The Apprentice 2019 candidates revealed – meet the contestants

The Apprentice is back with a whole new round of candidates for the class of 2019. Meet the budding business hopefuls who will compete against each other with hopes of impressing Lord Sugar and his trusted advisors Claude Littner and Baroness Karren Brady.

The Apprentice returns on Wednesday, October 2 at 9pm on BBC One.

"I'm about 5 foot 1 inch tall – I'm like a pocket rocket, you don't really want to mess with me."

Carina, 30, from South London is the owner of an artisan bakery. She says she's a natural leader and that people latch onto her to benefit from the influence she carries. She believes it's "written in the stars" that she'll be Lord Sugar's next business partner.

"I’ve definitely got the gift of the gab, I can persuade anyone to do anything."

Dean, 20, from Essex, owns a Sports Management Agency – which he founded at the age of 15. Dean states that he doesn't have many traits that would let him down in business.

"I'm one fierce businesswoman with both sass and class."

Iasha, 27, from Manchester is an account manager who believes her "crazy, controversial, eccentric personality" will make her stand out. Iasha also hopes that other candidates will underestimate her and aims to keep her "enemies" close.

"I never have problems, I only have solutions."

Jemelin, from South London, is a 34-year-old network marketing consultant. She likes things done her way and warns that she can be "next-level stubborn", but considers resilience to be one of her best personal qualities.

"I combine a thirst to learn with entrepreneurial thinking, ready to win at all costs."

Kenna, 24, from Greater Manchester, is the owner of an alcohol-infused ice cream company. Kenna once played professional football for Manchester City before his career was cut short due to an injury. Kenna describes himself as enthusiastic with an "infectious personality".

"I may not be the smartest guy in the room, but I’ll sure as hell work harder."

Lewis, 28, from Lancashire, is a digital marketing project manager. He is a self-proclaimed "maverick" who doesn't like to follow the rules. He admits he struggles to hide his true feelings in his facial expressions, and says his confidence is often mistaken for arrogance but doesn't think he's "better than anyone else".

"I bring 'class' to everything and ensure nothing I do is half-standard or tacky."

Lottie, from Somerset, is a 19-year-old librarian who says she is "very cut-throat" and insists that she is no push over. She credits her poise and "powers of persuasion" as her greatest business qualities.

"I came from a council estate... I have made myself into something good and I'm on my way to becoming something great."

Lubna, from Luton, is a 33-year-old finance manager and a mother of two. She says good role models were lacking in her life so she decided to become her own. She believes she "has the whole package", book smarts and street smarts, and calls herself a "dark horse".

"I’m definitely the epitome of 'don't judge a book by its cover' because what you see is not what you get."

Marianne, from Lincolnshire, is a 36-year-old owner of a risk management company. She moved from the US to the UK in 2017 and sees conflict management as one of her strongest skills. She also says she has no filter and may need to "dial down her American-ness".

"I love to be the under-estimated person in the room."

Pamela, 30, from South London, is the owner of a beauty brand. She attributes the success of her company to her "entrepreneurial gene". She describes herself as feisty and passionate as well as charismatic.

"I will use my poker face and tactics to always come out on top."

Riyonn, from South London, is a 30-year-old events manager who says his personality is his best asset. He says he is "fun smart, and always get on with everyone", and that he has never come across anyone who doesn't get on with him.

"I am the epitome of luxury."

Ryan-Mark, 19, from South London is the youngest candidate and is ready to prove that age is irrelevant when it comes to business. Ryan-Mark describes himself as a 60-year-old trapped in a teenager's body.

"I am an achiever. I have been the highest performer across every workplace I have worked within."

Scarlett, from the West Midlands, is a 32-year-old owner of a recruitment company. She says that her upbeat personality is a strong asset in winning a business deal, and considers herself to be a "very good problem solver".

"I love business more than sharks love blood…I’m ruthless in my pursuit of success."

Shahin, 36, from Birmingham, is a chartered engineer who says Elon Musk is one of his role models because he "thinks outside the box", a quality he prides himself in having. He believes having a plan and being able to execute it well is key to success.

"The less sight I have, the more imagination I gain, because what you see is what you see and what you don’t see is when the magic begins."

Souleyman, from South London, is a 20-year-old para athlete and motivational speaker. He trains with the GB Paralympic Olympic Team, specialising in sprinting, and was diagnosed with Retina Pigmentosa at 6-years-old. Souleyman plans on being brutally honest, bold and fight for his place by trying to keep Lord Sugar's attention on him.

"I don’t plan - I just do everything on impulse. When I plan, I always get it wrong"

Thomas, 28, from East London is the owner of a pillow company. He began his entrepreneurial career at 12 with a paper round and by the time he was 16 he was selling on the markets. He credits the success of his business to his "sharp", "street wise" character, and says that being a "chancer" has worked in his favour.