Apprentice candidates 2018: Lord Sugar welcomes 16 new budding entrepreneurs into the boardroom

Brace yourselves for cheesy business mottos and pomposity galore as Lord Sugar welcomes 16 new candidates into the boardroom.

This year’s budding entrepreneurs will be put through their paces by the business mogul and his trusty aides Claude Littner and Baroness Karren Brady in a bid to secure a £250,000 investment in their business plan.

Lord Sugar has warned the new recruits to “expect the unexpected” as they battle it out amongst each other to prove their prowess.

From backgrounds in fashion, tree surgery and sport, here’s everything you need to know about this year’s candidates:

Alex Finn

Age: 21

Occupation: IT Analyst

Alex believes his ‘gift of the gab’ is his best skill and cites Elon Musk as his role model because he “reaches for the stars”. He wants you to call him Google because, afterall, he “knows everything”.

Camilla Ainsworth

Age: 22

Occupation: Owner, Nut Milk Brand

She “ain’t no vanilla Camilla”. This budding businesswoman from Lancashire is an adrenaline junkie who believes her people skills are her biggest strength.

Daniel Elahi

Age: 28

Occupation: Owner, Lifestyle Brand

London-born Elahi claims he has been “blessed” with beauty and brains in “abundance” and likens himself to the Wolf of Wall Street’s Jordan Belfort.

David Alden

Age: 32

Occupation: Tax Advisor

Alden is the “Duracell bunny” because he “just keeps going”. His only downfall? He has been too trusting in the past.

Frank Brooks

Age: 27

Occupation: Senior Marketing Manager

The Londoner can be “brutal” and will play people off against each other to get what he wants. Offering a warning to his competitors he said: “There’s no need to watch your back when I’m already two steps in front.”

Jackie Fast

Age: 34

Occupation: Sponsorship Consultant

Jackie isn’t intimidated by anyone, apparently, and hails herself as a “trailblazer” within the sponsorship industry. She admits she can be very opinionated and isn’t good at taking criticism.

Jasmine Kundra

Age: 34

Occupation: Learning and Development Manager

This West Midlander sees business as “war” and admits she is a stubborn woman who likes to get her own way. She aims to use her charm and charisma to take the win.

Kayode Damali

Age: 26

Occupation: Professional Speaker

Kayode is his own biggest fan who believes his positive personality and natural likeability will lead to success in the boardroom.

Khadija Kalifa

Age: 28

Occupation: Owner, Eco Cleaning Company

Khadija is “a serious Mumpreneur who doesn’t have time for timewasters and idiocy”. She has run her own eco-friendly cleaning business for the past 3 years and says people skills is her best asset. Although she can be “cut throat” and a “hot head”.

Kurran Pooni

Age: 22

Occupation: Law Graduate

Kurran doesn’t like people who aren’t team players and isn’t a fan of liars. He says his dad is his role model and that he doesn’t “eat, sleep, breathe business but I do eat, sleep and breathe success”.

Rick Monk

Age: 33

Occupation: Quality Controller

Rick is a wolf in sheep’s clothing who won’t “pussyfoot and waste time, as time is of the essence in everything”. He reckons his best qualities are his confidence and assertiveness.

Sabrina Stocker

Age: 22

Occupation: Owner, Tennis Events Company

Middlesex-born Sabrina cites Emma Watson as her role model because she makes good decisions, but admits she sometimes makes “silly comments” before thinking. She describes herself as a “mix of Willy Wonka drinking an espresso martini… classy and sophisticated on the outside; inside, a little bit crazy and wacky but full of brilliant ideas”.

Sarah Byrne

Age: 29

Occupation: Owner, Children’s Acting Academy

Sarah is not good with business terminology and is angered by people in business who turn their noses up at the working-class. She wants to be a role model for her daughter and hopes her hard work and life experience will see her into the final.

Sarah Ann Magson

Age: 37

Occupation: Solicitor

Sarah Ann is ready to “lay down the law in the boardroom” and says her charm will outwit any of her competitors.

Sian Gabbidon

Age: 25

Occupation: Owner, Swimwear Brand

Sian promises to be “merciless” in the boardroom as she “came from nothing and worked her way to the top”. Her competitors need to watch out – she says she has been “brought up to win”.

Tom Bunday

Age: 28

Occupation: Owner, Tree Surgery Firm

Tom will no doubt fare well as someone who claims to be drawn to situations the intimidate him. The loyal businessman is confident he could be teaming up with Lord Sugar, claiming: “There are very few people that can genuinely say they’re going to make it - but I know that I’m going to.”

The Apprentice returns to BBC One, October 3 at 9pm followed by You’re Fired on BBC Two at 10pm