another double eviction.
This time it was management consultant Steve Darken's turn to be fired after
He was followed by project manager Foluso Falade, who failed to cut the mustard with a vegan cheese product.
Addressing her, Lord Sugar said: "Foluso you have been quoted throughout the course of this process 'look I’m good at branding and I can show what to do'.
"Well you’ve shown me what you did and it’s not very good…the logo is a joke, the video is a joke and with all due respect you failed.
"I don’t want to waste any more time over this, the branding and the video was terrible, and so it is with regret Foluso, you’re fired."
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Week 11 - Flo Edwards, Tre Lowe and Dr Paul Midha
The semi-final episode was the dreaded interview round, and the final five went up against the tough panel of interviewers.
Viewers watched as each of the remaining hopefuls were grilled by Claude Littner, Linda Plant, Claudine Collins and Mike Soutar.
However, three of the candidates failed to impress Lord Sugar with their interview and got the boot.
Tre Lowe's testosterone-boosting shots didn't cut it for Lord Sugar and
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There was also a last-minute change to Dr Paul Midha's business plan after he was told by Lord Sugar's advisors to "stick to what he knew".
Recruitment consultant Flo Edwards also got the chop.
Addressing her, Lord Sugar said: “Flo, I think you’ve underestimated the difficulty it’s going to be in starting from scratch.
“It is going to be hard, and I’m leaning towards Flo saying I’m going to have to let you go. Sorry about that.
“And I do wish you very, very well. But Flo, You’re Fired.”
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When is The Apprentice final?
The eighteenth series of The Apprentice kicked off at the beginning of February 2024, and has been airing every Thursday night.
Rachel and Paul will go head to head on April 18, 2024.
The grand final sees these two candidates vying to win £250K investment into their business.
How to watch The Apprentice final?
You can watch the final on BBC One on April 18, 2024 from 9pm.
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Fans can also catch the action on the BBC iPlayer.
Viewers can stream every episode of The Apprentice there has ever been.
The Apprentice biggest moments
THE Apprentice has been a fan favourite ever since it burst onto the box in 2005.
Here we take a look at five of the biggest moments over the years on the hit BBC One show.
Tim Campbell - Former London Underground transport manager Tim Campbell won the first series of the reality show in 2005. He is now one of Lord Sugar's aides on the show.
Sarah Lynn and James White - For the first and only time in the show's history, both finalists were crowned winners in 2017.
Amy Anzel - Season 16's fired candidate Amy Anzel was BANNED from the final celebration show, after a tit-for-tat exchange over Lord Sugar’s mocking tweets.
Michelle Dewberry - Telecoms consultant Michelle Dewberry won the second series of the show in 2006. However, after winning a six-figure job with Lord Sugar she lasted just four months before she sensationally quit.
Selena Waterman-Smith - We’re used to tensions running high in the boardroom, but in 2015 a disagreement between two candidates spilled over – for the first time - into a physical bust-up. Events manager Selina Waterman-Smith was given a verbal warning by show bosses for her role in an off-camera scrap with Charleine Wain.
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