![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/p0mvfgv8.jpg\")
<\/p>\nOver the last 10 weeks, viewers have witnessed 20 of Britain\u2019s entrepreneurial elite battle it out in a series of tasks, from creating a virtual reality fitness game to selling flowers to the public. These tasks, set out by Lord Sugar, put them to the ultimate business test in a bid to secure his \u00a3250,000 investment in their business plan.<\/p>\n
From Hong Kong, to Egypt to the Isle of Wight, this landmark 20th series travelled the globe as Lord Sugar whittled down the hopefuls, to be left with just five remaining candidates.<\/p>\n
But it\u2019s not over yet, as the final five must face a gruelling round of interviews with some of Lord Sugar\u2019s toughest-talking business associates. As their business plans are picked apart, some candidates hold their own, while others crumble under the pressure. In the boardroom, Lord Sugar has a tough decision to make as only two can make it through to next week\u2019s grand final.<\/p>\n
Meet The Apprentice 2026 Final Five
\nDan Miller<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Owner, Student Recruitment Company Richmond, London<\/p>\n
You\u2019ve made the final five, how does it feel?<\/p>\n
I feel immensely proud of myself for making it to the final five. I came into the process with nine years of business experience in the sector I\u2019m in (student recruitment), and over the weeks, I was able to add great value, apply my business acumen, and offer a varied perspective to each task that came our way. I stayed true to myself the whole way through, always remaining professional, respectful and considerate to other candidates’ ideas and thoughts. Whilst I was not a loud character on the show, I demonstrated my business acumen and skills across all tasks, albeit in a quiet, subtle way.<\/p>\n
Which task was the toughest for you and why?<\/p>\n
Hong Kong, for starters. It was the first time I had met with all the candidates and getting to grips with how people worked. It was a new environment for me, new people and new to TV. Not to mention being in a completely different country, with language barriers and very high humidity levels! The other tough task for me was the one when I was project manager \u2013 the chicken and egg task. It\u2019s a real balancing act being PM. Listen to everyone\u2019s ideas or do your own thing; you can\u2019t really win either way.<\/p>\n
If you listen to all opinions, then you come across as being indecisive and can\u2019t decide, do the opposite, then you are the one who does not listen. I kept costs low in the test kitchen, held firm to our prices in the market, and followed through with the recipes I knew would work. This gave us the win, which I was really proud of. As you might have seen, I was the only one not celebrating after the big win. I felt very deflated by the constant undermining of my skills and leadership style by some of the other candidates throughout the task.<\/p>\n
How did you find living with the other candidates?<\/p>\n
I felt like I was back on a school ski trip with all my pals, having fun in the house, drinking tea and a good laugh all round! But in all seriousness, though, it did open my eyes up to a lot of things. One of the biggest frustrations each night was how some of the other candidates would just hover around the kitchen, hoping someone would cook a decent meal for them. If all else failed, it was pot noodles, chips and nuggets for them. I was shocked by how many candidates could not put together a simple, healthy meal for themselves.<\/p>\n
It was tough sometimes, sharing a room with five other lads – it has its tolls. Overall, the candidates I was in a room with were all great fun. We had some great bedtime chats before the lights went out, and it was nice to talk about life, business, and how we were feeling.<\/p>\n
You came into the process with a fully established business, why are you fighting for Lord Sugar\u2019s investment?<\/p>\n
For me, it was never about the money; I wanted the mentorship and guidance from Lord Sugar to help me scale my business and take it to the next level. I have grown my business, Young Professionals, all by myself since the age of 17 – it\u2019s been quite a lonely journey, very rewarding but very isolating at the same time. I felt this was the right time to seek the guidance and support of someone who’s seen it all and has had greater business experience to help me make the right decisions.<\/p>\n
Karishma Vijay\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/p0mvfrz9.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Owner, Beauty Brand, Ashford, Surrey<\/p>\n
You\u2019ve made the final five, how does it feel?<\/p>\n
It feels like the tables have turned. I am no longer proving myself. I get to sit across from the REAL business tycoons and I get to show Lord Sugar who I really am and who he is potentially shaking hands with. I\u2019m nervous for the interviews because I might not have all the answers, but one thing I do have is a business that has changed lives and I hope that is enough.<\/p>\n
Which task was the toughest for you and why?<\/p>\n
The toughest task for me was task four. My first time being PM and there was a lot of pressure. None of the candidates even knew about my social media background, not because I hid it, but because they didn\u2019t even ask. From the beginning of the process, most of them counted me out. They thought I was weak and said \u2018you\u2019re not a threat\u2019. This was my opportunity to show them I\u2019m not only a threat, I\u2019m the dark horse they didn\u2019t see coming.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s surprised you the most from being on the show?<\/p>\n
How much my life experiences have put me at an advantage during this high-pressure environment. I\u2019ve had to adapt a lot in my life. At the time I felt unlucky. I\u2019m a big believer of \u2018everything happens for a reason\u2019 but I started to question that sometimes. Now I know that I was just getting stronger and smarter for this. Not having seen the show, I thought I\u2019d be at a major disadvantage but actually, it gave me a perspective that wasn\u2019t seen before.<\/p>\n
What has this experience taught you about yourself?<\/p>\n
It taught me that I am a lot stronger than I thought. I know how to innovate, I know how pitch, I know how to sell, I know how to back myself and I know how to lead. I\u2019m ready to take on the cutthroat business world – in fact, I think I was born for it.<\/p>\n
What do you admire most about Lord Sugar?<\/p>\n
He valued my opinion. I may be a nobody next to him, but he saw me. He may have told me to \u2018get to the point\u2019 but he never shut me down. He has no favourites, he talks money and that\u2019s it. I like that because I talk money too.<\/p>\n
What qualities do you think a candidate needs to win Lord Sugar\u2019s investment?<\/p>\n
Lord Sugar is so bored of the same old candidates coming in and out of his boardroom, acting cocky and smart but not knowing a single thing about how to actually make the big bags. You need to be smarter. Better. Stand on business always. Put your hands up where you should, you never know, he might just write you a cheque for a quarter of a million pounds.<\/p>\n
Your negotiating skills have led a lot of your teams\u2019 victory; can you negotiate your way to the \u00a3250,000 investment?<\/p>\n
I have no intention of negotiating or saying \u2018please\u2019 for this. I worked for this. I showed up to every task to fight for this. If he sees his next business partner in me, he\u2019ll choose me. If he doesn\u2019t, I don\u2019t lose. I just add one more name to the list of people who underestimated me.<\/p>\n
Lawrence Rosenberg\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/p0mvfw67.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Public Relations Specialist, Watford, Hertfordshire<\/p>\n
You\u2019ve made the final five, how does it feel?<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a totally surreal feeling – it\u2019s nothing like anything I\u2019ve felt before. Like, how could you compare it?! Especially after 10 gruelling tasks to get here. It\u2019s a wild mix of joy, pride, relief, and achievement, all bundled into one very grateful person. Pretty much everybody who comes into this process wants to make the final five. In the house, I honestly can\u2019t remember ever discussing who the finalists would be, but everyone was always predicting the final five, so it\u2019s incredible to have made it to this point.<\/p>\n
Which task was the toughest for you and why?<\/p>\n
It\u2019d be easy to say losing as PM for the gamified fitness task was the hardest, and being in the boardroom fighting for your life is never much fun. In lots of ways, that was the most difficult task – loads went wrong, our game wasn\u2019t the best, and I was trying to sell the unsellable to a group of industry investors. Hong Kong was also a nightmare, you\u2019re trying to compete against nine other boys you\u2019ve just met to get a word in edgeways, whilst also not doing too much that you screw up early and get fired.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s surprised you the most from being on the show?<\/p>\n
I surprised myself with how resilient I can really be. You\u2019ve got to stay so focused over such a long period of time – it\u2019s nothing like anything I\u2019ve experienced before. This process puts you in a bubble that makes you feel like your life depends on the outcome of every decision. In the cold light of day, that\u2019s obviously not true, but when you\u2019re living, breathing and eating The Apprentice, it does start to feel like that. In those circumstances, coming out the other side having managed all that pressure makes me feel like I can handle anything.<\/p>\n
How did you find living with the other candidates?<\/p>\n
I have to say, the thing I was most worried about coming into the process was who the other candidates would be. You see the impression on TV, but pretty much every candidate is someone I\u2019ll consider a close friend after the experience, and I\u2019ve made some incredible memories with everyone along the way. I feel very humbled to call them all mates. It was an incredible once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I\u2019m very grateful to every single person in that house for making the experience what it was.<\/p>\n
What do you admire most about Lord Sugar?<\/p>\n
Two obvious things stand out to me about Lord Sugar – one personal and one business – but both tie into what makes him such a legendary British business icon. First, the man has done everything. Advertising – done it. Product development – well, duh. Whether it was recreationally or in a business capacity, he\u2019s just gone out there and lived life – isn\u2019t that what we all want to do? Then there\u2019s the age-old expression that your network is your net-worth, and Lord Sugar is the embodiment of that.<\/p>\n
You had some close calls in the boardroom; do you feel like you\u2019ve really had to fight for your place in the final five?<\/p>\n
I think everyone has to fight for their place in the process every single day. But coming back from two brutal bottom threes means I\u2019ve had to really fight for my place in the final five, but the battle to be here wasn\u2019t just in those boardrooms, it was in the day-to-day of the tasks to build as much credit in the bank so I could stand on my laurels when I needed to.<\/p>\n
Pascha Myhill\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/p0mvfybc.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Recruitment Consultant, Reading, Berkshire<\/p>\n
You\u2019ve made the final five, how does it feel?<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a real pinch me moment. Coming into this process with 19 other strong candidates and being one of five now standing in the line to become Lord Sugar\u2019s next business partner, is surreal to me, a once in a lifetime opportunity that I will not be taking for granted.<\/p>\n
Which task was the toughest for you and why?<\/p>\n
The water advertising task with Big Zuu was the toughest for me. It pushed me completely out of my comfort zone. The creative direction, building a brand from scratch, and then producing an advert under serious time pressure; that\u2019s just not my natural skill set. It exposed a weakness but at the same time, it forced me to adapt quickly, stay composed, and push through even when I felt out of my depth. And that\u2019s what this process is about, growth under pressure.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s surprised you the most from being on the show?<\/p>\n
How clever and tactical everyone really is. Every word, every decision, every move can be calculated. People are thinking three steps ahead, not just about the task, but about positioning, perception, and survival. It is not just business ability, it\u2019s psychological.<\/p>\n
What advice would you give to anyone considering applying for the next series?<\/p>\n
Be yourself, unapologetically. Don\u2019t try to create a \u201cTV version\u201d of who you think people want to see. The process is too intense, too long, and too exposing to maintain an act. Also, know your why.<\/p>\n
Apply because you genuinely want the investment and you\u2019re ready to fight for it. When the days are long and the boardrooms are brutal, your reason is what keeps you steady.<\/p>\n
How did you find living with the other candidates?<\/p>\n
Living with the other candidates was intense. You\u2019re surrounded by ambitious, competitive, highly driven people 24\/7. You finish a task, emotions are high, and then you\u2019re all back in the house together. But what people don\u2019t always see is the friendships that form. When you\u2019re going through something that intense, you understand each other in a way no one else really can. You celebrate wins together, you debrief the chaos, and sometimes you just need to laugh about how mad the day was. Of course, it\u2019s competitive, but living together teaches you a lot about people. It\u2019s a social experiment as much as a business one, and that\u2019s what makes it unforgettable.<\/p>\n
If you win, you will be the youngest ever winner of The Apprentice, how do you think that would feel?<\/p>\n
It would feel overwhelming in the best way. I\u2019d feel proud. I\u2019ve taken risks. I\u2019ve backed myself in rooms where I could have easily doubted myself. To have that validated on that level would be surreal. I\u2019d probably feel relief too. Relief that the hard work, the pressure, the sacrifices, all meant something much more and bigger. But more than anything, I\u2019d feel grateful for the opportunity, grateful that I was brave enough to apply and that I didn\u2019t let my age make me hesitate. And then after those feelings settle. I\u2019d feel hungry. Because winning wouldn\u2019t be the finish line, it would just be the beginning.<\/p>\n
Priyesh Bathia\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/p0mvg35w.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Global Account Manager, Harrow, London<\/p>\n
You\u2019ve made the final five, how does it feel?<\/p>\n
It\u2019s an unbelievable moment, one of those true pinch me experiences that still doesn\u2019t quite feel real. It\u2019s one of the achievements I\u2019m most proud of. It\u2019s something I earned through my own hard work, resilience, and determination, and knowing I got myself there makes it even more special.<\/p>\n
Which task was the toughest for you and why?<\/p>\n
The live TV selling challenge. It was completely new territory. I\u2019d never presented before, let alone sold a high-ticket item on national television, live. I was so far out of my comfort zone. It was a real sink-or-swim moment, and the pressure of live TV selling is unlike anything else.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s surprised you the most from being on the show?<\/p>\n
How quickly loyalties can shift. Whether someone is your friend or not, when the pressure is on, people will protect themselves first. It\u2019s a competition at the end of the day, and no one is ever truly safe. That was a tough reality to come to terms with. The experience showed me that in a high-stakes environment, you have to back yourself completely because when it comes down to it, everyone is fighting to stay in the game.<\/p>\n
What advice would you give to anyone considering applying for the next series?<\/p>\n
Be yourself and let your personality shine through, that\u2019s what will help you progress, not pretending to be someone you\u2019re not. Lord Sugar is looking for someone genuine and humble, and he doesn\u2019t respond well to liars or schmoozers.<\/p>\n
How did you find living with the other candidates?<\/p>\n
I absolutely loved living with the other candidates it was one of the most special parts of the whole experience. It took me back to my university days, sharing a house with friends and making memories every day. What made it even more meaningful was the fact that we didn\u2019t have our phones or any real sense of time. Without those distractions, we truly connected. We bonded through long conversations, learning about each other\u2019s lives, ambitions, and stories in a way you rarely get the chance to do in the outside world.<\/p>\n
What do you admire most about Lord Sugar?<\/p>\n
How incredibly straight to the point he is. There\u2019s no sugarcoating, he says exactly what he thinks, and you always know where you stand. Whether the feedback is positive or critical, it\u2019s always real. You\u2019re not left second-guessing or trying to read between the lines. He values hard work, integrity, and results, and he isn\u2019t swayed by empty talk or flattery.<\/p>\n
What do you think has been a defining moment for you during this process?<\/p>\n
It was in week two, when I walked out of the boardroom believing I was safe only to be called straight back in, it was a complete curveball. But the moment I stepped back into that boardroom, my mindset shifted. I told myself I was not going down without a fight. Being given that second chance was a wake-up call and made me realise how much I wanted the opportunity and that survival in this competition isn\u2019t just about performance, it\u2019s about determination.<\/p>\n
ant.fragnito@fremantle.com \/ naomi.hicks@fremantle.com<\/p>\n
Follow for more<\/p>\n
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