The Apprentice star Rochelle Anthony wore an outfit that completely baffled fans tuned in to see the show's finale.

Over the past few weeks, The Apprentice 2023 candidates have battled it out in the boardroom to be in with the chance of making the final.

But while anyone who missed the show will wonder who left The Apprentice last night? Viewers were left wondering why runner up Rochelle was wearing the EXACT same outfit as previous show runner up Kathryn in her finalist photoshoot.

One eagle-eyed viewer pointed out on Twitter, "How did both runner ups Kathryn (2022) and Rochelle (2023) wear the EXACT same outfit."

And with it they shared screenshots of the contestants wearing the same outfit on the show which consisted of a pair of while trousers and a nude coloured sparkly long-sleeved blouse complete with white fluffy cuff trims.

Upon seeing the likeness, one fan commented, "OH MY DAYZ!!"

And second viewer added, "I thought I’d seen it before!!!"

A third fan put, "That’s a great spot!"

But another fan defended the choice of having the same outfit and tweeted back, "Why not...Recycling"

But the outfit choice is so surprising because one other viewer noted that Rochelle has a vast wardrobe department, having tweeted, "How many outfits do Marnie and Rochelle have?! Not seen them wear the same thing twice all series!"

Marnie uploaded the photos to her Instagram before the final got underway and she captioned it, "Just two women gunning for a better life. We may be in competition in this moment, but the truth is, I'm in awe of Rochelle. I look at everything she has achieved as a mum, a business owner and most importantly as a woman and I can't help but admire her."

And while Rochelle liked the post, she admitted she hated the photos.

She wrote, "Also these pics did us dirty hahahah. I'll upload the ones off my cam xx"

And beneath a second snap she added, "The BBC one made it look like a whole new outfit."

In Rochelle's outfit post she revealed that she was wearing a Lavish Alice jumpsuit. And online it is described as an Ana beaded sequin jumpsuit in white, RRP £198.

The description reads, "Calling all brides to be, we designed this piece with you in mind. This statement jumpsuit embodies every element of spring glamour, from exclusively designed sequin mesh to flirty feather cuffs. Luxurious, fully lined crepe fabric falls smoothly over your legs whilst your waist is accentuated by a perfectly paired belt. ANA was born to accentuate your silhouette."

It's understood that the similar outfits were a complete coincidence as Rochelle is believed to have chosen her own outfit and while the outfits may look the same, it's thought to have been made by different designers.

Looks like great minds really do think alike!

The Apprentice on the BBC returned for its final episode last night after the 2023 candidates worked their way through the difficult challenges set each week by Lord Alan Sugar amid his search to find his new recruit, and fans who missed the show are wondering who left The Apprentice last night and who wins The Apprentice 2023?

Lord Sugar tests the nerves and brains of the hungriest hopefuls in the business world but after another week of sweat and tears, someone has to go and it's down to the boss himself to choose who will win a six-figure salary job as his apprentice.

While some wonder when is The Apprentice on next and where is The Apprentice house, we look to see if your favourite Apprentice candidate is still in with the chance of winning. While not all the candidates who leave are fired by Lord Sugar, as was the cast with the reason why Reece left The Apprentice, let's see who has been dropped from the show...

Who left The Apprentice last night?

Rochelle Anthony left The Apprentice last night after she failed to impress Lord Alan Sugar with her final pitch of the series.

Lord Sugar's aides, Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell, shared their thoughts on the two finalists before the winner was announced.

Of Ms Swindells, Baroness Brady said, "Marnie, she has never run a business before, and she's chosen a business that's very competitive - can she stand out in this very competitive market?"

Meanwhile, Mr Campbell advocated for the boxing gym owner, as he said, "That being said, for an ambassador for a boxing facility, there is no-one better I would think than Marnie and what she stands for."

Sir Lord Alan Sugar made the firing of the 35-year-old Bedfordshire hair salon owner.

Following her exit, Rochelle later shared on Instagram, "ITS A WRAP!!! My Apprentice journey has come to an end!! I am RUNNER UP!! Out of the thousands of people who applied, I fought my way to the FINAL 2! So For that I am forever proud! I don’t even know how to put in to words, the journey, I’ve been on for the past year. I’ve met friends for life, learnt incredible skills, and ticked off some real bucket list moments."

She continued, "I may not have got the investment to take The Dolls House MK to the next level. But it's been thriving since the show. And for that, I am forever grateful.
I did it for any WOMAN, and especially women of colour, who was ever made to feel not enough! We ARE ENOUGH! And we can do whatever we want! I’m glad to have represented women and been a role model!! This is just the beginning and for this I feel like a winner!"

Before going on to thank the team and congratulate the winner Marnie.

Who wins The Apprentice 2023?

Sir Lord Alan Sugar decided to hire Marnie, making her the winner of The Apprentice 2023 and £250,000 investment along with the partnership.

Sir Lord Sugar said he wanted to "try a new horizon" with her community-focused boxing gym. He said it was "something which is completely alien to me to be honest and you've never run a business before".

And following her win Ms Swindells, from Oldham, said she was "so happy" she would be going into business with Lord Sugar on her gym, called BRONX.

Afterwards she told her Instagram followers, "I've been wracking my brains wondering what to write. What CAN you write when one of the biggest names in business just chose YOU to be his business partner. I'm nothing but a 28 year old girl with a taste for hard work and some big dreams just trying to make a life for herself different from the one she knew.

"I have so much to say, but at the same time, I'm speechless. I feel empowered, but overwhelmed. Confident and terrified in equal measure. All the lines are blurred right now, but if there is one thing I can say with absolute clarity it's this:

She continued, "There is NOTHING in this life that is off limits. No room you cannot enter, no wall to high and no door you can't knock down if you just bang hard enough."

And went on to thank Lord Sugar for the opportunity. 

Who has left The Apprentice so far?

The following candidates have left Season 17 of The Apprentice 2023 after being unsuccessful in their journey to be crowned winner:

• Week 1 - Emma Browne
• Week 2 - Shannon Martin quit before the firing
• Week 3 - Gregory Ebbs
• Week 4 - Denisha Kaur Bharj
• Week 5 - Shazia Hussain
• Week 6 - Reece Donnelly left due to his health and Joe Phillips was fired
• Week 7 - Sohail Chowdhary
• Week 8 - Mark Moseley
• Week 9 - Bradley Johnson and Avi Sharma
• Week 10 - Simba Rwambiwa
• Week 11 - Victoria Goulbourne, Dani Donovan and Megan Hornby
• Week 12: Rochelle Anthony

Who won The Apprentice 2022? 

Harpreet Kaur from West Yorkshire won The Apprentice 2022. For the final, the 30-year-old dessert parlour owner was up against fellow contestant Kathryn Louise Burn, 29, from Swindon who owns an online pyjama store but she won over Lord Alan Sugar at the last hurdle to secure the £250,000 investment for her sweet treat business Oh So Yum!

On making his decision, Lord sugar said, "It is a very, very difficult situation for me… Harpreet I’m not sure whether this business is scalable or whether you are trying to do too much and that’s what I’m worried about at the moment.

"Kathryn, I’m concerned on the longevity of it, and the popularity of it, it’s very hard, this is difficult for me…"He went on, and shared of his decision: "A lot of the companies that I invest in are a start from scratch situation, basically what Kathryn is proposing, so ladies, I think that I’ve decided now…

"Harpreet, you’re going to be my business partner."

The Apprentice congratulated their season winner, it posted, "HUGE congrats to @Lord_Sugar's newest business partner Harpreet! 🙌 Things are about to get even sweeter for Oh So Yum! 🍰."

Speaking about her victory, Harpreet posted on Instagram, "Introducing @Lord_Sugar latest business partner….ME!🎉 Lost for words that I’ve won the @apprenticeuk but I’m so excited for this new chapter with @ohsoyum__ 🙌🏼 Thank you to everyone who showed their support! Celebrate with me by ordering using the link in my bio💜"

Having previously described herself as a born leader, fearless and funny, Harpreet's and her plan to “level up” her successful, six-figure coffee and cakes business to become a leading brand in the UK is one huge step closer to becoming a reality.

Her family and friends threw a celebration party where they could be seen dancing to Bhangra music.

You can watch her journey to winner below...

If you missed an episode of The Apprentice 2023, you can watch the episodes on BBC iPlayer or tune in next Thursday at 9pm for the FINAL.

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Video of the week

Reece Donnelly disappeared from The Apprentice with little explanation, leaving viewers asking the question 'why did Reece leave The Apprentice?'

The Apprentice is well underway, with a group of budding entrepreneurs battling for the approval of Lord Sugar and the chance to win a six-figure salary job as his apprentice. 

Now that The Apprentice 2023 candidates are settled into The Apprentice house, viewers have a better idea of who could go all the way and who will be leaving the show. But a recent episode left fans in shock after it was revealed that candidate Reece Donnelly had dropped out.

Why did Reece leave The Apprentice?

Reece Donnelly was reportedly axed from The Apprentice for drinking alcohol on a flight to Dubai. A source told MailOnline, "Producers were unimpressed when he had several alcoholic drinks on the flight even though he was told not to."

In the episode, the candidates had been tasked with a corporate away day for a high-end client in Dubai. By the time the flight had landed, Reece was reportedly so drunk that he was unable to take part in the show and had to be sent home.

A source told the Sun, "The Apprentice has never had anything quite like this happen before. It’s the first one someone has been shown the door in the contest by someone other than Lord Sugar.

"But producers take health and safety extremely seriously and have a duty of care to all the candidates. Having him take part in a task when he was unfit to do so was something they simply couldn’t contemplate."

Reece's exit came as a shock to viewers after he was seen heading to the airport with the other candidates, only to not appear on the show later on.

At the end of the show, Lord Sugar said, "As you know Reece wasn’t able to take part in the task and has subsequently left the process."

Viewers were later told that Reece had to leave the series for "health reasons".

What has Reece said?

Reece maintains that he left the show for health reasons, telling the Sun: "I was unable to complete the task in Dubai for health reasons and therefore I could not continue on The Apprentice.

"I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time on the show and I’m looking forward to watching my fellow candidates in the rest of the series.

"My goal of being on The Apprentice was to showcase that Scotland has amazing businesses and entrepreneurs, I really hope I’ve done that.

"I’m so grateful for my time with Lord Sugar and the team."

What have the BBC said?

A spokesperson for The Apprentice has said: "Reece was unable to continue in the process, this was discussed and agreed between Reece and programme-makers."

They have not commented on reports that Reece was asked to leave due to drinking on the flight to Dubai.

What is Reece doing now?

Reece is now back at his job as director of the Theatre School of Scotland, in Glasgow. He will not be re-joining the show.

Video of the Week

The luxury mansion featured in the 2023 series has viewers eager to know where is The Apprentice house?

Invested fans of the long-running series spent the first few days of 2023 wanting to know when is The Apprentice on next, and now - finally! - Lord Sugar's BBC One show is back with a new batch of The Apprentice candidates hoping to make it big in business. The reality show has viewers hooked and eager to find out who left The Apprentice most recently - and asking why Reece left The Apprentice - hoping their favourite contestant still has a chance of winning. 

But there's one element of the show in particular that has fans intrigued. After a stressful day the contestants get a chance to enjoy a taste of the high life in the luxury mansion they live in - so, where is The Apprentice house?

Where is The Apprentice house?

The Apprentice house is located on Bishops Avenue in Hampstead, London. The street that has also come to be known as 'Billionaire's Row', because the mansions situated there are worth a combined total of $620 million - according to Insider.

While the Apprentice House often changes from year to year, this year's house is the same as the one featured in the 2022 series. Called Huxley House, the mansion has four floors and its own lift to travel between them.

When the house was spotted listed with an estate agents, the description read: "Huxley House is an imposing double-fronted home. A unique architectural style inspired by mansions of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries and a commensurate size and scale; while internally the house represents the epitome of modern living, including extensive spa and entertainment suites alongside more traditional luxury features.

"With approximate gross internal areas in excess of 14,530 sq. ft (13,500 sq. m) and spanning over four floors, all accessed by an internal lift, Huxley House is generously proportioned, with a grandeur which befits their imposing, elegant and classic façades.

"But while the scale of the two floor galleried entrance halls, five reception rooms and seven en suite bedrooms, is typical of the grand houses of the Victorian period. These homes benefit from substantial additional facilities including a cinema, club room, fitness suite, pool, and car lift."

How much does the house in The Apprentice cost?

The Apprentice house costs £17 million. It was spotted up for sale in May 2022 with James Edition estate agents and reportedly costs £100,000 a month to rent.

For the hefty sum, the house comes with a private pool, a spa, a jacuzzi, eight bedrooms, nine bathrooms, and a reception hall with a chandelier. It was designed by Wolff Architects.

Viewers of The Apprentice have noticed that Huxley House has been on TV before, having been featured on Channel 4's Britain's Most Expensive Houses.

How long do they stay in The Apprentice house?

It's previously been reported that filming The Apprentice takes around five weeks, but how long contestants stay in the house depends on their performance. Once a candidate has been fired, they leave the house.

So, although the series airs over 12 weeks, the candidates only stay in the house for a fraction of that time. This means the candidates endure long days of filming - sometimes as long as 19 hours - to get the entire show filmed in just a few weeks.

2022 candidate Amy Anzel previously tole the Sun: "You'd go to bed by 9pm or 10pm at the latest because you had to get up at 3am. They were exhausting, long days, but you get used to it."

Where is The Apprentice filmed?

Aside from the house in Hampstead, The Apprentice is filmed in various other locations around London.

The boardroom is actually not a boardroom at all, but a custom-built set at Black Island Studios, a film and television studio complex in West Acton, London.

Also filmed in West Acton are the cafe scenes, in which candidates on the losing team often have heated debates over their performance, before one of them is fired. These take place in Bridge Cafe, on Westfields Road.

Also used to film occasional cafe scenes is La Cabana 2 in Willesden, North-West London.

Video of the Week

The Apprentice 2023 is back for more candidate shenanigans and showdowns with Lord Sugar, but who has put themselves forward to face the boardroom this year?

Fans of long-running reality series The Apprentice will be delighted that the search for the next big entrepreneur is well-underway after the 17th season of the reality returns each Thursday at 9pm on BBC One with The Apprentice: You're Fired airing immediately afterwards on BBC2. It feels like forever since viewers last heard Lord Sugar's prolific putdowns, and guffawed at the sometimes hapless candidates being monitored by Lady Brady, Claude Littner and Tim Campbell as they eye roll at the camera. Keep reading to find out which candidates will be staying in the luxury The Apprentice house, while praising their own skills and making promises they often fail to deliver on.

Also on BBC One, the long awaited return of an old fan favourite has made a comeback - the latest iteration of Waterloo Road filmed in various Northern locations and we delve into where. The new instalment of the detective adventures of Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott also had viewers hooked recently. Strike: Troubled Blood filmed in some unusual locations for its latest outing, with fans eager to find out if they could visit them.  Audiences are delighted to hear that SAS: Rogue Heroes season 2 is definitely happening, and we have everything you need to know about the second chapter of the Steven Knight penned drama. 

The Apprentice 2023 candidates

Avi Sharma

Job: City Banker

From: London

"Some say I'm delusional. I prefer the term optimistic."

Avi is the youngest candidate taking part in this year's series, and hopes that Lord Sugar's investment can help him out of the "rat race" of his current job.

Avi was fired in Week 9.

Bradley Johnson

Job: Director, Construction Company

From: North Yorkshire

"A lot of people in business – I'm not saying everyone – have inherited their businesses, this is not the case for myself. I was made redundant in 2019 and now, we're turning over half-a-million, which is something I'm immensely proud of."

Bradley is a director of a construction company and self-made. He says he has "a proven business and a strong can-do attitude" as he seeks out that ultimate investment from Lord Sugar.

Bradley was fired in week 9.

Dani Donovan

Job: Owner of a hair salon

From: Hertfordshire

"My unique selling point is my personality, I bring something unique. I'm a different kind of business owner, which is a lot more relatable to people."

Dani started her salon business as a teenager, and argues "business is something that doesn't need to be fancy words and suits". She's hungry for the investment as she has "a business that there is a huge gap in the market for" and "will appeal to lots of different people".

Denisha Kaur Bharj

Job: Financial Controller

From: Leicestershire

"I have always known what I wanted in life. I know the dreams I want to achieve. There's only one Denisha Kaur."

Denisha says she "wants to create an empire and have it all", arguing she knows her worth and what she can achieve. In winning an investment from Lord Sugar, she believes she will be "mentored by the best to be the best". 

Denisha left The Apprentice in week 4.

Emma Browne

Job: Senior Account Executive

From: County Kildare

"I am disgustingly competitive. I will go to any lengths to win this investment."

Emma not only describes herself as competitive, but also "beyond determined". She's also promised that whether or not she wins the show, her business idea will be "one of the most successful ideas to ever come out of The Apprentice".

Emma left The Apprentice in Week 1.

Gregory Ebbs

Job: Owner, Online Antiques Marketplace

From: Shropshire

"I would say, a willingness to try different things and not being afraid to be slightly different is one of my biggest strengths."

Gregory describes himself as a "little too unusual", having previously worked as a cannon-firer. The local councillor also believes his "ability to think outside the box" is another strength that will see him through Lord Sugar's tasks. 

Gregory left The Apprentice in week 3.

Joseph Phillips

Job: Safari Guide, South Africa

From: Worcestershire

"I don't deserve Lord Sugar's investment more than anyone else in the process, but I do think I have something that they don’t."

Safari guide Joseph has a degree in zoology and also calls himself the "James Bond of the business world". He's thinks that "if Lord Sugar wants to invest in a business to help save the ocean, one lip balm at a time, then I'm his guy".

Joseph was fired in week 6.

Kevin D'Arcy

Job: Accountant

From: Dublin

"I can be a little outspoken... not knowing when to shut up."

Accountant Kevin started a water sports equipment business during lockdown. He's hoping to expand from Ireland into the UK with Lord Sugar's investment, stating he has the drive to succeed to achieve this dream. 

Mark Moseley

Job: Owner, Pest Control Company

From: London

"People like confident people, people buy into confidence. And that's why people buy into me."

Former soldier Mark runs his pest control company in London. He says he's "very talkative with the charm to match", though can be "a little bit over-confident from time to time". He says if Lord Sugar doesn't pick him, he's "missing a trick".

Mark was fired in week 8.

Marnie Swindells

Job: Court Advocate

From: London

"I have fought tooth and nail to get to where I am today with my business. I deserve the chance to have that investment to show him what I can do with it."

Marnie is a former gold medal winning boxer who now works as a court advocate. She says she "can see opportunity everywhere" and is "headstrong", and predicts her and Lord Sugar would be a "winning combination".

Megan Hornby

Job: Owner, Sweet Shop & Café

From: East Yorkshire

"I think that no matter what situation I am thrown into, I will always give one hundred percent truth, even if it's hard to hear."

Megan says her USP is her "honesty" and the fact she will "always give one hundred percent truth". Also admitting to being  "overly ambitious", Megan has high hopes Lord Sugar's investment will help her "niche" business get national recognition.

Reece Donnelly

Job: Owner, Theatre School

From: Glasgow

"I'm here to prove that Scotland is filled with forward-thinking entrepreneurs and that we are not in fact a haggis-eating, kilt-wearing nation."

Reece cites himself to be "the youngest CEO of a further education college in the UK", and has high hopes of being the first Scottish candidate to win the show.

Reece shocked viewers when he unexpectedly disappeared from the series, leaving many wondering why Reece left The Apprentice.

Rochelle Anthony

Job: Owner, Hair Salon & Academy

From: Bedfordshire

"My biggest weakness is that I don't like the word 'no' and I don't listen to it – I will always turn it into a 'not yet', and I cannot let go."

Bedfordshire born Rochelle prides herself as being a "tenacious, fierce, and determined businesswoman". Partnered with Lord Sugar, she's confident the pairing would be "an absolute force to be reckoned with".

Shannon Martin

Job: Owner, Bridal Boutique

From: West Yorkshire

"When I come up with an idea, I want to just do it there and then and take everybody along with me on the ride."

Shannon is hoping to bring Lord Sugar into the lucrative bridal industry. She feels her biggest weakness is "probably the fact that I want everything now", but is very confident her idea is a "really good opportunity" for Lord Sugar.

Shannon quit The Apprentice in week 2 when she resigned before Lord Sugar had chance to complete the boardroom firing.

Shazia Hussain

Job: Technology Recruiter

From: London

"I hope that I'll encourage more people like me not to be ashamed of their difference. It's okay to be different. It can make you extremely successful within business."

Shazia is hoping to represent more neurodiverse women in business, as she has been diagnosed with ADHD. She said this leads her to "process information faster than others", and "look at things differently". She says she deserves Lord Sugar's investment, as she has an "ability to identify niches in business and to develop them into USPs".

Shazia left The Apprentice in week 5.

Simba Rwambiwa

Job: Senior Sales Representative

From: Birmingham

"My USP is myself. If people can't buy into you, they'll never buy anything from you."

Simba cites his his biggest weakness as being a "perfectionist". His business idea "not only guarantees profit, but also guarantees to improve the quality of peoples' lives".

Simba was fired in Week 10.

Sohail Chowdhary

Job: Owner, Martial Arts School

From: Southampton

"My biggest weakness would be sometimes not listening to others when on the very rare occasion I might be wrong."

Sohail beleives that he can "achieve the same results as others in half the time". However, he acknowledges he has a tendency not to listen to others, but will "always be the person that looks out for the little guy". He's had "to fight hard to achieve the comfortable life I lead today" and has "a proven track record" behind him.

Sohail was fired in week 7.

Victoria Goulbourne

Job: Owner, Online Sweet Business

From: Merseyside

"I know what consumers want. I've travelled all over the world and I'm not afraid to take on a challenge."

Former flight attendant Victoria, started an online sweets business during lockdown. She says she's "adaptable and [has] a keen business acumen", and is hoping Lord Sugar's investment will really make her business take off.

Do The Apprentice contestants get paid?

Yes, The Apprentice contestants get paid for appearing on the show. However, the sum isn't as much as you'd think - they reportedly receive a £2,000 fee.

According to the Evening Standard, each contestant will be given the money even if they're fired after the first challenge. The sum is for the candidates to continue paying their mortgages and bills, as most give up their day jobs to appear on the show. It's very much a gamble to give up their jobs, as 2017 star Jeff Wan found out. He became the second contestant to be fired from the series and later suggested he found it hard to replace the job he'd left behind. He told Radio Times at the time: "I actually left a career in finance to join the show so I gave in my resignation a week before I came into the house. So right now, I’m just looking for opportunities!”

What happened to Claude on The Apprentice?

Claude Littner was forced to miss the last series of The Apprentice after he suffered a bike accident. He was replaced by the winner of the first series, Tim Campbell who temporarily took over from Claude.

In April 2021, 73-year-old Claude was riding an electric bike in London when he fell off. His right leg was so severely injured, amputation was considered. However, after 10 surgeries, his leg was saved. Speaking about the incident in June 2021, The Independent reported Littner said "I was just pottering along, I must have been doing no more than 10 kilometres an hour on this sort of two-track road. The next thing I knew, I was on the left-hand side of the street, my bike was in the middle of the road and I didn’t know what happened."

He continued "My wife and my sons were there as well and [the doctors] decided they were going to amputate my leg. And then they had another chat about it and they said, ‘Look, let’s get him into theatre right away tonight and let’s see if we can save his leg’. And I went into theatre and it was a very long operation and they didn’t take my leg off."

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Video of the Week

As the New Year gets underway with all the festive TV shows a thing of Christmas past, fans are looking to fill their vacant viewing schedules and are wondering when is The Apprentice on next?

The popular award-winning BBC reality business show, which is currently about to air its 17th series, is set to make a return to screens in 2023 after a highly anticipated wait. But fear not, as the show is coming back and its start date is sooner than you think.

Not only is the show back with a brand new set of 18 contestants but it's also returning to its Thursday night slot in the TV schedules - promising plenty of fireworks even after the New Year...

When is The Apprentice on next?

The Apprentice is next on Thursday 5th January 2023 at 9pm on BBC One and it will run each week for 12 weeks until the final and you can already see who won the show in 2022 .

With Lord Alan Sugar at the helm of the new season, he will have trusted advisor Baroness Karren Brady back by his side and, with Claude Littner not returning to the series, following his cycling accident.

Instead, entrepreneur and winner of the first-ever series, Tim Campbell MBE, will return - this time as Claude's permanent replacement to observe the candidates and their business acumen on the tasks.

There will be 18 new candidates competing to win a life-changing £250,000 investment in their business plus a 50/50 partnership with Lord Alan Sugar, the series launches with a challenge that is anything but plain sailing. And for those wondering where is The Apprentice house, the candidates will be staying in the same luxury mansion as last year.

This years' series kicks off with a once-in-a lifetime trip to the tropical island of Antigua in the Caribbean laid on by Lord Sugar, the candidates are split into teams as they’re tasked with creating, selling and running bespoke tours on the island. 

Meanwhile, comedian, writer, and actor Tom Allen returns as host of The Apprentice: You’re Fired, which will air each week on BBC Two  at 10pm - straight after the main show. Casting a wry eye over each week’s events, Tom will be joined by a host of celebrity fans and business professionals to dissect and debate the candidates progress through each task.

Over the years, Lord Sugar has invested close to a staggering £3million into winning pitches, and this year’s ambitious entrepreneurs will be doing their utmost to prove they mean business as they fight it out for the life-changing investment opportunity.

With competitive drive flaring and relationships being tested from the off, it’s time to find out who will sink and who will swim...

When does The Apprentice start?

Episode one of The Apprentice starts on Thursday 5th January 2022 at 9pm on BBC One. Lord Sugar is back and readier than ever to invest. But before he can decide on who will be his next business partner, the candidates will have to prove their worth in a number of ambitious challenges. The stakes are higher than ever as the 18 hopeful candidates will be whittled down over the next 12 weeks until only one remains.

To prove he means business, Lord Sugar summons the aspiring entrepreneurs to his boardroom where he kicks off proceedings with a task like no other!

Under the watchful eyes of Baroness Karren Brady and winner of The Apprentice series 1, Tim Campbell MBE, the candidates are thrown in at the deep end as they set sail from Portsmouth on board a luxury cruise ship. Their task; to create, sell and run bespoke tours on the Caribbean island of Antigua.

But Lord Sugar warns that for one unlucky candidate, they will be back on home soil before their postcard home has even arrived.

Back on dry land and in the boardroom, Lord Sugar is on the lookout for answers; as it’s man or woman overboard for one candidate when they’re the first to be told, “You’re Fired!”.

Who are The Apprentice winners to-date?

• Series 1 = Tim Campbell
• Series 2 = Michelle Dewberry
• Series 3 = Simon Ambrose
• Series 4 = Lee McQueen
• Series 5 = Yasmina Siadatan
• Series 6 = Stella English
• Series 7 = Tom Pellereau
• Series 8 = Ricky Martin
• Series 9 = Leah Totten
• Series 10 = Mark Wright
• Series 11 = Joesph Valente
• Series 12 = Alana Spencer
• Series 13 = James White and Sarah Lynn
• Series 14 = Sian Gabbidon
• Series 15 = Carine Lepore
• Series 16 = Harpreet Kaur
• Series 17 = TBA

How can The Apprentice viewers get involved with the show?

The official website for The Apprentice will also host additional content for viewers to enjoy including weekly sneak peeks and highlights clips. BBC Radio 1’s Matt Edmondson returns with his inimitable preview of this year’s business hopefuls in Meet the Candidates - which will be available to view from Tuesday 4^th January on BBC iPlayer.

Fans will be able to share all the ups and downs of the series on social media using #TheApprentice, via Instagram (@apprenticeuk), Facebook (facebook.com/BBCApprentice) and Twitter (@bbcapprentice).

The Apprentice will air weekly on Thursdays at 9pm on BBC One from 5^th January 2022, followed by You’re Fired on BBC Two. Watch live and on-demand on BBC iPlayer.

Related BBC Features:

• Why did Reece leave The Apprentice?
• Waterloo Road
• Marie Antoinette
• Strike: Troubled Blood
• SAS Rogue Heroes season 2
• The Pact season 2

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