Lord Alan Sugar said The Apprentice was “back with a big bang” as the candidates jetted off to Antigua for the first episode following the lifting of all Covid-19 restrictions before they filmed the series.
The 17th series of the BBC reality show featured 18 new candidates all competing to win a life-changing investment of £250,000 from Lord Sugar. The candidates were thrown into the deep end as the series kicks off with a trip to the Caribbean, where they will be tasked with creating and selling excursions to tourists.
Lord Sugar told the PA news agency before the series began: “Last year we were restricted by Covid in what we could do and what we couldn’t do because of the health warnings. So this year, we decided… let’s come back with a big bang.
“So I said: ‘Let’s go somewhere great to really kick off well.’ You should see the the candidates’ faces when I said to them: ‘Right your first task you’re going to Antigua’, that’s wonderful. Also for the audience it will be a great kick-off for the process.”
Here are the candidates who battled to win Lord Alan Sugar’s £250,000 business investment. The Apprentice to aired from Thursday January 5 on BBC One and iPlayer.
Additional reporting by PA
1. The Apprentice 2023 candidates revealed
The Apprentice 2023 Candidates: (Front row seated left to right) Denisha Kaur Bharj, Joe Phillips, Megan Hornby, Shannon Martin, Kevin D'Arcy, Emma Browne, (middle row left to right) Avi Sharma, Bradley Johnson, Mark Moseley, Shazia Hussain, Sohail Chowdhary, Rochelle Anthony, (Back Row left to right) Marnie Swindells, Simba Rwambiwa, Dani Donovan, Gregory Ebbs, Victoria Goulbourne, and Reece Donnelly, the new candidates for this year's BBC One contest, The Apprentice. Photo: Ray Burmiston/BBC
2. Sohail Chowdhary
Southampton-based martial arts instructor and school owner Chowdhary said he is “proud” to have been raised in a council house but has had to “fight hard” to achieve his success. He said: “I am calm and collected but if they do come at me? I will bite and I will sting and I will leave my mark.” Photo: Ray Burmiston/BBC
3. Victoria Goulbourne
Former flight attendant Goulbourne, from Merseyside, started her online sweet business, which became a social media success, during lockdown. She said: “I know what consumers want. I’ve travelled all over the world and am not afraid to take on a challenge.” Photo: Ray Burmiston/BBC
4. Avi Sharma
London-based Sharma is a city banker and the youngest candidate in the series. He said: “Some say I’m delusional, I prefer the term optimistic. Lord Sugar’s investment will help me escape the rat race of a banking job. I’m the hardest working rat he’ll ever meet.” Photo: Ray Burmiston/BBC