With almost twenty seasons and counting, Lord Alan Sugar has made many business partners. However, the mogul is far from done.
Last year, Northern boutique fitness studio owner Rachel Woolford was awarded £250,000 cash to invest in her gym for more classes. In 2025, a whole new bunch of budding entrepreneurs will gear up for the gruelling tasks and cutthroat boardroom.
BBC’s The Apprentice will return tonight. If you want to know what time it airs and who the contestants are, keep reading. We also have a similar article for Gladiators season 2.
When will The Apprentice season 19 be released?
The BBC has now confirmed on its website that the show will return tonight, Thursday 30 January 2025 at 9pm GMT on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The first task will see the 18 candidates head to Austria to run and sell alpine tours – and you can be guaranteed that there will be some clashes as per usual.
Who are the judges on The Apprentice UK?
Joining Lord Alan Sugar will once again be his trusted advisors, Baroness Karren Brady and former winner, Tim Campbell MBE.
BBC/Naked/Ray Burmiston/Rufina Breskin
Is there a trailer for season 19 of The Apprentice UK?
We finally get to see the contestants in action with the first full trailer:
The teaser trailer shows some great reactions from both Karen and Tim:
There’s also this trailer, which includes some rather dubious pitches for promoting the new season:
Have the contestants been announced for The Apprentice season 19?
Yes! There are 18 business partner hopefuls this year, with plans ranging from a bubble tea shop chain to a new patented utility belt for professionals in the beauty industry.
Here’s a first look at them all:
Amber-Rose Badrudin, London
(Image: BBC/Naked/Ray Burmiston)
Convenience store owner Amber-Rose is pitching a bubble tea business which she originally sold in her shop from the age of 22. With over a million followers on her social platforms combined, she believes that if Lord Sugar doesn’t pick her he will “quite literally be leaving money on the table”.
Anisa Khan, London
BBC/Naked/Ray Burmiston
Anisa is the creator of an Italian and Indian fusion pizza business, which includes flavours such as Chicken Tikka Masala pizza. With the investment, she would expand by opening more dark kitchens in busier areas. As she says: “My business is small now but has immense potential, with a unique concept that’s already proven its appeal”.
Aoibheann Walsh, County Donegal
BBC/Naked/Ray Burmiston
Salon owner Aoibheann is looking to disrupt the hair and beauty industry with a premium utility product that is useful and more hygienic than rivals. What she needs now is the money to develop it. As she says: “I have already identified a gap in the market, secured patents, and developed prototypes”.
Carlo Brancati, Middlesborough
BBC/Naked/Ray Burmiston
Hair Transplant Consultant Carlo has enjoyed building up his clientele’s confidence, and he wishes to connect more users looking for procedures with professionals by creating a new online platform to demystify the process. As he puts it: “I’ve worked 15-hour days over the past several years to master the tools of modern entrepreneurship. Simply put, no one works harder than me!”
Chisola Chitambala, Essex
BBC/Naked/Ray Burmiston
Virtual Assistant Company owner Chisola is in the business of businesses, as she would use the investment to develop a platform for budding entrepreneurs to connect with other investors, cutting out many meetings and presentations. She believes she deserves to be Lord Sugar’s business partner because she’s “a natural leader with an unwavering commitment to excellence”.
Dean Franklin, Essex
BBC/Naked/Ray Burmiston
Since starting his air conditioning business during the pandemic, Dean has won several awards. He’d like to grow this company even further with the help of Lord Sugar, who he believes he has a lot in common with: “He [Lord Sugar] is very passionate about science and electronics and that’s pretty much what air conditioning is… This is right up his street.”
Emma Rothwell, Lancashire/Essex
BBC/Naked/Ray Burmiston
Online gift store owner Emma took £600 and made it into a profitable company. With the money, she’d create an online platform where users could upload their own designs for gifts and sell them. She believes she will succeed because she’s “a problem solver who never lets anything or anyone stop me for long.”
Emma Street, London
BBC/Naked/Ray Burmiston
Emma has combined her loves of fitness and coffee to create a functional health takeaway hot drinks business unlike any other. As she says, “My business plan targets a true gap in the market. With a clear vision and five-year plan to kickstart the business, Lord Sugar and I can disrupt the coffee culture together”.
Frederick Afrifa, Milton Keynes
BBC/Naked/Ray Burmiston
Former athlete Frederick pivoted to motivational speaking and hasn’t looked back. He now wants to share his skills with others by expanding his communications business. But the investment is just the beginning, as he states: “I don’t just want to make money, I want to do so while changing people’s lives for the better.”
Dr. Jana Denzel, London
BBC/Naked/Ray Burmiston
Cosmetic Dentist Jana hosts celebrity clients at his practice, and now he wants to scale up with new products and kits. He’s confident in his plan, stating: “If he [Lord Sugar] wants to be part of something that will leave a lasting impact on this sector, investing in me and my business is a no-brainer.”
Jonny Heaver, Kent/Liverpool
BBC/Naked/Ray Burmiston
After founding his tutoring company at university, Jonny wishes to target other regions in the UK to expand his business with local employees. Perseverance is key for him, as he says: “I have faced setbacks in my life and have channelled them into opportunities. I think Lord Sugar has done the same, which would make us a strong team.”
Jordan Dargan, Dublin
BBC/Naked/Ray Burmiston
3D artist business owner Jordan is this season’s youngest contestant, and he wants to recruit more artists to join his team. When asked about why he deserves to win, he gave an interesting response: “I don’t deserve it. I don’t think anyone deserves anything in life, I believe you need to work for it, and I will out-work, out-smart, and out-perform anyone Lord Sugar puts in front of me.”
Keir Shave, Leeds
BBC/Naked/Ray Burmiston
Keir set up his telemarketing business in three days, and his business plan is to create an online sales tool to help employees in their negotiations. He says why he can be the next business partner: “Drive, skill and passion are what’s required to have a successful business, and I have proven I have that in abundance.”
Liam Snellin, Essex
BBC/Naked/Ray Burmiston
Liam’s background as an electrician allowed him to identify a gap in the market for stylish yet comfortable workwear. He’s prepared to prove himself in this competition, stating: “I love a challenge, and I am so grateful I get to compete for this amazing investment opportunity against some of the best young entrepreneurs and individuals around the country.”
Max England, Surrey
BBC/Naked/Ray Burmiston
Former Tennis Player Max now wants to use his eCommerce skills to open a series of indoor padel centres across the UK. He believes his plan is on-trend right now: “I’m ultimately offering Lord Sugar the opportunity to get involved in one of – if not the – most exciting, most investable areas out there at the moment.”
Melica Moshiri, West Sussex
BBC/Naked/Ray Burmiston
Melica owns an AI tech recruitment firm, and she hopes it can go global with some help from Lord Sugar. As she says: “My business is profitable, and costs are minimal. With Lord Sugar’s mentorship, we can only go up and multiply the investment in as little as a year.”
Mia Collins, Cheltenham/London
BBC/Naked/Ray Burmiston
With a background in bodybuilding, Mia has turned her love for meal-prepping into a side hustle for other fitness fanatics. But as says, “it’s about more than just meal prep; it’s about creating a healthier community, saving clients time, and being a brand built on passion.”
Nadia Suliaman, Swansea/London
BBC/Naked/Ray Burmiston
Premium salon chain owner Nadia wants her luxury haircare products to make a stamp on the industry, with big plans for expansion, considering it survived a turbulent time already: “The business to date has proven growth even with adverse conditions such as COVID during a time when most of the high street collapsed.”
Will The Apprentice return for season 20?
As applications for season 20 are now open (and will be until 20 February 2025), we’re willing to bet that the BBC will be renewing The Apprentice for next year, as usual.