Season 1
The Apprentice (UK) is a British reality competition television series in which a group of aspiring young businessmen and women compete for the chance to win a £100,000-a-year job as "apprentice" to the British business magnate Sir Alan Sugar.
The Apprentice, billed as a "job interview from hell", is modelled on the American series of the same name, which stars entrepreneur Donald Trump.
The series originally premiered in the UK on BBC Two on 16 February, 2005. It moved to BBC One from the third season onwards.
The Apprentice (UK) premiered in South Africa on DStv's BBC Prime (now BBC Entertainment) channel on Monday 9 June 2008, at 20h30. It moved to DStv's BBC Knowledge channel for the second season and to BBC Entertainment for the third.
See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 1 Repeats
Sundays: 20h00
Synopsis
Sir Alan Sugar fronts The Apprentice, the series that gives an exclusive insight into the competitive world of business.
As one of Britain's most recognised entrepreneurs, Sir Alan guides 14 of the country's most ambitious candidates as they vie for his approval, and the knowledge that they can make it in the business world.
The Apprentice sees the candidates face the most gruelling and intense interview of their lives.
The candidates are from varying backgrounds - from property developer to charity fundraiser, from headhunter to hotel manager - and range from MBA graduates to some who left school without qualifications.
Each week their ambition, business flair and courage will be tested to the full as they are split into teams and compete in weekly business tasks set by Sir Alan.
The team that wins the weekly assignment will be given a reward, but the losers must report to the boardroom for a showdown with Sir Alan who interrogates them on their mistakes and fires the least successful.
The candidate who proves their worth will secure a six-figure salary and a year-long job with one of his companies.
Season 1 Candidates
FEMALES
Adele Lock
Age: 29
Qualifications: 7 O-levels; 1 A-level
Career: General manager in a retail company selling kitchens and bathrooms
Fact: She worked until 20h00 the night before giving birth and even managed to sell a kitchen to her midwife whilst in labour.
She says: "Some people call me a workaholic, but I just enjoy work with a passion."
Adenike Ogundoyin
Age: 30
Qualifications:
BA in Business Studies, MA in International Business and MBA from PACE University, New York.
Career: Owns and manages a top-end restaurant and runs large events for demanding corporate clients.
She says: "I am a entrepreneur by nature and it's all I know."
Lindsay Bogaard
Age: 35
Qualifications: BA, Postgraduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism, Postgraduate Diploma in Internal Communications Management.
Career: Communications manager for an international oil company, founder of the UK's first national car-sharing agency.
Claim to fame: Finalist for Cosmopolitan Woman of Achievement Awards.
She says: "You must be honest about where you're aiming to go and how you are competing with others to get there."
Miranda Rose
Age: 26
Qualifications: BTEC National Diploma, GNVQ in Leisure and Tourism
Career: Managing director of an estate agency. Previously owned a successful mail order company and funded her own exhibitions company.
Claim to fame: Completed a fire walk over 25 feet of red hot embers burning at temperatures in excess of 1,200 degrees - and being a contestant on Wheel Of Fortune.
She says: "I've got huge life experience for my age, which is better than anything written on a piece of paper."
Miriam Staley
Age: 26
Qualifications: BA in French and Spanish
Career: Manager of an exclusive hotel in the French West Indies. Previously a wedding consultant who then founded an events company.
Hobbies: Diving with sharks.
She says: "I don't know all the classic business theories or have the 'pat' answers - my experience comes from what I've directly learnt in the field. I bring a unique experience as I've lived in four different countries and am bilingual."
Rachel Groves
Age: 32
Qualifications: BA in German, Chartered Institute of Management Advanced Certificate.
Career: Charity fundraiser and former advertising sales executive.
Claim to fame: Spacehopping down Oxford Street dressed as a baby (for charity).
She says: "I have incredible presence and am one of those people who fills a room even when alone. I have an infectious desire to live life to the full."
Saira Khan
Age: 34
Qualifications: BA in Humanities, MA in Environmental Planning.
Career: Sales manager for an online recruitment company Facts: She runs marathons, loves diving and speaks four Asian languages: Urdu, Bahri, Punjabi and Hindi.
She says: "I hope that as an Asian woman I will give other Asian women the inspiration to go out there and do well in business."
MALES
Ben Leary
Age: 29
Qualifications: 1 O-level
Career: Currently runs his own headhunting firm. Awarded Global Consultant of the Year for the largest executive search company in the world.
Claim to fame: Singing on That's Life as part of a Cub Scout group.
He says: "In my career I win all the time."
James Max
Age: 34
Qualifications: BSc (first class) in Land Management, Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS), Securities, Futures and Derivatives Representative (SFDR).
Career: Investment banker. Formerly, a finalist in Property Week's Young Property Personality Of The Year.
Weaknesses: His Aston Martin.
Talents: Can do an impression of a donkey!
He says: "I seek success as a result of my own achievements."
Matthew Palmer
Age: 39
Qualifications: BA in Business and Computing, postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, Member of the Institute of Marketing.
Career: Mature student. Previously, a self-qualified stockbroker, prospective Conservative party parliamentary candidate, computer trainer.
Hobbies: Co-founder of The Tall Society.
He says: "The objective of a business is not to make money. The object of a business is to satisfy customers. The result is to make money."
Paul Torrisi
Age: 34
Qualifications: 7 O-levels, Basic and advanced sales for an international car dealership, Work and Method Study Certificate and Systems Analysis Certificate.
Career: Property developer. Previously, property management, letting agent, textiles production manager.
Claim to fame: Putting together a £3m deal on a phone while riding a bike.
He says: "I know I'm not the cleverest bloke in business, so I always make sure I check everything, and then I check and check again. That's why I'm a success. That's how I'll win this show."
Raj Dhonota
Age: 30
Qualifications: LLB Law (Hons)
Career: Internet entrepreneur, founder and managing director of an estate agency (which went bankrupt when venture capital failed to materialise).
Hobbies: "I have no hobbies or interests - my total focus is on business."
He says: "I'm an entrepreneur, not an angel."
Sebastian Schrimpff
Age: 29
Qualifications: BSc in Natural Science, Securities Institute Diploma, registered member of the Financial Services Authority, MBA from INSEAD, Commercial pilot's licence.
Career: Financial analyst, recent MBA graduate.
Weaknesses: Saville Row suits, skiing, gliding, tennis and "doing acrobatics in powerful planes."
He says: "I have no doubt that I am a superb candidate for The Apprentice."
Timothy Campbell
Age: 26
Qualifications: BSc in Psychology, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Diploma.
Career: Transport manager, London Underground.
Hobbies: Boxing.
He says: "Sir Alan has a lot he could teach me, and perhaps I might know a few things that I could teach him as well."
Seasons
Season 1 (12 episodes)
Channel: BBC Prime | Premiere: 9 Jun 2008 | Finale: 25 Aug 2008 | Mon, 20h30
Season 2 (12 episodes)
Channel: BBC Knowledge | Premiere: 12 May 2009 | Finale: 28 Jul 2009 | Tue, 21h30
Season 3 (12 episodes)
Channel: BBC Entertainment | Premiere: 7 Oct 2009 | Finale: 23 Dec 2009 | Wed, 20h30
Season 4 (12 episodes)
Channel: BBC Entertainment | Premiere: 31 Mar 2010 | Finale: 16 Jun 2010 | Wed, 20h30
Season 5 (12 episodes)
Channel: BBC Entertainment | Premiere: 20 Apr 2011 | Finale: 6 Jul 2011 | Wed, 21h30