THE Apprentice has been a fan favourite since 2005.
Contestants battle it out to hear Lord Alan Sugar say those immortal words, "You're hired!"
Who are The Apprentice winners?
Harpreet Kaur – 2022
In 2022 Harpreet Kaur scooped the crown and was "hired" by Lord Sugar.
Harpreet – the owner of a dessert parlour from West Yorkshire – used the prize money to develop her already successful, six-figure coffee and cakes business.
Speaking about winning the show, Harpreet said at the time: "I cannot believe Lord Sugar has chosen me to be his business partner.
"I have dreamt of this moment."
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Carina Lepore – 2019
16Carina Lepore won The Apprentice in 2019with her artisan baking business.
She was the reigning champ for three years, after their was no show in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
She's from South London and she beat recruitment consultant Scarlett Allen-Horton.
She's also opened a new branch of Dough Artisan Bakehouse in Beckenham, with Alan Sugar there with her for the reveal.
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Sian Gabbidon – 2018
16Swimwear designer Sian Gabbidon was chosen as the winner of the 14th series of The Apprentice in 2018.
The sophisticated beauty from Leeds beat a number of fierce competitors for her title, including milk entrepreneur Camilla Ainsworth, to win a £250,000 investment in her fashion brand.
Sian previously shared that Coco Chanel was one of her role models when it comes to business as she "came from nothing and worked her way to the top."
In 2022, Lord Sugar parted company with Sian.
Sarah Lynn/ James White – 2017
James White and Sarah Lynn made it all the way to the final – and in an unprecedented twist, they were BOTH crowned winners, receiving £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar.
The duo impressed the business legend with their business plans for IT recruitment and confectionery respectively, meaning he had to fork out half a million pounds in total.
Alana Spencer – 2016
Cake queen Alana Spencer won 2016's edition of the reality show.
The Welsh entrepreneur used Lord Sugar's investment to boost her brand, Ridiculously Rich by Alana.
She says she speaks to Alan "at least once a week" but admits she "still gets nervous" when he gives her a call.
In 2021, Alana's cafe got a very poor hygiene rating.
Joseph Valente – 2015
Plumber Joseph Valente stormed to victory in 2015.
He declared: "I am the definition of success. I'm the godfather of business."
Joseph used the £250k investment to expand his business, which maintains and installs plumbing, heating and electrical products.
However, Joseph was forced to sell the company in 2020.
Mark Wright – 2014
The bitter rivalry between Mark Wright and Daniel Lassman became an almost Game Of Thrones-esque drama in 2014.
The sales manager came out victorious and went on to launch digital marketing website Climb Online with Lord Sugar's investment.
Mark admits he often gets confused with his Towie namesake.
He joked: "I'm the better looking of the two Mark Wrights! That's the one thing I've got in my favour.
"But I can't get my b***** Twitter verified because they think I'm a bloody account of the other geezer off TOWIE!"
In 2022, Mark sold his business for a reported £10million.
Leah Totton – 2013
Leah Totton beat off baker Luisa Zissman to bag Lord Sugar's £250,000 investment.
The Irish GP injected the bumper sum in setting up a Botox clinic in central London.
Leah's clients include a host of famous faces such as Towie star Frankie Essex, and Karren Brady attended the launch.
Blonde bombshell Leah, said at the time she was yet to encourage Lord Alan to go under the knife.
She joked: "Whenever he pops into our clinic, I offer him Botox treatments but he politely declines."
Leah welcomed her first baby with golfer partner Justin Harding in 2022.
Ricky Martin – 2012
Ricky Martin won the reality series in 2012.
The former pro-wrestler used Lord Alan's £250,000 investment to set up Hyper Recruitment Solutions, which specialises in scientific recruitment.
The qualified biochemist from Portsmouth was praised as a "glowing example" to young people by his business mogul mentor.
Tom Pellereau – 2011
Geeky Tom Pellereau became the first contestant to win a £250,000 investment as part of the format shake-up.
The inventor from Twyford, Hampshire, went into business with the tycoon developing an S-shaped nail range called Stylfile, which was sold at Tesco and Asda supermarkets.
Their company has made a turnover of £1.5million.
Tom, a former mechanical engineering student, went on to develop a collapsible baby bottle, a bowel cancer screening device and other inventions.
He admitted that he "gets shouted at all the time" by Lord Sugar.
Stella English – 2010
Stella English was brought up by her great-aunt on a council estate in London and left school with zero qualifications.
However, she was ambitious and managed to work her way up to the head of business management at a Japanese investment bank – earning £80,000-a-year – before winning The Apprentice in 2010.
Stella, who lives in Kent with her husband Ray, went on to work for Lord Sugar's Viglen, which sells IT solutions to the education sector, before moving to the digital TV service YouView.
She walked out after 13 months of employment when told her contract would not be renewed and claimed she was just an "overpaid lackey".
After unsuccessfully trying to sue Lord Sugar for constructive dismissal, she was later pictured at the Jobcentre and revealed she only had £90 in the bank.
Stella is now a host for Crowd Box – a TV channel that helps entrepreneurs raise money through crowd-funding – and works as a management consultant.
Yasmina Siadatan – 2009
Hull-born Yasmina Siadatan landed a high-flying job at Lord Sugar’s Amscreen Healthcare Company following her win in 2009.
The former restaurant owner fell pregnant four months into her £100k-a-year role after enjoying a whirlwind romance with a colleague.
Yasmina worked for Lord Alan for 12 months but chose not to return after her maternity leave.
After taking time off to have her two sons Rupert and Roman, Yasmina was headhunted by former Dragons' Den star James Caan and now works as creative director of Start Up Loans.
Lee McQueen – 2008
Lee McQueen went from being a milkman’s son to the owner of a million-pound firm.
The dad-of-three from Middlesex won the 2008 series despite lying about his university achievements.
Lee didn’t get off to the best of starts with Lord Alan after calling in sick to his first day as a development director at Lord Sugar's Amscreen.
Despite the setback, the former IT recruitment manager worked for the company for two-and-a-half years and went on to set up a digital media business with Lord Sugar's son Simon.
In September 2010 Lee, who is now based in Oxfordshire, set up his own sales recruitment and training agency, Raw Talent Academy.
He is best remembered for his catchphrase: “That’s what I’m talking about!”
Simon Ambrose – 2007
Lord Sugar expected big things from Simon Ambrose.
The Londoner became a member of Mensa at 13, attended the same school as Nick Clegg and is the son of a successful businessman – his dad owns laser eye surgery clinic, Optimax.
After his win in 2007, the Cambridge graduate told Digital Spy: “Well, I'd like to think I've shown that a nice guy from a nice background sometimes can win.”
Simon was assigned a role at Lord Sugar’s property company Amsprop and trained as a surveyor before becoming the chairman of the London Contemporary Orchestra.
Michelle Dewberry – 2006
Michelle Dewberry – dubbed the "Silent assassin" by viewers thanks to her quiet determination – pipped favourite Ruth Badger to the winner’s title in 2006.
The blonde bombshell was paid £100k a year to launch Xenon Green, Lord Sugar’s computer equipment disposal project, but left the role after a year.
Michelle, who grew up on a council estate in Hull, went on to set up her own consultancy firm.
In July 2006, The Sun revealed that she was pregnant by Syed Ahmed, a fellow Apprentice contestant.
Sadly, Michelle miscarried the baby after being admitted to hospital with stomach pains, and the pair spilt soon afterwards.
Michelle went on to become a Sky News TV pundit, run a shopping website called Daily Chic, and penned an autobiography called Anything Is Possible.
In 2020, she gave birth to her first baby baby with ex Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan.
Tim Campbell – 2005
Former London Underground transport manager Tim Campbell won the first series of the reality show in 2005.
The winner from Stratford, London, bagged a £100,000 a year job at Lord Sugar’s Amstrad company, and was tasked with launching the Integra electronic anti-wrinkle device.
In March 2007, Tim – the son of a Jamaican-born single mum – set up a social enterprise called Bright Ideas Trust, which supports young entrepreneurs from disadvantaged backgrounds.
He told The Guardian: “I never saw the Apprentice, Lord Alan's position, as a job for life.
“It was on a plate for me but that wasn't what it was about. I never saw him as a blank cheque.”
Tim, who has been awarded an MBE for Services to Enterprise Culture, co-founded Marketing Runner Ltd with Derin Cag, a bespoke digital marketing agency.
The agency was dissolved in June 2021.
He returned to The Apprentice for season 16 as a replacement for Claude Littner.
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