Season 3
The Apprentice (UK) is a British reality competition television series in which a group of aspiring young businessmen and women compete for the chance to win a £100,000-a-year job as "apprentice" to the British business magnate Sir Alan Sugar.
The Apprentice, billed as a "job interview from hell", is modelled on the American series of the same name, which stars entrepreneur Donald Trump.
The series originally premiered in the UK on BBC Two on 16 February, 2005. It moved to BBC One from the third season onwards.
The Apprentice (UK) premiered in South Africa on DStv's BBC Prime (now BBC Entertainment) channel on Monday 9 June 2008, at 20h30. It moved to DStv's BBC Knowledge channel for the second season and to BBC Entertainment for the third. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 3 premiered on BBC Entertainment on Wednesday 7 October 2009, at 20h30. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are 12 hour-long episodes in the third season.
Season 3 Repeats
Thursdays: 00h00
Saturdays: 21h00
Season 3
Sixteen budding entrepreneurs attempt to win the opportunity of a lifetime in the third season of The Apprentice, as they compete to become technology tycoon Sir Alan Sugar’s protégé – a prize that also comes with a bumper six-figure salary package.
The standard of applicants was higher than ever with over 10,000 ambitious hopefuls applying for the coveted, six-figure salaried job in tough-talking tycoon Sir Alan Sugar's business empire.
Aged between 22 and 36, the CVs of the shortlisted candidates include; a quantum physicist, a car salesman, an ex-Army officer, three high-flying single mothers, a global brand consultant, a former air traffic controller, a financial adviser, a medal-winning martial arts expert and a bankrupted entrepreneur.
Sir Alan is firing on all cylinders and has set the two teams some of the toughest assignments ever seen on the hit show – including two international tasks.
The punishing weekly programme of challenges will see the teams having to sell British farm produce at a French farmers' market, design accessories for dogs, create a new brand of trainers, sell art photography at a trendy gallery, produce sweets to sell at London Zoo and compete with the likes of Starbucks and Costa to sell the most coffee on a busy high street.
This is the job interview that nightmares are made of...
The eight men and eight women have all left their jobs, each believing he or she has got what it takes to survive the gruelling 12-week interview and win the apprenticeship of their dreams. All will stop at nothing to get it.
The group is divided into two teams and each week the team that wins the task is rewarded with a luxury treat, while the losers must report to the boardroom for a showdown with Sir Alan Sugar and his two trusted assistants, Margaret Mountford and Nick Hewer.
Each week an apprentice from the losing team is sent packing with Sir Alan's lethal catchprase "you're fired!" ringing in their ears.
In the first episode Sir Alan makes it quite clear who's in charge and what he's looking for: "I am looking for someone who is drop dead shrewd ... but this is the job interview from hell."
He cautions the candidates: "The worst kind of schmooze that I can't stand is 'Sir Alan I'm just like you – I came from a humble background and worked my way up.' Well don't lay all that rubbish on me."
Sir Alan warns them: "This is no gameshow; there won't be some busty blonde waiting outside to hug you so that you can sob into her bosoms. What there will be is a black cab waiting to take you to the station."
Throughout the series, the candidates will become neighbours to billionaires and movie stars as they live together in a luxurious multi-million pound mansion in London's Notting Hill, experiencing a taste of the high life they all aspire to.
Season 3 Candidates
Age: 27
Qualifications: Banking Exams
Career: Financial Adviser
Home town: Harrow, Middlesex
A street smart, strong woman with ambition and attitude, Jadine knows that she will be tested but she is ready for the challenge.
Her first taste for business came as a seven-year-old, when she shrunk crisp packets in the oven and sold them on as key rings for 20 pence each to her friends. Her first job was at McDonalds; she was employed on the spot and then worked a 13-hour shift.
A passionate single mother, after winning a place at university, Jadine decided to quit to support her daughter. She later moved into banking and was promoted three times in her first year.
As well as running an invitation-only club night, her passions include fashion, music, singing and cars.
She says: "This is my chance to show my true potential and exceed my chances of giving myself and my daughter a real life."
Dr Sophie KainAge: 32
Qualifications: PHD, Theoretical Physics
Career: Quantum Physicist
Home town: Llanellen, Wales
Although Sophie is a bright, competitive and educated individual, she also admits that she's a bit of a control freak who doesn't suffer fools gladly.
She has a PhD in Theoretical Physics and is principal research scientist for a major aviation and shipping design company. Her first entrepreneurial experience was changing her paper round shift to Sunday to make more money.
She says she is more inspired by innovation than branding and is particularly annoyed that she didn't think of the iPod.
Her first jobs were sweeping the floor at the local hair salon for £10 per day and as checkout girl in her local Sainsbury's. Her hobbies include playing chess and singing open-mic jazz.
She says: "I think I'm one of the few people who are blessed with using both sides of my brain. I can understand the technical side of things but also have vision."
Natalie WoodAge: 29
Qualifications: MBA, Open University
Career: Housewife with a Business Degree
Home town: Upminster, Essex
This mum of two believes that she will thrive under Sir Alan's blunt and brutal managerial approach and thinks that her steeliness will carry her through.
She's a self-assured, bubbly and fun former city girl whose first job was as a receptionist in a car dealership. As a teenager she swam for England but gave it up before the 1993 Commonwealth Games to attend the London College of Fashion.
Having lost six stone she is a proud and determined Weight Watcher and recently completed a degree course in French.
She says: "I admire Sir Alan's achievements and attitude, I like the way he is with people. Who needs the truth wrapped up with fairy lights? Say it how it is!"
Katie HopkinsAge: 31
Qualifications: BA Economics, MBA
Career: Global Brand Consultant
Home Town: Exeter
An alpha female who is a ruthless natural leader with a huge drive, Katie is in it to win it. Her first job was in a local cake shop aged 14.
She went on to be sponsored through university by the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and claims she can "out press up" most men.
A single mother of two, prior to signing up for The Apprentice Katie was a jet-setting management consultant.
She says: "My ambition is to be CEO of a large global brand builder by 40."
Ghazal AsifAge: 23
Qualifications: Highers
Career: Business Development Manager
Home town: Glasgow
Young, feisty and driven, this go-getting 23-year-old Glaswegian can speak five languages, is the youngest-ever candidate on The Apprentice, and plans to be a millionaire by the time she's 30.
In her previous job she was responsible for a turnover of £6-million of services per annum and if she doesn't get the job with Sir Alan she wants to establish her own business in fashion.
In just two weeks she raised more than £8,000 staging a charity fund-raising event for the Asian Tsunami.
She says: "I rate myself as a talented individual with strong business acumen."
Kristina GrimesAge: 36
Qualifications: BSc Hons Mathematics
Career: Pharmaceutical Sales Manager
Home town: Harrogate
Kristina is a ruthless single mother who is not afraid of fighting for what she wants. She has the mind for business and sees this as her chance to achieve success.
Before The Apprentice she was the regional sales manager for a pharmaceutical company managing a team of reps across Northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
She had a son at a young age and worked her socks off to get through her university Maths degree and to care for her child.
Kristina is an avid horse rider and often competes in events.
She says: "To me Sir Alan is an inspiration, where he started, what he has achieved and his directness!"
Naomi LayAge: 26
Qualifications: BA European Studies
Career: Advertising Sales Manager
Home town: Vauxhall, London
Super-efficient, super-confident and sassy – Naomi is not afraid to get what she wants. Originally from Cornwall, she moved to London to attend university and spent a year at The Sorbonne in Paris.
She worked her way up the advertising industry career ladder rising from PA to Sales Team Manager in just three years. She has also spent time in Sierra Leone where her father worked in diamond and gold mining.
An entrepreneur from an early age, Naomi once charged her parents to remove caterpillars from their gooseberry bushes. She has also produced a nude calendar featuring naked miners from Cornwall to raise money for a mine rescue charity.
She loves running, diving and in the past year completed both the London and New York Marathons.
She says: "People that know me would describe me as loud, motivated, fun, determined, compassionate and energetic."
Gerri BlackwoodAge: 33
Qualifications: BA Hons, Tourism
Career: Transport Development Manager
Home town: Woking, Surrey
Highly driven and ambitious, Gerri believes that working for Sir Alan will be a platform where hard work achieves success.
She is now a sales and marketing specialist with more than five years of management experience who gave up a job with MI5 to apply for The Apprentice; she applied for both and was offered both on the same day – and ended up choosing Sir Alan Sugar over James Bond.
Her first taste of business was as a six-year-old trading sweets with her sisters to the kids in her street for a huge profit.
Her first paid job was in the local fish and chip ship earning £2 an hour before eventually joining Thomas Cook as a travel agent and then moving to a sales position at Eurostar. She has also trained as an Air Traffic Control Officer.
She loves shopping and offers a PA-type service to friends and relatives organising their Christmas and birthday presents.
She says: "It is easy to have confidence when you are a big fish in your own pond, but to suddenly be thrown into a sea of sharks you have a bit of a reality check."
MALESTre AzamAge: 27
Qualifications: 2 A-Levels
Career: Marketing and Design Consultant
Home town: Loughton, Essex
Forthright, opinionated and a bit of a maverick, Tre is a tough hard worker who knows what he wants and is determined to get it.
He started work aged 10, building PCs in his father's factory. By the age of 16 he was teaching clients how to build computers and training them in electronics and software.
At 17 he was working in his family's software and hardware business in Europe and Asia before moving to America where he ran the company for more than two years.
In his teens he spent over a year in hospital recovering from a serious car accident which left him in a wheelchair, however he is now fully recovered. His hobbies include weights, boxing, martial arts and philosophy.
He says: "I've applied for The Apprentice because it will give me the opportunity to put myself up against some of the best in the country."
Rory LaingAge: 27
Qualifications: BA Hons Product Design
Career: Bankrupt Entrepreneur
Home town: Bristol
Previously bankrupted, Rory is a self-confessed risk-taker who has been through a lot in his short time in business, having employed more than 700 staff across his earlier three companies.
He currently works as a waiter but has great ambition and drive and keeps bouncing back.
He supplied public school-educated staff to run bars and events at Henley Regatta and Cowes Week. His first job was plucking turkeys during the Christmas holidays.
As a student he made his own brand of elderflower wine at school and sold it to the other pupils.
He says: "People say to me, 'learn from your experiences', well I'm bored of learning from experience, I've had enough of them. It's time now to cash in on it."
Andy JacksonAge: 36
Qualifications: Diploma Retail Management
Career: Car Sales manager
Home town: Kirriemuir, Scotland
Father–of–three car salesman Andy is originally from Leeds but now resides in Scotland.
In his spare time Andy plays online poker, buys and sells cars and trades on eBay – in fact any activity where he can buy, sell and make a profit.
His first money-making venture was aged five selling firewood to people on his council estate. Whilst at school Andy worked part time for Woolworths.
He says: "My passions are winning, winning and winning."
Simon AmbroseQualifications: MA Economics, Cambridge
Career: Internet Entrepreneur
Home town: Clapham, London
Highly competitive, proud and ambitious, Simon can speak six different languages and says he achieves his best work under pressure.
He was made redundant from his last job as an investment banker, and has since tried his hand at a number of internet-based, entrepreneurial ideas.
He'll stop at nothing to get what he wants; he once booked a table for 10 at a top celebrity eatery by posing as a Manchester United football agent.
His first job was assisting in a discount jewellery shop where he was trained to differentiate between real and fake diamonds by judging their weight in carats – a skill he still has.
At university Simon tried his has hand at acting and even performed at the famous Cambridge Footlights. He enjoys yachting, karate and kite boarding.
He says: "My Dad bought me an Amstrad PC when I was six and I learned how to program it. I still have it. It will be a dream come true if I end up working for him."
Paul CallaghanAge: 27
Qualifications: BSc Engineering Physics
Career: Ex-Army Lieutenant
Home town: Southampton
Graduating from the rigorous Sandhurst Royal Military Academy which encompassed command leadership and management training, he became HR and Resource Manager for the Army and was in charge of recruiting potential officers into the Royal Artillery.
He was posted to Iraq as Infantry Commander and spent six months serving in Basra. His time in the military has taught him cool, calm and collected leadership and he has no time for dilly-dallying.
His first job was selling jumpers on his parents market stall. A real smooth player his hobbies include sky diving, polo, skiing and yachting and his biggest fear is being eaten by a shark.
He says: "My lack of commercial experience might be a weakness but my leadership and organisational qualities are definite strengths."
Ifti ChaudhriAge: 33
Qualifications: BSc Product Design
Career: Company Director
Home town: Egham, Surrey
When everyone else is pulling their hair out Iftikhar (or Ifti to his friends) is confident, focused and hard-working. He built his tile business from scratch, starting with just half a tile, and believes that, as a salesman, no-one can match him.
In his previous years he was a police officer (with the "highest arrest record of any trainee in Woking"), taught children with learning difficulties, tried his hand at tele-marketing and worked as an estate agent.
He has a black belt in martial arts and was a double bronze medallist at the Tae Kwon Do World Championships in Athens in 1993. He is currently applying to join the 2012 Olympic team.
If he doesn't win The Apprentice he has his heart set on owning his own leisure centre.
He says: "When you can break bricks with your hands you believe in your head you can do anything and in business I take on the same ethic."
Adam HoskerAge: 27
Qualifications: BA Hons, Sport Managment
Career: Car Sales Manager
Home town: Blackburn, Lancs
Adam comes from a single–parent family on a council estate in Blackburn and now earns three times the salary of the kids he went to school with.
Aged 12, Adam ran a fantasy football league on his estate and charged people a pound a go. His first job was stacking shelves in a supermarket which paid for him to pass his driving test and buy his first car.
His "best job ever" was selling match programmes at Blackburn Rovers where he usually managed to sell them all in half an hour to drunken away fans.
In his spare time he coaches football to the local under-16s and enjoys motor-racing. His ambition is to run an internationally successful company.
He says: "My strengths and weaknesses are often the same thing, on occasion my confidence can become arrogance."
Lohit KalburgiAge: 25
Qualifications: Bachelor Of Commerce
Career: Telecoms Manager
Home town: London
Lohit is a cool rational thinker with natural flair. He was born in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates and has since travelled widely, becoming a resident in five different countries.
He gained a Bachelor in Commerce and Science from Auckland University, New Zealand.
His first real office job was sorting mail at a telecommunications company when he was 17, but he resigned after three hours because it was too boring.
He started a company when he was 16 making commemorative towels.
He says: "I would like people to see me as the nice guy – my game plan is to be myself and get on with things."
SeasonsSeason 1 (12 episodes)
Channel: BBC Prime | Premiere: 9 Jun 2008 | Finale: 25 Aug 2008 | Mon, 20h30
Season 2 (12 episodes)
Channel: BBC Knowledge | Premiere: 12 May 2009 | Finale: 28 Jul 2009 | Tue, 21h30
Season 3 (12 episodes)
Channel: BBC Entertainment | Premiere: 7 Oct 2009 | Finale: 23 Dec 2009 | Wed, 20h30
Season 4 (12 episodes)
Channel: BBC Entertainment | Premiere: 31 Mar 2010 | Finale: 16 Jun 2010 | Wed, 20h30
Season 5 (12 episodes)
Channel: BBC Entertainment | Premiere: 20 Apr 2011 | Finale: 6 Jul 2011 | Wed, 21h30