The full line-up for the landmark 20th series of The Apprentice has been officially announced, with a record-breaking 20 candidates set to compete for Lord Alan Sugar's £250,000 investment. The beloved BBC business reality show returns in 2026, marking two decades since its inception, with Lord Sugar, 78, Baroness Karren Brady, 56, and aide Tim Campbell, 48, all returning to the boardroom.
A Milestone Series with a Global Start
This anniversary series promises to be the most ambitious yet. In a dramatic opening, the candidates will be whisked away to Hong Kong for a high-stakes first task, setting the tone for a gruelling competition. The prize remains life-changing: a £250,000 investment and a crucial business partnership with the Amstrad founder himself. This year, the field expands from the usual 18 to 20 hopefuls, representing one of the most diverse cohorts in the show's history.
Meet the Candidates: The Women
The female contestants bring a vast array of business backgrounds and personal stories to the process. Andrea Cooper, 46, is a Barnsley-based lettings agency owner and mother of five, who also holds a first-class midwifery degree. Carrington Saunders from south-east London runs an online loungewear brand, which she launched while at university.
Georgina Newton, an actress and events manager from east London, aims to start a touring pantomime production company, claiming her "sunshine" personality makes her unique. Beauty is a strong theme, with Karishma Vijay (Ashford) seeking to expand her skincare brand Kishkin, and Roxanne Hamedi, an Aberdeen pharmacist, pitching her beauty line Browtasia.
Other notable contenders include Megan Ruiter (Wirral) with a women's clothing brand, mortgage broker Nikki Jetha (Hornchurch), and 21-year-old Pascha Myhill from Reading, who wants to launch a healthcare recruitment firm. Rothna Akhtar (east London) plans to grow her part-time bakery into a wellbeing-focused experience, while tech project manager Vanessa Tetteh-Squire (east London) is developing a swimwear brand for fuller-busted women.
Meet the Candidates: The Men
The male candidates are equally ambitious. Conor Galvin from Cork wants to expand his photobooth business across major UK cities, while Dan Miller (Richmond) seeks to scale his student recruitment company after a decade in operation.
Harry Clough from Battersea, a self-described "posh" but cash-poor financial sales manager, is pitching a free food and drink subscription box called Makemyday. Property features heavily, with estate agent Kieran McCartney (east London) and barbershop owner Marcus Donkoh (south London) both looking to expand their ventures.
The line-up also includes former RAF gunner Levi Hague from Doncaster, who runs a pet cremation service; PR specialist Lawrence Rosenberg (Watford); and Priyesh Bathia (Harrow), who aims to grow his Boozy Bar concept. Completing the roster are Rajan Gill (Medway) with an AV installation business, and Tanmay Hingorani (Islington), an AI consultant proposing a digital loyalty platform for the food and drink industry.
With such a varied mix of personalities, from a pantomime actress to an AI whizz, the battle for Lord Sugar's approval and investment will be fiercer than ever. The candidates will need to prove their mettle in the boardroom and survive the legendary interview stage to secure the ultimate prize. The Apprentice returns to BBC One in 2026.
