The Apprentice 2023 is on its final stretch and just two contestants remain. After a nail-biting semi-final, Rochelle and Marnie were chosen to be this year's finalists and will compete against each other next week in the grand final, for the prize of a £250,000 business investment from Lord Alan Sugar.
The final episode of this year's series follows on from the the intense and dreaded interview stage of the series, in which Claude Littner returned, much to the delight of Apprentice viewers, and interrogated the semi-finalists on their business plans and proposals. And sadly, in the latest episode, which aired on Thursday, March 16, it was the end of the road for Victoria, Dani and Megan.
Series 17 of the popular BBC One show saw 18 new candidates join the programme with the hope of winning Lord Sugar's approval and £250,000 investment in their business. Now, two remain: Marnie Swindells and Rochelle Anthony.
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In final episode of The Apprentice 2023, which airs at 9pm on Thursday, March 23, viewers will watch in anticipation as this year's fired candidates return to help the finalists launch their innovative companies and, as it has done in previous years, the grand final is likely to include a whole host of daunting tasks including creating branding, a billboard campaign and shooting an advert - but who's idea will impress Lord Sugar and whose will flop?
Who are The Apprentice 2023 finalists?
Marnie Swindells
London-born court advocate Marnie, 28, is a gold-medal winning boxer who snowballed her passion into an innovative business idea which she hopes will get Lord Sugar's investment. She plans on opening a boxing gym near the Bank of England in London - if successful in winning the show.
Rochelle Anthony
Rochelle is the owner of a hair salon and also runs a 'hair academy' in her home county of Bedfordshire. The 35-year-old hopes, with Lord Sugar's investment, to expand her business and open up more locations in London and Manchester.
Who was fired in the interview round?
After an intense interrogation from fan-favourites Claude Littner, Karren Brady and other business experts, it was time to say farewell to three entrepreneurs who didn't quite impress Lord Sugar and his team enough. Firstly, it was the end of the road for Victoria, who wanted to use Lord Sugar's investment to expand her online sweet shop into physical kiosks in shopping centres across the UK, and then it was time to say goodbye to Dani, who wanted to expand her hair extension business.
At the end of the semi-final, Lord Sugar fired Megan who wanted to upscale her sweet shop business The Candy Shop into a “massive national brand”.
Who has left The Apprentice 2023 so far?
- Avi Sharma - city banker from London
- Bradley Johnson - director of a construction company from north Yorkshire
- Denisha Kaur Bharj -financial controller from Leicestershire
- Emma Browne - senior account executive from County Kildare
- Gregory Ebbs - local councillor from Shropshire
- Joseph Phillips - safari guide in South Africa from Worcestershire
- Kevin D'Arcy - accountant from Dublin
- Mark Moseley - pest control company owner and former soldier from London
- Reece Donnelly - owner of a theatre school in Glasgow
- Shannon Martin - bridal boutique owner from west Yorkshire
- Shazia Hussain - technology recruiter from London
- Simba Rwambiwa - senior sales representative from Birmingham
- Sohail Chowdhary - martial arts instructor and school owner from Southampton
The final of The Apprentice will air on Thursday, March 23 on BBC One at 9pm.
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