THE boardroom doors have reopened for another nail-biting series of The Apprentice 2025.
Eighteen candidates waste no time battling it out for the opportunity to win Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment and mentorship. But who has been eliminated so far?
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Who left The Apprentice?
Each week candidates of The Apprentice are divided into teams and given a series of business-themed tasks that they will be judged on.
Inevitably there can only be one winner of the show and so each week someone will be fired.
The boardroom is already setting dramatic scenes for viewers as three contestants have already been axed, while another quit the competition.
Here’s everything we know on the competition so far:
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Carlo Brancati
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Hair transplant consultant Carlo Brancati is the third contestant to be axed from the show.
Carlo was booted by the billionaire after branding him “disruptive and unpopular within the group”.
In the episode that aired on Thursday February 13, 2025, Carlo found himself at logger heads with co-star Max who he accused of intentionally making him perform bad by restricting his participation in the show’s infamous task of finding nine different items and getting them for the best possible price.
Their feud spilled out into the boardroom leaving Lord Sugar less than impressed.
In the end, the mogul sided with Max and opted to give Carlo the boot.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun following his exit, Carlo remarked: “I wish Lord Sugar could have given me a few tips.
“You don’t really get to interact with him at all.
“It would be nice if he could just literally come out and say, well done and well done for getting on the show. Or say congratulations and shake hands.”
Carlo continued: “I get he’s a billionaire, he’s a busy guy and so maybe he just hasn’t got time.
“But me personally, I would just say, you know, well done and congratulations.
“That would have been nice, but you can’t have everything how you want it.”
Dr. Jana Denzel
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Dr. Jana Denzel is a cosmetic dentist.
Despite being a favourite to win, Dr Denzel quit the show after being accused of using racist language in the boardroom.
The cosmetic dentist, whose clients include A-list stars, told Lord Sugar in the show’s famous boardroom he was “leaving the process” and didn’t feel a “good fit” after he had used a derogatory term to refer to another candidate.
The highly-offensive term shocked two female candidates and was flagged to show bosses.
All 18 candidates had been given strong warnings about sensitive language during an earlier task which also involved skin colour.
Dr Denzel, who has spoken with pride about his Sri Lankan heritage and being raised by refugee parents had sat in on discussions with producers to make sure he understood the offensive nature of the remark.
The next day he quit but Dr Denzel’s exit won’t air until the end of episode five.
Aoibheann Walsh
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Aoibheann Walsh became the second candidate to be fired from The Apprentice 2025 after her team failed their weekly task.
In the second episode, each team were tasked with recording a single and producing a music video by a virtual pop star that they would have to create and pitch for sponsorship.
Failing to impress Lord Sugar, Aoibheann’s decision to add AI to the voice of their avatar pop star landed her much criticism.
The Hair & Beauty salon owner brushed off the negative feedback but she lost her seat on The Apprentice.
Emma Rothwell
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Emma Rothwell was the first candidate to be fired from The Apprentice 2025 after the nineteenth series premiered on BBC One on Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 9 PM.
Emma and her fellow candidates were tasked with a job to sell tickets for a tour of the Forest experience, but her team only managed to sell a total of six tickets and Emma failed to sell one.
Back in the boardroom, things didn’t go Emma’s way and Lord Sugar fired Emma.
Upon leaving Emma told the cameras that the business mogul had made a “big mistake” by firing her.
Who is still a candidate for The Apprentice 2025?
Amber-Rose Badrudin
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Amber-Rose Badrudin was 22 when she first opened her bubble-tea business.
The convenience store owner told the BBC that Lord Sugar should invest in her because her business plan is unlike anyone else’s.
She said: “I am bringing Lord Sugar a business plan that already has a waiting customer base.
“There has never been a business plan like mine before where I get daily messages asking for our bubble tea to make a comeback.
“If Lord Sugar doesn’t invest in me, he would quite literally be leaving money on the table!”
Anisa Khan
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Anisa Khan describes herself as a go-getter after building her unique pizza business from scratch.
The English national Kabaddi player hopes to gain an investment from Lord Sugar to expand on her pizza business by opening more Indian-Italian infused kitchens in high-demand areas.
Anisa told the BBC she deserves to win because she possesses drive and determination.
She said: “I’m driven, ambitious, and determined to carve my own path.
“My business is small now but has immense potential, with a unique concept that’s already proven its appeal.
“With Lord Sugar’s support, I can turn it into a leading brand and deliver exceptional results.”
Chisola Chitambala
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Chisola Chitambala is the owner of a virtual assistant company.
The Essex-based business woman aims to step out of her comfort zone and demonstrate how well she can adapt under pressure.
She said: “I believe I deserve Lord Sugar’s investment because I am a natural leader with an unwavering commitment to excellence.
“I consistently give 110% in everything I do, and my ability to overcome challenges is unmatched.
“No problem is too great for me to find a solution to, and I thrive in high-pressure situations.”
Dean Franklin
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Dean Franklin is the owner of an air conditioning company.
He won the “Best Tradesperson of the Year award” in 2022, but describes himself as a family man at heart.
Hoping to win Lord Sugar over he said: “I honestly believe me and Lord Sugar are very similar.
“I can relate to a lot of things he has said and done in the past.
“He is very passionate about science and electronics and that’s pretty much what air conditioning is, this is what he has done in his businesses and it’s what he knows.
“This is right up his street. I’m just hoping he can show me the ropes and together we can get to the next level.”
Emma Street
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Emma Street is a corporate project manager.
The Londoner is on a mission to redefine coffee culture for the next generation, blending functional health with takeaway coffee.
With hopes to win the competition she said: “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, one shop at a time.”
Frederick Afrifa
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Frederick Afrifa is a motivational speaker and former athlete.
The former Italian national track star has dedicated his career to helping others overcome their fear of public speaking.
He once struggled to find the confidence to but he now thrives in the arena of public speaking, while helping his clients to do the same.
Frederick can’t wait to showcase his communication skills on The Apprentice
He told the BBC: “I don’t just want to make money, I want to do so while changing people’s lives for the better.”
Jonny Heaver
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Jonny Heaver is the owner of a junior tutoring company.
He set up his tutoring business while still in University and Jonny has dreams of putting heart back into the world of business.
With his sights set on an investment Jonny said: “I believe I deserve Lord Sugar’s investment not only because I run a successful company in a massive and growing market, but also because, like Lord Sugar, 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
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Jordan Dargan is an animation entrepreneur.
The Dublin boy has confessed to being a long standing fan of The Apprentice.
He is this series’ youngest candidate who wants to prove himself with his 3D animation business.
Jordan has an interesting approach to the competition.
He said: “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
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Keir Shave is the owner telemarketing company.
He set up his business in just three days after his previous employer went bust overnight.
Keir anticipates that living in a house with strangers will be the biggest challenge of the competition.
He told the BBC: “I deserve his investment as I have proven I can build and set up a successful business in a short time frame and work incredibly hard.
“Drive, skill and passion are what’s required to have a successful business, and I have proven I have that in abundance.”
Liam Snellin
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Liam Snellin is the owner of a workwear brand.
His business won an award for the “Best UK construction workwear brand” in 2023.
Essex based Liam loves a challenge and says he’s willing to put the work in to wow Lord Sugar.
He said: “I don’t believe I deserve anything from this life, I have been brought up if you want something you have to work for it and that doesn’t stop now.
“I am going in to work hard, show my character and personality and earn this investment.”
Max England
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Max England is a senior account manager and former tennis player.
With his competitive nature Max is eager to gain the judges approval with his business plan that aims to take the UK padel sport market to the next level.
He said: “I’m a former top UK tennis player, now turned padel enthusiast, with an abundance of knowledge and contacts within the industry.
“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
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Melica Moshiri is the owner of a tech recruitment company.
She aims to take her AI tech recruitment company global with the help of Lord Sugar’s mentorship.
Ambitious Melica said: “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.
“Lord Sugar will be making a big mistake if he doesn’t invest in me.”
Mia Collins
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Mia Collins is a meal prep entrepreneur.
As a bodybuilder Mia is no stranger to competition and she aims to set pace in the boardroom.
The fitness fanatic wants to expand on her business to satisfy the appetite of other gym-goers who’s busy lives would benefit from a fully catered meal prep service, delivered straight to their door.
She said: “I’ll be up against some fierce competition, but I’ve built something I am truly passionate about and will continue to dedicate myself to.
“I believe my business stands out in its industry—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
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Nadia Suliaman is the owner of a premium salon chain.
At the height of the pandemic in 2020, Nadia quit her nine to five and took a risk investment in starting a chain of hair salons.
Within year one she had expanded to five different branches across London and her clientele boasts a long-list of celebrities.
Although she’s never been on TV, but Nadia will stop at nothing to make her dreams come true.
Nadia said: “Lord Sugar should invest in my business because of my ability to turn dreams into reality.
“If I had listened to the world, I would never have started my own business.
“The business to date has proven growth even with adverse conditions such as COVID during a time when most of the high street collapsed.”
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