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Meet the Apprentices MkV
Amar Singh17 Mar 2009
A TANZANIAN beauty queen, an award-winning restaurateur and an ex-professional footballer are among the new batch of aspiring tycoons hoping to land a job with Sir Alan Sugar.
The Apprentice, the BBC's most popular annual reality contest, returns next week with a shock as one candidate whose identity has yet to be disclosed buckles under pressure and quits before Sir Alan's first briefing, leaving 15 contestants to battle it out.
The fifth series begins with the candidates having to operate a successful cleaning business.
From the offset Sir Alan warns the contestants: "I'm going to find out if you're the real deal or just a bunch of empty designer suits and dresses."
A source close to the show said that the series had taken a "more sensitive" tone because of the recession.
The source said: "The seriousness of the opportunity to work for (Sir Alan) and earn a six-figure salary will be emphasised given how many jobs have gone in the City over the last year."
Last year more than 10 million viewers tuned in to see Lee McQueen become the fourth apprentice. The show begins next Wednesday, 25 March, at 9pm on BBC One.
Tim Campbell, the winner of the first series of The Apprentice, is behind a drive to create opportunities for young Londoners and start up to 250 new businesses a year. Campbell, 31, wants to find entrepreneurs among 16 to 30-year-olds who are not in work, education and training but have a ideas for a new business. He left Amstrad two years ago.
1. Debra Barr, 24, senior sales consultant, from Surrey
Qualifications: BA in English Literature
Awarded "mouth of the year"' at her Christmas party. A "natural" saleswoman.
She says: "I only let the people that I can trust see the softer side of me."
2. Noorul Choudhury, 33, science teacher, from Rochdale
Qualifications: GTTP, CIM
Fashion-obsessed and aims to start up a men's tailoring business.
He says: "I've got the capabilities to deliver. I am not all talk."
3. Lorraine Tighe, 36, national accounts manager, from Kent
Qualifications: NHC in Business Studies
Mother-of-two left school at 16. Top sales person in every firm she has worked for.
She says: "I'm a single mum with no education and I've had a very hard time."
4. Yasmina Siadatan, 27, restaurateur, from London
Qualifications: BSc Economic History With Population Studies
An award-winning restaurant owner and marathon runner.
She says: "Business is about a simple formula. Make more than you spend. That's what I do."
5. Kate Walsh, 27, licensing development manager, from Hampshire
Qualifications: BSc in Psychology and Management
An indie-music lover who enjoys snowboarding. Admires the "ballsy" Sex And The City character Samantha.
She says: "I've always excelled academically and I have really achieved within a corporate environment."
6. Kimberly Davis, 33, marketing consultant, from London
Qualifications: BA in Music Management
Born in The Bronx, New York, she performed Mozart at Carnegie Hall, danced onstage at Disney World.
She says: "I bring honesty and integrity to the table, I don't lie, cheat or backstab. I am not the stereotypical New Yorker."
7. Phillip Taylor, 29, estate agent, from County Durham
Qualifications: NEBS Certificate in Management
Considers himself to be a nice guy.
He says: "Business is the new rock'*'roll and I'm Elvis Presley"
8. Howard Ebison, 24, retail business manager, from Derby
Qualifications: CIMA Part-qualified accountant. BSc (Hons) Maths and Business Studies
An award-winning dancer, self-trained musician and area manager of 10 pubs
He says: "If I don't go far down this route I shall go far down another route."
9. Rocky Andrews, 21, sandwich chain owner, from North Yorkshire
Qualifications: N/A
Youngest candidate who already earns more than the £100,000 Apprentice salary. Left school at 16 to join Middlesbrough FC but had arthritis. Set up a sandwich business at 17 and has 14 shops.
He says: "Business is about being willing to make mistakes and learning from them."
10. Paula Jones, 29, human resource consultant, from Walsall
Qualifications: Masters Degree in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management
An academic with a love for interior design. At 18, a four star sergeant in the Army cadets.
She says: "I am the girl with a plan. I have great wit and strength of character, and I am resilient to the core."
11. Majid "Maj" Nagra, 28, business development manager, from Coventry
Qualifications: BSc Computer science
Expelled from school but now works with youth centres and charities while running his own car hire business.
He says: "Business is the backbone to this world."
12. Anita Shah, 35, business strategist, from Birmingham
Qualifications: LLB in Law & Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice
Hopes to launch business providing emotional, psychological, spiritual therapy.
She says: "I can deal with questions and make impactful statements. Many lawyers can't. People want to chat with me."
13. Ben Clarke,22, trainee stockbroker, from Belfast
Qualifications: BA (Hons) Economics & Business
Rebellious, considers himself to be ruthless and money-obsessed. Once worked as a Gavin Henson lookalike.
He says: "Making money is better than sex."
14. James McQuillan, 32, senior commercial manager, from Surrey
Qualifications: MA Hons in Economics
Lives: Surrey
Part time football and former child chess champion.
He says: "I'm astute and shrewd and smart maybe blunt at times."
15. Mona Lewis, 28, senior financial manager, from Kent
Qualifications: A-levels
Former Tanzanian beauty queen and mother-of-one.
She says: "I knew I would be selected, not to sound big-headed."
Reader views (12)
Why do so many people moan about this programme giving negative comments? I for one really enjoy the whole thing. Was in business for a number of years before being medically retired and completely get what Sir Alan is driving for and what is required. If I was'nt dissabled I'd have a go, its right up my sreet (well used to be|). If you don't want to watch that's fine, why bother moaning about it to others!
- Mark Whitehouse, Weston-super-Mare, 20/03/2009 17:16
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Mona I have always beleived that you can be what you want, go girl! Dont let anyone discourage you. Tanzania here we come again.
- Pamela Rogo, Arusha, Tanzania, 18/03/2009 07:48
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Why do we want to watch a programme about aspiring buffoons when the self-obsessed of watching his own TV performance Alan Sugar has already beaten them to it?
- Joe, Thornton Heath, UK, 17/03/2009 17:52
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The first episode of this show was great, seeming really innovative, but can anyone be bothered with it now? I know I can't. Someone should have let the BBC in on the saying "Leave them wanting more" a long time ago.
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx, 17/03/2009 14:28
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The BBC in their attempts to emulate Big Brother, have taken a format from the US that is fairly informative about business, how it runs, and turned it into an ego trip for a few attention seekers.
Based on the last couple of efforts by the BBC with this format, no business would be comfortable taking on any of these talentless no hopers and giving them an apprenticeship let alone a job.
Does anyone know how you can be fired from something, without ever being taken on?
- Ian, Reading, England, 17/03/2009 14:11
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Andy, dear, the reference to "experience" is so plainly general, not to matters Amstrad. Unlike the show's competitors, older people have accumulated experience of life, an invaluable commodity when applying for any job, and one that can only be acquired with age.
- Annabelle, london, 17/03/2009 14:08
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Yawn - this show is well past it's sell-by date.
- Jethro Payne, Streatham Common, 17/03/2009 13:55
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Annabelle, I think you will find that most dictionaries will make a reference to the fact that the term apprentice refers to an inexperienced person who is learning a trade, hence older people maybe somewhat of a contradiction in this programme
- Andy, London, 17/03/2009 13:15
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Oh what joy! another bunch of no-ones for the BBC to waste my money on!
- Gareth, Farnborough, 17/03/2009 12:49
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Very age-ist. Why not have some older people. Other than the 30-somethings, the rest are all children. Age = experience.
- Annabelle, london, 17/03/2009 12:42
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Is Sir Alan really as great as he and the BBC apparently think he is?. Amstrad championed cheap, useable practical computers in the mid 80s with their PcWs and PCs, but lost their way with later models, and t5he "E-Mailer" phone came to market years after cheap internet connections and email became easily available. Finally Amstrad was virtually an adjunct to BSkyB and finally got sold to BSkyB. Quo, Vadis, Alan?
- Graham, Ilford Essex, 17/03/2009 12:29
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And of course everyone is using Amstrad computers !
- Alex, Soton, 17/03/2009 11:55
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