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The Apprentice 2014 - Bigger than ever

7th October 2014 Print
The Apprentice

The Apprentice returns on Tuesday 14 October 2014 at 9pm on BBC One and BBC One HD for a tenth series, as Lord Sugar and his advisors, Nick Hewer and Karren Brady, put a new group of candidates through the toughest business test going - with a twist right from the start. Upping the ante this year, Lord Sugar will be testing the business know-how of not 16 but 20 potential business partners in the battle for his investment.

Viewers will be treated to a double dose of boardroom drama in the first week as the second episode airs on Wednesday 15 October, with the series then continuing on Wednesdays at 9pm on BBC One.

Over 12 weeks, the 20 candidates must compete to stay out of the firing line in a bid to win the £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar by proving their skills in sales, creativity, leadership, strategy and business insight in a series of testing tasks. They all think they have what it takes, but only one candidate can win the final battle for boardroom supremacy.

This year’s budding business partners come from a diverse range of careers and backgrounds; from law and social care to marketing and management, and from fitness and fashion to accountancy and technology.

Lord Sugar is once again joined by his trusted advisors Nick and Karren, who are on hand to observe the candidates throughout each task and report back on the successes and failures that they have seen.

When Lord Sugar welcomes the candidates to the boardroom for the first time, he starts by revealing the key difference to this year’s process: “Now, this is the tenth year that we have been in this boardroom, and so on this special occasion I’m going to start things off a little bit differently. What I’ve decided to do is to kick off with 20 candidates, 10 boys and 10 girls. That’s the good news. Here’s possibly not such good news. The process will still last 12 weeks. That means that on certain occasions I may decide to dispose of more than one candidate at a time. Be prepared.”

With more candidates being given the opportunity to compete for his investment, he then offers a few words of advice about the prize they are all striving for: “This deal is all about getting a £250,000 injection into a company that both of us will own on a 50/50 basis. I won’t be working, you will be working. I will be advising and mentoring.”

Lord Sugar kicks off the series by splitting the candidates into two teams - girls vs boys. He challenges them to sell products which have all appeared in the first task of the last nine series including sausages, flowers, coffee and fruit. They are also given cash with which to add value to the products and can choose whether to sell the items directly to the public or in bulk to trade. With the aim of making as much money as possible, they must strategize carefully and plan their selling time wisely. But will the candidates prove they can better the last nine years of selling in this supersized sales task?

As the series progresses, the candidates will be put through their paces in a variety of challenging tasks. These include designing an innovative wearable technology product, creating an online video channel, running package coach tours, securing and fulfilling orders for a home fragrance range, manufacturing and selling a new board game and launching their own soft drinks brand.

Each task will, as always, be followed by a showdown in the boardroom. Which candidates will prove cut-throat competitors and who will play it safe? When the losing team returns to face Lord Sugar, who will find their mistakes have led them to hear the infamous words "You’re Fired!"?

The ever-popular companion show The Apprentice: You’re Fired! will also return to air on BBC Two immediately after the main programme. Host Dara O Briain will reflect on the fired candidate’s time on the series, delving into their best moments and toughest times, as they are quizzed by a panel of business experts and celebrity fans.

Before the tenth series kicks off, fans can also relive their favourite moments of the past decade with Ten Years Of The Apprentice, airing 12 October on BBC One. Narrated by Matt Edmondson, it will take a sideways glance at the last decade of Britain's best-loved business show. With the help of Nick, Karren and Lord Sugar himself, we'll take an irreverent rummage through the boardroom store cupboard and reminisce over moments which had viewers shouting at their televisions or high-fiving in celebration the first time round; from the quest for a kosher chicken in Marrakesh to series nine's infamous 'abdication'.

The official Apprentice website will host candidate biographies and audition tapes, as well as information about the series and preview clips of upcoming episodes. You can also catch up with all The Apprentice action on the official Apprentice Twitter (@bbcapprentice and #theapprentice) and Facebook channels.

The Apprentice is a Boundless production for BBC One. Cate Hall and Francesca Maudslay are the executive producers; Stephen Day is the series editor and Jo Wallace is the commissioning editor for the BBC.

After the first double bill on Tuesday 14 October and Wednesday 15 October, The Apprentice will air on BBC One and BBC One HD on Wednesdays at 9pm.

BBC iPlayer Exclusive

The Apprentice is back and we’ve got your exclusive first look at this year’s whopping 20 candidates exclusively on BBC iPlayer. Matt Edmondson has got his hands on the casting tapes and has done his own take on the interview process.

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The Apprentice