The Apprentice

Kahnee · February 7, 2006

The Candidates

:: Alexa Tilley, 28, from London

:: Management consultant

Cambridge-educated Alexa is the cousin of Little Britain star Matt Lucas. An accomplished marathon runner, cyclist and captain of her local tennis club, she was MD of a Young Enterprise company while still doing her A-levels.

Says: "I think that the Government should work hard to ensure that gifted students are encouraged to reach for the heights, whatever their financial position."

:: Jo Cameron, 35, from Leamington Spa (born in Coventry)

:: HR manager

Jo was recently made redundant from her job as a sales manager for MG Rover. While at university she stacked shelves in Asda and got great job satisfaction: "I took great pride in getting the washing powder lined up nicely in a row." Describes herself as "a bit mad".

Says: "I'm hard work, I'm high energy. Being with me all day will wear you out."

:: Karen Bremner, 34, from Newbigging, Scotland

:: Lawyer

Originally from Canada, Karen is a working mum with an 18-month-old son. She is pragmatic about leaving him to take part in the show, saying: "I have to look at the long term and he is 18-months-old, he won't remember." Describes herself as "very forthright". Karen is a qualified glider pilot.

Says: "My only weakness is that I don't think I have any weaknesses."

:: Michelle Dewberry, 26, from London (born in Hull)

:: Telecoms consultant

Michelle left school after taking her GCSEs and worked as a check-out girl and shop assistant. She became a freelance consultant in the City and has managed several global projects. Admires Sir Alan's "no-nonsense" approach.

Says: "I'm passionate, I'm hard-working, I'm motivated, I'm focused and I'm very, very driven."

:: Nargis Aga, 38, from London

:: PhD student

Bangladeshi-born Nargis is a tough-talking single mum. She held down two jobs throughout her pregnancy whilst studying pharmacy at university. Admits she is "highly opinionated" and "a bit harsh". She has worked as a locum pharmacist in prisons and hospitals.

Says: "I speak clearly, I bring my level up or down depending on whom I'm speaking to."

:: Ruth Badger, 27, from Wolverhampton

:: Sales manager

Ruth left school at 16 and is now a senior management executive. She is a former football steward at Wolverhampton Wanderers and local administrator for the Department of Social Security. Claims she has a natural instinct for sales and "can sell anything".

Says: "Every pound I have, I've worked for and I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. There are people in the show who have never done a day's work in their life and if they cross me they'll pay the price."

:: Sharon McAllister, 30, from Stirling

:: Business lecturer

Sharon is head of department at Forth Valley College in Stirling. She has a five-year-old son and says she has a reputation "for delivering the undeliverable". A dare-devil who loves scuba diving and skydiving, she spent a year working in Tenerife as a holiday rep with Airtours.

Says: "I am more ambitious than ever and I now believe in myself more than I ever have."

:: Ansell Henry, 34, from Brighton (born in London)

:: Sales manager

Ansell joined Millwall FC aged 16 and went from schoolboy to professional player in four years. Played alongside the likes of Teddy Sheringham and Mick McCarthy. Entered the series "to test myself against the best because I don't have a great educational background".

Says: "I look imposing. I could be a bouncer as opposed to someone walking into an office. People will see that but they'll see that I am a person who can stop things kicking off. I can calm people down."

:: Ben Stanberry, 33, from Richmond, Surrey

:: IT consultant

Ben has beaten cancer and declares: "How tough am I? Very tough." He doesn't suffer fools gladly and says: "I'm impatient with people who I think are too egotistical or self-pitying." Ben lacks sales experiences but believes he can overcome this.

Says: "Sir Alan is exactly as I expected. I admire and respect him. That doesn't mean I like him."

:: Mani Sandler, 39, from London (born Leamington Spa)

:: Management consultant

Mani says he was "not at all surprised" to be selected for the show and believes he will win. Describes himself as an "outstanding" consultant. He set up speed-dating company SpeedFlirt.

Says: "I think people who know me well and my current clients will be quite surprised at how pushy and aggressive I can get."

:: Paul Tulip, 26, from Leeds

:: Headhunter

Paul reckons he is a "natural performer" with an aggressive sales technique. One of the youngest apprentices, he has had a number of jobs and says: "I have always been successful."

Says: "People have said I should be on stage as a career. I have always stepped up to the mic, and I think that will come across. Everyone should have a Paul in the house."

:: Samuel Judah, 35, from Buckhurst Hill, Essex (born in London)

:: Product developer

Samuel has worked at Ford for 11 years full-time and four years part-time. He has a black belt in Jujitsu and says: "I love testing myself to breaking point and seeing what happens". Describes himself as a "self-improvement junkie".

Says: "My fighting skills will be an asset because you learn about dealing with multiple assailants, you can't panic and lose your head when that starts happening."

:: Syed Ahmed, 31, from London

:: Entrepreneur

Syed was born in Bangladesh and was previously a restaurant manager for Marco Pierre White's restaurant group. He relaxes by flying planes. Syed believes: "Without doubt I think I will be the focal part of the show because I am passionate."

Says: "I've been a sort of hell-raiser over the past 10 years and I think all that combined together has made me a business bad boy."

:: Tuan Le, 27, from Weston-super-Mare

:: Financial adviser

Tuan and his family arrived in the UK in 1979 from Saigon as refugees. He left education early to earn money to support his parents. Joined Nationwide Building Society as a customer adviser and worked his way up the company. Set up Tangent Performance, a car chauffeur service specialising in high performance cars and drives a Ferrari himself. A self-confessed "computer nerd", he has a weakness for cars, bikes and expensive watches.

Says: "I'm a short, bald Vietnamese guy that drives a Ferrari and who has lived in a small seaside town all of my life."

Ostrich Man · February 7, 2006

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