Tycoon wannabes set for some sizzling challenges in the new Apprentice

This year's batch of would-be business tycoons have been unveiled for the launch of The Apprentice.

And in this series they will be challenged to get more bangers for their buck when they are sent out by Lord Sugar to make and sell sausages. The 16 hopefuls are dispatched to London's Smithfield meat market to buy the raw materials they need to make their mission a success.

The millionaire has high hopes of the latest contenders who he said included some "credible people". They are not short of confidence with the youngest ever contestant, telecoms entrepreneur Stuart Baggs, saying: "Everything I touch turns to sold".

Other candidates include 24-year-old Melissa Cohen who swapped hairdressing for food business management, pushing Tesco's share of the Kosher food market to 75 per cent.

Mortgage Broker Christopher Farrell was formerly a sniper in the Royal Marines and served in Iraq, Northern Ireland, and Afghanistan. Another of the boys, Shibby Robati, is a qualified surgeon before turning to the business world and is still only 27.