The two remaining candidates are challenged to launch a new high-quality alcoholic beverage in front of an audience of industry experts - before Alan Sugar reveals who he has chosen to work alongside him in a job with a six-figure salary.

The two remaining candidates are challenged to launch a new high-quality alcoholic beverage in front of an audience of industry experts - before Alan Sugar reveals who he has chosen to work alongside him in a job with a six-figure salary.

Week four of Sir Alan Sugars search for his apprentice. Sir Alan Sugar challenges the teams to set up their own cosmetics business.

Alan Sugar summons the seven remaining candidates in the heart of the City and challenges them to purchase a series of unusual items at bargain prices. The teams are split into boys and girls as Karren Brady and Nick Hewer oversee their efforts to find the best deals.

It's time to see how well the candidates can negotiate, as they have to buy ten items for the lowest amount of money. It may seem to be a relatively simple task, but Sir Alan has asked for one particular item that the teams may have to look extremely hard for.

Alan Sugar sends the candidates to Margate on the Kent coast, where they are challenged to produce an eye-catching series of posters and leaflets designed to attract tourists to the seaside resort.

The final week and only two candidates remain in the compitition. With former colleagues coming back to help, or possibly hinder, the final task of the season is to plan and present ideas of what to do with a £120 million site that Sir Alan has recently bought. This time however, the final boardroom will reveal who has been hired.

The seven remaining candidates find themselves looking for an innovative product that could do well, with each team pitching their choices to retailers.

It's time for the candidates to practice their sales technique once more, as they have to sell live on TV to the public. However, this task is not as simple as it may seem, as the teams are also required to choose which specific products they want to sell.

The eight survivors try to succeed in the world of fashion at Top Shop in Oxford Circus, London.

Sir Alan has developed a new venture for business flights – the Amsair Card – and instructs each team to come up with a promotional campaign for it, including a video and billboard advert, pitching their concept to advertising experts.

The eighth task starts with an early morning trip to Waterloo Station, but the teams are not going anywhere; underneath the railway arches is a big screen with a message from Lord Sugar. He tells the teams to take a look around; they are surrounded by graffiti, and this is what they will be selling next. The teams have one day to meet and convince up-and-coming urban artists that they are the right team to represent them in a one-off gallery sale.

After a punishing first task, there is no let-up for the candidates, as Sir Alan challenges them to set up a catering service for busy professionals in the City of London. In tough economic times, the teams must agree a distinctive identity to stand out from the competition and win new customers.

The candidates must rent out expensive sports cars.

With one candidate fired last week, the remaining 15 are given the task to design products for dogs. These ideas must then be presented to three pet stores.

The final 4 candidates, Sarah, Tim, Paul and James are interviewed by Sir Alan's top executives. The executives give their opinion on each of the candidiates and Sir Alan takes the advice of the executives and then sacks two candidates. After a final grilling boardroom, James is fired first then Paul is fired, this leaves Sara and Tim for the final.

It's time for the five remaining candidates to face the interview process. Three candidates are set to face the chop, as Sir Alan looks to choose the best of the best from the final five.

Travelling north for their next challenge, each team must choose two innovative products, and then sell their choices to the right markets within two days.

It's all about satin and sequins as Sir Alan Sugar sets both teams the challenge of selling wedding dresses at a wedding show at the Birmingham NEC. The candidates have just one day to visit specialist bridal businesses and select gowns that will be popular with brides-to-be at the show. Success in this task will depend on choosing the right products to sell - and with more than 300 exhibitors at the show, the competition is tougher than it's ever been before.

Sir Alan had been involved in the refurbishment of the Hackney Empire and this week a group of celebrities and the remaining candidates helped raise some money in a celebrity auction. Sir Alan separated Paul and Saira asking them both to select members for the new teams. First Forte were led by James and included Saira, Sebastian and Raj. Impact were led by Ben and included Miriam, Paul and Tim. Each team visited five celebrities and tried to obtain something from each of them which would be auctioned. Ben wisely gave Miriam the task of chatting up Michael Winner who contributed a table for four at The Ivy. Impact were on fire and then managed to get Dermuid Gavin to part with his prized Suzuki bike. First Forte were struggling. Eamonn Holmes charmed the group sitting them on the GMTV studio couch but the most he would offer was a tour of the TV studios and breakfast in the canteen.

At a shopping mall in the City of London, Lord Sugar points out to the teams the wide range of successful fast-food chains and tells them to invent their own outlet, develop a unique cuisine, open it to the public and pitch the concept to him and experts from the fast-food industry. The teams get two brand new sites in the centre of the West End to turn into protoype fast-food outlets. One team goes for Mexican meals, the other for British pie and mash. Both teams split - one half to cook, the other to make the branding match the concept. The Mexican restaurant gets called Caracas because it sounds like maracas, while the pies get named after historic Britains; except that, once the branding has been done, Nick casts doubt on the British credentials of Christopher Columbus.

It is week five, and the candidates boldly enter the world of fashion. Lord Sugar ups the ante when he challenges the teams to open pop-up shops at the Trafford Centre in Manchester - one of Europe's largest shopping centres. The teams must select ranges of clothing from some of London's most up-and-coming designers, and are tasked with charming the fashionistas to allow them to represent their brand at retail. Under the ever-watchful eyes of Nick and Karren, the teams swap their business suits for some cool clobber and use every trick in the book to market and promote their stores. In the boardroom, one candidate on the losing team faces a serious dressing-down from Lord Sugar, who is in an unforgiving mood.

It's down to the farm for our Apprentice wannabes, as the teams take on an ice cream making challenge. Alpha and Renaissance must make three new flavours, and then launch two of those products into the untapped London market. The team which secures the most orders, by value, will win.

The candidates must design their own brand of tissues, and create both a TV commercial and printed advertisement in order to promote the product.

Miriam was the last woman standing in First Forte. Four of the original seven women in the team had been fired and two had transferred to Impact. In week five Miriam's team included team leader Sebastian, Ben, Tim and new recruit James. In the undefeated Impact were team leader Rachel, Saira, Paul, Matthew and Raj. This week the teams visited seven modern artists and had to choose which one they would represent selling their work at a gallery one evening. Matthew admitted: ""I wouldn't recognize a Damian Hirst if one fell on me."" James charmed Rob and Nick Carter when he visited them and their light-inspired work. Both Impact and First Forte wanted to represent their work in the gallery. So the Carters had to decide who they wanted to represent them - and they chose First Forte. Impact represented Lucy Bennett, their second choice. Paul went out on the streets to invite guest to the gallery. ""No entendemos nada. Hablamos español,"" said one lady.

The candidates attempt to crack the rural market at the Royal Bath and West show.

The teams are at the Science Museum, where they have to select two innovative new products to sell to trade. One of the members of the team which loses the challenge is failed by Sir Alan at the end of the show.

Lord Sugar meets a fresh batch of candidates in his search for an apprentice, as another series of the business-based reality TV show begins. The first task for the candidates is to produce a range of sausages ready for sale the next morning. They are given a crash-course in crafting the perfect sausage, before hitting the streets at the crack of dawn in the hope of selling their stock, under the watchful eyes of Nick Hewer and Karren Brady. At the end of the day, one candidate will be fired.

After facing a multitude of business tasks and a tough interview, the two finalists now face one more challenge – helped by old friends, each finalist must market a brand new box of chocolates, pitching their concept to a panel of business and chocolate experts.

The candidates are tasked with taking a collection of items given to them by Sir Alan Sugar and selling them for the most proffit.

This week the two teams have to create a new piece of portable gym equipment and create a poster advertising it. They then have to demonstrate the equipment. At the end of the show one of the candidates from the loosing show is fired by Sir Alan.

The remaining four candidates are split into two teams to develop and present a new type of fragrance. The teams are joined by former candidates, and with only the winning team able to get the chance to work with Sir Alan, they must overcome this final hurdle in a bid to become the next Apprentice.

The candidates have to create their own brand of trainer.

The final, one contestant is hired by Sir Alan Sugar.

The final two candidiates are put through their final challenge - to create a themed event on a boat. Both candidiates are given £5000 and some advice from Sir Alan, before they start the task they choose to pick previous candidates to help them on their task. Tim chooses to run a fashion event on the boat while Sara chooses a wine tasting event.

Two girls had been fired in the first two weeks. "We're too good for them," boasted Raj. But Sir Alan Sugar had decided to reorganize the teams for the third week. "Matthew, I'm gonna make you the team leader," he boomed. Matthew looked gobsmacked. Adele was also chosen as a Team leader by Sir Alan Matthew, Raj, Paul and James were joined by Saira and Rachel for team Impact.Adele, Miranda and Miriam were joined by Ben, Sebastian and Tim for team First Forte.Their task: to buy a range of products including a diamond, a bottle of champagne, jellied eels, a bowler hat, a Freeview box, a dental check-up - and get back to the boardroom by 5.30pm. Adele gave each team member a job description. Miranda was not pleased to be appointed Adele's PA and ordered to take notes of meetings. James knew exactly where to buy a bottle of Bollinger 96 Grande Ann�e. He took the team off to the expensive Lea and Sandeman wine merchants in the Fulham Road - and paid �49 for a bottle.

The candidates are given the task of a new breakfast cereal with a brand identity including a name for the cereal, design for the box and film a TV campaign that will appeal both to the parents and the children.

The candidates set off on a two-day business trip to Marrakesh, where they are challenged to find the best deals possible when buying 10 items in the city's markets. The budding entrepreneurs race against time and tempers flare as the deadline approaches.

This week the two teams have to create a range of greetings cards for a new occasion. Three members of the loosing team end up in the board room with Sir Alan where one of them will be fired.

On Week 11, the remaining 4 candidates are going it alone as they go into interview process again with 3 of the best of the people to help Sir Alan to make his decision on which two people to get fired.

This week, the nine remaining candidates are given the task to sell second-hand cars. With only a 10-hour time limit, they need to convince as many customers as possible to part with their hard earned cash.

Four weeks into his search for an apprentice, Sir Alan challenges the teams to set up their own photography business at a busy shopping centre on the outskirts of London. Charged with taking and selling photos, the teams must work together to rake in the money.

The remaining candidates head to Pinewood film studios in Buckinghamshire, where they are challenged to create personal movie experiences that give consumers a chance to star in their own feature films. Both teams stretch their creative muscles and put together car races, rollercoaster rides and encounters with sharks, before visiting Westfield shopping centre in London to promote their creations to the public.

The teams must select products which they believe will sell the best during an hour of live television. They must then sell these on-screen themselves.

To start of the new season, Sir Alan sets the task in which two teams, separating into the girls and the boys, have to sell fish out on the streets of London. There was much talk of the boys' team splitting into two factions: the first of these contained Alex, Simon, Lee and Ian while the second consisted of Raef, Michael and Nicholas. Coverage was shown of all members of the boys' team; however, some members of the girls' team (notably Shazia, Lucinda and Jenny) had almost no coverage in this week's episode.

As only six contestants remain, each team must let property. As usual the team that brings back the least amount of money, will lose, and one member, will get fired.

Lord Sugar asks the candidates to design a brand new board game.

It's time to see if the teams have a sweet tooth, with this weeks task involving the manufacturing and selling of sweets at London Zoo. The teams must decide which target market to aim for - parents or children - as well as integrating within the zoo and it's main animal attractions.

Sir Alan Sugar begins a new search for an apprentice for 2006 amongst fourteen new candidates. For their first task, they must purchase produce within a budget of £500, before up-selling their stock for a profit around Hackney.

Each team is tasked with running their own DIY business, securing work around London alongside one of two contracts arranged by Lord Sugar.

Lord Sugar tells the candidates that he wants to test their negotiation skills.

The remaining ten candidates get a special treat from Sir Alan, as they take a trip across the Channel. However, this will be no holiday, as the two teams are set the task to make as large a profit as possible by selling British food to the French.

The candidates must come up with a unique piece of flat-pack furniture, before producing prototypes and pitching their products to retailers.

With just two candidates left battling it out for the £250,000 investment, the finalists receive a call telling them to travel to events venue One Marylebone. There they are met by Lord Sugar, who informs them that their final task is launch their businesses. They must come up with brands and launch campaigns before unveiling them at an event. There is a race to recruit old candidates as the finalists build their teams; the next day, it is straight down to business building brands. There's trouble in store for one candidate when their chosen name proves unpopular with the public, and others see red over what colours to use in their logo. As the finalists fight it out, there are surprises in store and anxiety abounds.

The Apprentice returns with 16 brand new contestants, who will battle it out week-by-week for the chance to win a six-figure salary as Sir Alan Sugar's new apprentice.

The candidates have to choose from a selection of innovative products which have never been seen before in the UK market. They are then required to sell as many of the three products they have chosen to retailers.

Sir Alan has a new shopping list of ten items to be found, testing each team's negotiating skills on sourcing and bargaining for the best deal with each purchase.

The candidates are asked to create a brand new range of premium puddings.

The teams must represent British crisp companies hoping to break into the German market.

The teams take on the job of raising money for Great Ormond Street Hospital, each designing a themed calendar and pitching it to retailers as a test of their creative and pitching skills.

The remaining candidates are interviewed by four of Lord Sugar's trusted advisers.

Sir Alan had arranged with Mohammed Al-Fayed for the teams to test their retailing skills in Harrods. Both teams were given £600 seed money to spend as they will. Marigay McKee from Harrods told the teams it was very important to smile. Matthew glowered. Tim was leader for First Forte James was Project Manager for Impact this week. Impact started off badly: Matthew tripped up, Paul miscalculated the percentage of Harrods own-brand goods and the sales area was empty. Impact and First Forte had to chose between 2 areas 1 or 2. First Forte tryed to get Impact seed money for return of first choice but First Forte was stupid enough and still got first choice Number 2. First Forte started to hire a Face painter, demonstraters and a panoist in order to attract consumers while Impact had nothing. Then Paul had the idea of dressing up as Rosie the Bear - and he enchanted the kids and the tills started ringing.

The candidates receive an early morning phone call from Lord Sugar, who tells them they have 24 hours to brush up on their business plans, before being interviewed by four of his trusted advisors. The next day, business plans in hand, it's off to the Institute of Directors. Lord Sugar explains that his advisors will be scrutinizing their plans and credentials, before feeding back to him. The nerves kick in straight away for the Final Five, as the anxious candidates are called in one by one to meet Lord Sugar's hand-picked hit-squad. Armed with CVs and business plans, the advisors waste no time in taking the candidates to task. Egos are attacked, book-cooking uncovered, and personalities pulverised. There are anxious moments for some, and extraordinary things uncovered as the candidates are pushed to the limit. In an emotional boardroom, Lord Sugar receives some surprising news, and someone feels the full force of his fury, before a shock exit leaves everyone open-mouthed. In the fight to make the final, dreams come crashing down. Only two can make the grade, as the rest all kiss the investment goodbye as they hear the words 'You're fired!'.

It's week 8, and the candidates are sent to the Isle of Wight to secure nine items for the best price. A last-minute dash to the finish sets up a close race in the boardroom.

With only 6 people left, Sir Alan will set another challenging task. Brought aboard the Grand Princess as it travels between Istanbul and Naples, each team is tasked with providing a special event for passengers in which success comes from good sales and customer sanctification.

The candidates are set a 21st-century task - creating video channels for YouTube.

Called to a north London wholesale warehouse, the teams are met by a nostalgic Lord Sugar, who tells the teams that it was from places like this that he started out buying low to sell high. He gives both teams a pallet carrying 250 pounds' worth of wholesale goods. They must find out what sells best, then re-invest in those products. It is a simple exercise in following the money and increasing sales. The pallets contain cheap nodding dogs, pricey pressure washers, duvet sets, cut-price sunglasses, brollies, watches and more. The prospects for the task look good, and there are quick volunteers for the team leader roles. They have the whole of London to sell to: street markets, houses door-to-door, offices and maps to help find more. The trick is to match the products to the potential market, but some get it badly wrong, taking tacky stuff to snobby areas, or high-priced goods to East End pound shops. For some selling comes naturally, but for others it's a humiliating struggle.

After facing ten tasks as teams, the five remaining candidates now compete as individuals in their next task – a series of tough, gruelling interviews with four of Lord Sugar's most trusted associates

The two finalists receive a call summoning them to London's City Hall. Lord Sugar informs them that their final task is to launch their business by creating a brand and unveiling their campaign in front of a packed audience full of industry experts. A few old faces return as the two finalists choose key colleagues to try to help them secure the £250,000 investment, and it is straight to work as they set out to build a brand, make a TV advert and create a company fit for Lord Sugar. In the boardroom, business plans are evaluated and ad campaigns are assessed, but there can only one winner. It is heartbreak for one and ecstasy for the other, as Lord Sugar finally picks his next business partner.

Sixteen candidates begin their fight for one-life changing opportunity - a quarter of a million pounds to start up a business with Lord Sugar as their partner. In the first task, the boys compete against the girls. Each team must buy blank goods, add value by printing a design onto them and then sell them from stalls on the streets of London. It is a test of the candidates' creativity, marketing and salesmanship.

Week 1: Container is the first episode of the reality television series The Apprentice (UK) - Season 9.

Lord Sugar summons the finalists to the heart of London’s financial district to set them their final challenge in their attempt to win his £250,000 investment. For their last chance to convince Lord Sugar they are worthy of his cash, each finalist must launch their business. Invited back to aid the two finalists are some of this year’s fired candidates. In an intensive three-day challenge, the finalists must create a new brand for their company, produce a digital screen for the London Underground and direct and edit a television advert before pitching to Lord Sugar and a room full of industry experts at London’s City Hall. Back in the boardroom, after 12 tough weeks, Lord Sugar declares who wins.

The remaining candidates face the scrutiny of Lord Sugar’s most trusted advisors, who are primed to pick apart their business plans. Only two can proceed to the final.

The candidates are called to the Tower of London, where Lord Sugar tells them that their latest task is to sell products at the Motorhome and Caravan Show, and they are left with no doubt that he expects them all to impress. Half head off to test drive camping accessories and win over suppliers, but when both teams choose the same products, there is disappointment in store for some. Both project managers head straight to the show to select a high ticket item worth thousands, but matching products to punters proves a tricky task and piles on the pressure for both teams. On sales day, the teams divide, with half pushing must-have accessories, from electric bikes to rooftop boats, while the rest try to pull off showstopping sales of top end trailers. With high end products topping out at £17,000, every minute counts in the last minute push for a winning sale.

There's no place to hide as the final five candidates face four of Sir Alan's trusted advisors in face-to-face interviews.

As this year's series of The Apprentice draws to a close and the tension mounts, this programme profiles the remaining five candidates. Revealing the true stories behind their super-confident egos, we discover what really makes these budding business men and women tick. Family, friends and former bosses, along with Lord Sugar's trusted aides Nick Hewer and Karren Brady, discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the final five personalities as they vie for the prize of a quarter-million pound investment and a partnership with Lord Sugar.

They knew they had to impress Britain's toughest boss. If they failed, they'd get the chop. 16 hopefuls went into battle for Lord Sugar's £250,000 investment. Now, he explains how some candidates lost the plot completely and others survived by the skin of their teeth.

Lord Sugar takes a look back at the candidates who fell before the final hurdle.

Lord Sugar looks back on the candidates who fell before the final hurdle and the tasks that took them to the brink.

The final episode of this series sees Lord Sugar name his business partner. The final four candidates are called to the Institute of Directors in the City, where Lord Sugar asks them to pitch their business concepts to him right there on the spot. Then it is down to business with Margaret Mountford, Mike Soutar, Matthew Riley and tough-talking Claude Littner.

The venue for the candidates' latest briefing is St Pancras International. With the next Eurostar about to leave, there is just time for Lord Sugar to brief and re-balance the personnel, and then it's off to Paris for half of each team. The others must stay back and choose some new British designs to sell to the French. It is a classic export task, with Lord Sugar on the lookout for proven ability to do business abroad. While the candidates in Paris arrange sales appointments for tomorrow, the London-based groups are treated to quirky products by entrepeneurs wanting a slice of the French market. There's everything from toys to top-end bikes. It is immediately clear that some of Lord Sugar's budding business partners know very little about the French, and even less about what they will buy. To help, he sets them up with a major French retailer, but the teams must fix all the other pitches. Street-based research gets lost in translation.

After eleven tasks, it's finally time for Lord Sugar to choose his business partner. The four finalists each have to face a gruelling interview process on their own. There is nowhere to hide as each of them is grilled by four of Lord Sugar's trusted business colleagues and advisors. Each candidate will also have their business ideas tested to destruction, as their plans for their business with Lord Sugar are put under the microscope. It's the ultimate test of character, as every aspect of their personal and professional lives is scrutinised and judged by the influential interviewers. After they have made their assessments, Lord Sugar's four advisors feed back their opinions and explain their verdicts to him in the boardroom. As the candidates take their turn to plead their case, three will have their dreams shattered as Lord Sugar delivers his final ruling on who will become his business partner.

The candidates are enjoying their day off when Lord Sugar turns up at the door. Suddenly it's down to work after he tells them to make, brand and pitch a new type of upmarket biscuit. Project managers get picked (in one case reluctantly) and then it's time for the teams to split up, with half off to a biscuit development lab in Swansea. The teams have two days to get the baking done and packaging designed. In Wales there are sharp elbows in evidence in one team as two of the candidates vie to get their idea made, whilst the other team goes straight for an after-school treat. The ultra-competitive team's focus group munches its way through lots of crunchy offers without a favourite emerging. No-one likes ideas suggested by fellow team members and in the end the decision is a compromise. On the other team, the branding for kids ends up losing precision and no-one can understand its selling point. Hard work in the development lab produces professional looking biscuits.

As this series of The Apprentice draws to a close and the tension mounts, this programme profiles the remaining five candidates. Revealing the true stories behind the super confident egos, we discover what really makes these budding business men and women tick. Parents, friends and employees, along with Lord Sugar's trusted aides Nick Hewer and Karren Brady, discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the final five personalities, and look back over their journey in the process. Plus we hear from their fans back home, and find out just who are the Final Five.

The candidates give their assessment of their personal triumphs and failures and the lessons they have learned during the process. Not to mention the bitching, backstabbing and the blame games they have had to overcome to get this far. The programme investigates the five contenders' family backgrounds and reveals more of their characters as friends and family talk about the childhood, upbringing and personality traits that have shaped the final five into who they are today. Nick Hewer and Karren Brady share their thoughts on the candidates' performance thus far and assess the strengths and weaknesses of each individual, explaining what qualities they believe Lord Sugar sees in the final five.

Lord Sugar turns the candidates' attentions towards the highly profitable keep fit industry. The teams have two days to devise and brand a new fitness class that reflects recent popular trends like Zumba or Body Pump, which attract gym members to classes in big numbers. They must then pitch their routines to leading health and fitness chains, who will pay for the rights to run them if they like what they see.

Lord Sugar gathers the candidates under the statue of Aphrodite at the British Museum, and reveals their next task: to set-up beauty treatment businesses in Birmingham. At the briefing, he re-balances the teams and personally appoints the project managers. The British beauty industry is worth 14 billion pounds annually, with the best margins in hands-on treatments, so Lord Sugar demands both teams offer these and sell cosmetic products off the back of them. After a choice of professional treatments have been offered to the teams, followed by a short wrangle over total body spray tan, the teams choose two treatments each and get down to some hands-on training. But one of the boys feels that touchy-feely beauty challenges his masculinity, and could worry his girlfriend. Under the watchful eye of Nick and Karren, the teams take their choices to Birmingham. One team goes for the city centre, while the other chooses an out-of-town mall.

With just two more tasks remaining, the remaining aspiring entrepreneurs go under the microscope, revealing the real people behind the businesswear.

The candidates seize the opportunity to impress Lord Sugar as they take over an industrial bakery. The teams are each given a market stall from which they try to tempt hungry customers with their baked goods, and they go head-to-head to pitch for the business of a high-class hotel, a restaurant and a coffee shop. Nick and Karren keep an eye on proceedings as the teams work to keep up with orders, and when the teams face Lord Sugar in the boardroom, one candidate is fired.

As the series draws to a close and tension mounts, this programme profiles the remaining five candidates, revealing the true stories behind their super-confident egos.

Week three and the candidates are summoned to London’s Regent Street Cinema for an exclusive screening. Lord Sugar reveals they must create a new preschool cartoon aimed at two-to-four-year-olds to pitch to industry experts. One team showcases incomplete characters, whilst the other presents a sketchy storyline.

The candidates are called to meet Lord Sugar on a rooftop overlooking the City of London, where countless financial deals are done on a daily basis. For one day only, the teams will be representing an online daily deals website that offers Londoners exclusive deals in hotel stays, beauty treatments, posh dinners and premium products. It is a test in the teams' negotiation skills; they must strike the right deal, get a good discount and deliver their offers to the website by 7pm that evening. Nick and Karren watch on as the teams get increasingly desperate in their attempts to secure quality deals at the right price. Businesses are bemused as candidates try to negotiate offers on everything from candles and teeth whitening to five-star meals and fish pedicures.

This year's 16 candidates set sail from Portsmouth, their first task being to come up with marketing campaigns for a new cruise liner.

This week, candidates create a new virtual pop star and music video before pitching for sponsorship. Dodgy design and mediocre music leads to one candidate being declared a flop.

The candidates must tap into the bottled water market to create a TV advertisement and a social media campaign, but watered-down branding and wishy-washy ads mean a candidate is filtered out.

The candidates are called to meet Lord Sugar at London's famous Savoy Hotel to be briefed on their next task. Following a 220 million pound refurbishment, the hotel requires a number of last-minute items prior to its grand reopening. The business hopefuls have nine hours to source ten products, and their powers of negotiation are pushed to the limit as they attempt to track down everything on the hotel's unusual shopping list and purchase them at the lowest possible price. Nick and Karren watch on as the candidates get increasingly desperate in their attempts to find quality items at bargain prices. With the deadline looming, tension reaches fever pitch as last-minute deals are struck. Both teams are faced with a dash to the Savoy to have their purchases inspected by the scrupulous eye of the hotel's general manager. Missing or incorrect items are subject to penalty fines, and this leads to a dramatic result in the boardroom.

It's week six, and the candidates jet off to the cosmopolitan city of Dubai. Here they must put on a corporate away day for two international clients based in the city. While one team shows off the glitz and glam of the city, the other goes for a more traditional approach in the desert. But it's the team with the most profit at the end that will win. Back on home soil, it’s the end of the road for another candidate.

Ahead of the final, Lord Sugar looks back on the tasks from this year's series and assesses the candidates' performances. The business tycoon also looks back on the boardroom bust-ups and goes through the best decisions made by the contestants, as well as the worst - including five-star hotel rooms painted in shades of trifle, modern cars in medieval villages and getting lost while showing paying customers around Bruges.

An in-depth look at the final five candadiates, featuring interviews from family, friends and loved ones, as well as Lord Sugar’s trusted aides Baroness Brady and Claude Littner.

For week ten, the candidates are tasked with creating and branding a new dog food before pitching to major retailers. In the kitchen, one team wrangles with their recipe, making a dog’s dinner of their signature dish, whilst on the other team a premium product fails to deliver. On the branding teams, candidates bicker to be top dog. With plenty to chew over, Lord Sugar sends one candidate for walkies.

The candidates jet off to breathtaking Türkiye to run corporate away-day experiences. Prioritising profit and substandard service result in another candidate being fired.

Lord Sugar's candidates are tasked with creating a new vegan alternative to cheese to pitch to major retailers. But unusual recipes and bland brands result in another candidate being fired.

With the final just days away and Lord Sugar on the cusp of choosing his new business partner, we look back on the candidates who fell before the final hurdle.

Following an early morning call summoning the candidates to Heathrow airport, hopes are high for a sunshine getaway. No such luck for the candidates, though, as Lord Sugar sets the task of designing and creating a brand new beach accessory. The task is centred on creating something completely original for the nation's sun worshipers, along with an eye-catching poster to promote their product. Candidates must then pitch their product to three big retailers in the hopes of securing orders and avoiding a place in the boardroom. A surprise result leads to a fierce boardroom battle, where one more candidate is faced with hearing Lord Sugar's immortal words "You're fired".

The teams are sent back to school as Lord Sugar reveals that for this week’s task they will be creating a toy for 6-8-year-olds.

With Lord Sugar on the cusp of choosing his new business partner, this programme provides a chance to look back on the candidates who fell before the final hurdle, and the tasks that tested them to the limit. From making beer and selling caravans to thinking up an online dating concept, this year's budding business partners have been pushed to breaking point. Lord Sugar takes us through the best, and worst, decisions made by this year's candidates, and explains how each week he decided who would hear the fateful phrase 'You're fired!'.

For week two, the candidates are summoned to Hutong at The Shard in Central London. Lord Sugar reveals that they will be manufacturing savoury bao buns to punt to the public and a bespoke sweet bun to sell to a corporate client, with the team who secures the biggest overall profit winning. One team bites off more than they can chew with a Jurassic-themed bun, leading to explosions in the kitchen, while the other team are left in short supply after a maths meltdown. In the boardroom, one member of the losing team is sent packing.

The two finalists go head-to-head one last time to become Lord Sugar’s new business partner and win his £250,000 investment. With the help of some familiar faces, they must launch their business, create a new brand for their company, produce a digital billboard, direct and edit a TV advert and design a metaverse, then pitch it all to Lord Sugar and industry experts at a black-tie event.

Lord Sugar’s business hopefuls jet off to Hong Kong on a mission to secure nine items at knock-down prices. In the boardroom, the boss is back and the firing finger is fully loaded.

As usual, this week, the candidates need to make as much money as possible. However, in a test of entrepreneurial skills, the candidates are free to do whatever they want from a small starting fund given to them by Sir Alan.

Lord Sugar’s search for a new business partner is back, and this year’s 18 candidates kick things off on the magnificent Caribbean island of Antigua. Under the watchful eye of Baroness Karren Brady and Claude Littner, the teams must sell and run bespoke tours. After bickering on the beach and some woeful negotiations, back in the boardroom, one candidate is sent packing.

Some familiar faces are back to interrogate the business plans of the final five, and with £250,000 in touching distance, there’s tears, tension and tough love.

The candidates' next task is creating and branding a new non-alcoholic drink and hosting a launch event where they will be pitching and selling to leading retailers.

Once upon a time, 18 candidates were tasked with creating a story book. Unfinished illustrations and a stinky storyline mean the fairy tale is over, and another candidate is fired.

In a tourist hot-spot in north Wales, the candidates run their own highland railway, quarry tour and zip line.

An early morning delivery sends the candidates into the fast-paced world of technology. Lord Sugar challenges the teams to think big and go global as they must design, launch and promote a new mobile phone application. In the battle for downloads, the teams must create a mobile app and pitch it to three influential technology websites to become 'App of the Day', as well as attempt to convince a huge crowd of bloggers and software experts at a major gaming fair to support the application and increase downloads. With their apps downloadable for 24 hours, a dramatic result leads to a fierce boardroom battle, and one more candidate faces Lord Sugar's immortal words: 'You're fired'.

Lord Sugar asks the candidates to don their lab coats and goggles as he challenges them to create and sell their own perfume.

The teams design a kids' banking app and accompanying money box to pitch to industry experts, but an absence of education and disjointed designs lead to one candidate being fired.

Lord Sugar challenges the candidates to create and market a new rollercoaster.

The teams are called to a warehouse in Essex; Lord Sugar tells the candidates that this is how he started out, buying wholesale goods and selling them on for a profit. Both teams are given 150 pounds to spend on products of their choice, with Essex as their selling ground. Products are purchased and hopes for big profits are pinned on a collection of mops, MP3 players, fake tan and false eyelashes.

The candidates enter the choppy waters of the fish business, sourcing a catch of the day and creating a fish dish to sell to the public.

Lord Sugar sends the candidates to the historic university cities of Oxford and Cambridge, where they will attempt to procure nine items that are associated with both places.

It is week six, and Lord Sugar sends the candidates to Scotland, where they must make gourmet grub and sell it on the streets of Edinburgh. The teams decide on Italian meatballs and Scottish stew, but before heading north there is a spot of market research at one of London's fancy street food fairs. It is clear from what is served up that there is more to this business than dishing up a burger and chips.

The candidates are sent to buzzing Brighton and Hove, one of the fastest growing cities in the UK. Here, amongst the bustling streets, the candidates must secure and negotiate nine items synonymous with the area. The team that secures the most items at the lowest prices, wins. Then, back in the boardroom, it’s rock bottom for another candidate.

It's week eight, and the candidates' task is to host immersive events in Shropshire. They must sell tickets, book entertainment and organise food and drink. The team that produces the biggest overall profit wins. One team deals with confused convicts, whilst the other team narrowly avoids a dining disaster. In the boardroom, it’s lights out for one candidate as they’re told ‘You’re fired’.

Two finalists will be tasked with launching a new business and pitching it to Lord Sugar for the chance to win his £250,000 investment and become his next business partner.

The teams are challenged to create, manufacture and sell their own ranges of ice lollies.

The candidates turn petals into profits, selling flowers to the public and corporate clients. But a bunch of problems lead to a pruning in the boardroom.

It's week 11, and the final five candidates must pass a gruelling round of interviews with some of Britain’s toughest interviewers. But only two can make it through to the grand final.

The five remaining candidates are put under the microscope, revealing the real people behind the business wear.

It's week seven, and the candidates must design a new lunchbox aimed at six-to-eight-year-olds, along with an app to encourage healthy eating. For one team, a clear vision helps them take a bite out of the market. On the other, poor decisions and a lack of vision leads to dreary designs. In the boardroom, there’s no such thing as a free lunch as one candidate is fired.

For week nine, the candidates must design a new men’s skincare product, then pitch it to industry buyers. For one team, wrangling over a recipe leads to a disastrous skin-staining goo, meanwhile a lack of creativity on the other team results in an unoriginal concept. In the boardroom, Lord Sugar decides to wash his hands of not just one candidate, but two, in a shock double firing!

The candidates turn crops to cash. It's team tomatoes versus team potatoes. But over-promising and dicey decisions mean that when they return to the boardroom, another candidate is given the chop.

For their first task, Lord Sugar’s candidates are sent to Austria to sell and run alpine tours. Poor sales and bullish negotiations mean it’s auf wiedersehen for one candidate.

The candidates are called to the restaurant at the top of the Gherkin in London, where they learn that their latest task is to create and brand their own ready meal. At the end of the show one of the candidates from the losing team is fired by Lord Sugar.

As the final looms, Lord Sugar takes a look back to the tasks he set for this year's series of The Apprentice. From an unexpected resignation and making disastrous health snacks, to shampoo branding and selling pet accessories, he relives all of the mistakes, doomed decisions, and other notable events that occurred during the process, and provides his reasons behind each firing he made amongst the candidates for the process, which ultimately whittle them down to the two finalists for this series.

In the penultimate episode, some familiar faces return as the final five entrepreneurs and their business ideas are interrogated by Lord Sugar’s trusted advisors. A deep dive into their business plans reveals fictitious figures, crazy concepts and absurd ambitions. For one candidate, it’s the end of the road as Lord Sugar tells them 'You’re fired'.

The candidates launch an environmentally conscious fashion brand, but after risky style choices and run-of-the-mill designs, another candidate is sent packing.

As this year's series of The Apprentice draws closer to its finale, this special episode takes a look at profiling the true story behind the five remaining candidates. Discussing their backgrounds, experiences, personality, and strengths and weaknesses, are a selection of each candidate's friends, family and colleagues, as well as Lord Sugar's aides, Claude Littner and Karren Brady.

Week 3, and it's chicken v egg. The candidates race to turn ingredients into a profit, but ruffled feathers and picky eaters spark drama in the boardroom.

Lord Sugar asks the teams to set up second-hand shops in London's fashionable East End, home to a thriving market in retro and refurbished household goods. The teams must source second-hand stock from auctions, junk shops and car boot sales, and resell at a profit during a one-day-sale from their respective shops.

Lord Sugar kicks off the new series with a task like no other. Sixteen candidates are sent to South Africa to set up wine and safari tours.

Lord Sugar summons the candidates to Crossrail’s leafy roof garden, nestled above the new Elizabeth Line station in Canary Wharf, where he sets them a gardening task. The teams must set up their own urban gardening business, carrying out commercial and domestic jobs across London. On day one, both PM teams visit corporate clients to pitch a plan and secure a price for a large rooftop renovation.

The teams must design an electric toothbrush aimed at children aged between six and eight, as well as an accompanying app that encourages them to brush their teeth.

The teams must create a new chocolate Easter egg to sell to industry buyers, but faults with flavours and scrambled branding lead Lord Sugar to crack down on another candidate.

This week, candidates create and advertise their own hot sauce to pitch to experts. Basic branding, absurd adverts and critical errors lead to a shock result in the boardroom.

The two finalists come head-to-head as they launch their businesses and pitch to Lord Sugar for the chance to become his next business partner and win the £250,000 investment.

In the second episode of The Apprentice the boys didn't tell the girls the phone call had come through and cheekily left them in bed. They had just 20 minutes to leave the house when they finally woke up. The two teams, boys v girls, had two days to research, design, make and present a new children's toy. The girls chose Lindsay as their team leader she was determined to choose a toy she had invented. Secret Signals were cards for children to make semaphore signals. She even imposed it on the rest after both the team and a group of children had voted it down. Raj was chosen as Impact project manager as he had some experince in this field. First Forte wasted a lot of time on another toy, a robot, that may well have won if Lindsay had not enforced her preference on the others. The boys developed an electronic game. Both teams presented their games to senior executives at a games company who recommended the boys' game should win.

As Lord Sugar celebrates his 70th birthday, the contestants are tasked to a shopping spree across London to purchase items that mark milestones in his life and career. The candidates have one day to find nine specific items at the best possible price, before meeting at the House of Lords. For one team, there is confusion over the mystery object, while poor planning leaves the other team lagging behind. In the boardroom, Lord Sugar gives out warnings, as well as hefty fines, before sending one contestant home.

Lord Sugar looks back at the candidates who fell before the final hurdle and the tasks that took them to the brink, with the help of some previously unseen boardroom moments.