Meet The Apprentice 2016 candidates – everything you need to know about who’s on the new series
This Thursday sees the return of Britain’s most brutal business reality TV show, The Apprentice.
It’s not just the barneys, back-stabbing and boardroom which are set to return, Lord Sugar will be back with his brash brand of constructive criticism.
By his side he will be joined by glamorous Karren Brady and hard-faced Claude Littner who will monitor the teams and report back any dodgy dealings to the boss.
But who are these fresh-faced hopefuls all vying for the coveted investment?
This year’s line-up comprises of eighteen entrepreneurial go-getters all with ambition in their heart and the glint of a warrior gearing up for battle in their eye.
Want to know more? Don’t worry we’re here to make the introductions:
Frances Bishop
Name: Frances Bishop.
Age: 25
What we know: Married to a Scunthorpe United footballer, the 25-year-old mum has competed in a number of beauty contests but is yet to walk away with the crown.
Frances owns her own children’s clothing boutique and lives in Doncaster with her son and midfielder husband Neil Bishop.
Alana Spencer
Name: Alana Spencer
Age: 24
What we know:
Alana is into sweet treats, launching her own chocolate company at the age of 17 before moving on to selling cakes.
The youngest of all the candidates at just 24, the entrepreneur from Ceredigion has already managed to ruffle feathers when tweets with racist content were uncovered from a few years ago on her twitter.
Aleksandra King
Name: Aleksandra King.
Age: 38
What we know: Consultant Aleksandra runs her own company and with confidence characteristic of the show is certain that she will have the best business plan that Lord Sugar has ever seen.
She’s hoping to “torpedo” herself to The Apprentice crown in the style of a Tasmanian devil.
Courtney Wood
Name: Courtney Wood.
Age: 29
What we know: Courtney owns a novelty gift company and says if he could give Lord Sugar a Christmas present he would opt for a pair of West Ham socks, hopefully those will save him from being taken down a peg or two.
The baby-faced businessman believes his confidence is one of his biggest strengths and thinks it’ll be “pretty easy to win The Apprentice.”
Dillon St. Paul
Name: Dillon St. Paul.
Age: 37
What we know: The selfie-loving silver fox is a fashion expert and works as a freelance art director at a fashion magazine.
Dillon has no qualms batting his lashes to get what he wants, even slapping on a spot of mascara from time to time to maximise the effect.
Grainne McCoy
Name: Grainne McCoy.
Age: 31
What we know: She looks fierce in her picture but 31-year-old make-up studio owner appears to have a friendly manner from her promo video.
The Northern Irish beauty has previously worked on a number of celebrity clients and on films such as Ibiza Undead.
JD O’Brien
Name: JD O’Brien.
Age: 37
What we know: Behind this suited exterior lies the creative business hopeful who has set up his own men’s beachwear company.
The gravelly voiced entrepreneur describes himself as a "Family man, great legs and life and soul".
Jessica Cunningham
Name: Jessica Cunningham.
Age: 29
What we know: Jessica has made her an impact on the press as she was reportedly a stripper and pole dancer just a few years ago.
The savvy stunner has a plethora of famous friends having been pictured with Vicky Pattison, Danny Cipriani and Katie Salmon.
The 29-year-old is a PR whizz and online fashion entrepreneur as well as being a mum to her three children.
Karthik Nagesan
Name: Karthik Nagesan.
Age: 33
What we know: The monobrowed mogul in the making owns his own IT consulting company and describes himself as firm yet polite.
You can call him Karthik if you like but he also goes by Big K.
Michelle Niziol
Name: Michelle Niziol.
Age: 35
What we know: This intimidating workaholic is based in Oxford where she runs her trio of mortgage, housing and letting companies.
She has promised to teach Lord Sugar “a few things” about women in business.
Mukai Noiri
Name: Mukai Noiri.
Age: 36
What we know: Smartly dressed Mukai previously worked in the fashion industry as a digital marketing manager but has since ditched his job in order to pursue his entrepreneurial aspirations.
The Japanese go-getter moved to the UK in 2011 having previously lived in Egypt, India and Japan.
Natalie Hughes
Name: Natalie Hughes.
Age: 30
What we know: Natalie pulls no punches, describing herself as the “hustler” of the group.
She owns two award-winning salons in Glasgow and was eager gush that she was the cream of the crop in Scotland.
The self-assured business women considers herself to have many positive attributes including: enthusiasm, hard worker, thinking outside the box and a sassy quirkiness.
Oliver Nohl-Oser
Name: Oliver Nohl-Oser.
Age: 33
What we know: This suited gent is the man behind a worldwide sausage factory although he claims he feels more like a special agent.
The funny businessman says that if he could be any animal he would be a pig because he “knows them inside out”.
Paul Sullivan
Name: Paul Sullivan.
Age: 38
What we know: Paul is an Essex born man’s man who claims to have a lot in common with Lord Sugar.
The business hopeful had his first job working on a market stall at the age of 11.
The 38-year-old owns his own marketing agency and announces that he will be like Tottenham Hotspur this season, cruising in and “all of a sudden people will realise this guy’s in the race.”
Rebecca Jeffery
Name: Rebecca Jeffery.
Age: 31
What we know: Rebecca hails from Greater Manchester and owns a design and marketing agency.
The determined business owner claims that she possesses an infectious enthusiasm and says that she is proof that “things can get done without whinging.”
Samuel Boateng
Name: Samuel Boateng.
Age: 27
What we know: Creative Samuel works as a sales manager, generating new business for more than 700 companies.
The Londoner says he is excellent at public speaking but his ability to develop new and innovative ideas is are his strongest professional skill.
Sofiane Khelfa
Name: Sofiane Khelfa.
Age: 32
What we know: Self-confident Sofiane came to the UK 13 years ago with just £180 in his pocket and a dream in his heart.
He has since worked his way up to be a successful technology sales executive at a high-end retail store.
He describes himself as being “like a chameleon- I adapt to anything, anywhere, anytime.”
Trishna Thakrar
Name: Trishna Thakrar
Age: 28
What we know: Self-confessed tomboy Trishna is from London and works as a recruitment agent for a large IT company.
She used to play semi-professional football and believes that her interest in masculine pursuits means that she finds it easy to get on with men and her charm endears her to her female colleagues.
READ MORE
When does The Apprentice 2016 start, who are the contestants and what can we expect?
‘I’ve got a nose for finding reality TV wannabes’ Lord Sugar lets rip about The Apprentice
The Tidy Sidey, Pantsman and eight more of the funniest fails on The Apprentice
The Apprentice hopeful Grainne McCoy is a special effects makeup artist who transforms into a zombie