The Apprentice 2026 Final Five candidates revealed

Over the last 10 weeks, viewers have witnessed 20 of Britain’s entrepreneurial elite battle it out in a series of tasks, from creating a virtual reality fitness game to selling flowers to the public. These tasks, set out by Lord Sugar, put them to the ultimate business test in a bid to secure his £250,000 investment in their business plan.

From Hong Kong, to Egypt to the Isle of Wight, this landmark 20th series travelled the globe as Lord Sugar whittled down the hopefuls, to be left with just five remaining candidates.

But it’s not over yet, as the final five must face a gruelling round of interviews with some of Lord Sugar’s toughest-talking business associates. As their business plans are picked apart, some candidates hold their own, while others crumble under the pressure. In the boardroom, Lord Sugar has a tough decision to make as only two can make it through to next week’s grand final.

Meet The Apprentice 2026 Final Five

Dan Miller

Owner, Student Recruitment Company Richmond, London

You’ve made the final five, how does it feel?

I feel immensely proud of myself for making it to the final five. I came into the process with nine years of business experience in the sector I’m in (student recruitment), and over the weeks, I was able to add great value, apply my business acumen, and offer a varied perspective to each task that came our way. I stayed true to myself the whole way through, always remaining professional, respectful and considerate to other candidates' ideas and thoughts. Whilst I was not a loud character on the show, I demonstrated my business acumen and skills across all tasks, albeit in a quiet, subtle way.

Which task was the toughest for you and why?

Hong Kong, for starters. It was the first time I had met with all the candidates and getting to grips with how people worked. It was a new environment for me, new people and new to TV. Not to mention being in a completely different country, with language barriers and very high humidity levels! The other tough task for me was the one when I was project manager – the chicken and egg task. It’s a real balancing act being PM. Listen to everyone’s ideas or do your own thing; you can’t really win either way.

If you listen to all opinions, then you come across as being indecisive and can’t decide, do the opposite, then you are the one who does not listen. I kept costs low in the test kitchen, held firm to our prices in the market, and followed through with the recipes I knew would work. This gave us the win, which I was really proud of. As you might have seen, I was the only one not celebrating after the big win. I felt very deflated by the constant undermining of my skills and leadership style by some of the other candidates throughout the task.

How did you find living with the other candidates?

I felt like I was back on a school ski trip with all my pals, having fun in the house, drinking tea and a good laugh all round! But in all seriousness, though, it did open my eyes up to a lot of things. One of the biggest frustrations each night was how some of the other candidates would just hover around the kitchen, hoping someone would cook a decent meal for them. If all else failed, it was pot noodles, chips and nuggets for them. I was shocked by how many candidates could not put together a simple, healthy meal for themselves.

It was tough sometimes, sharing a room with five other lads - it has its tolls. Overall, the candidates I was in a room with were all great fun. We had some great bedtime chats before the lights went out, and it was nice to talk about life, business, and how we were feeling.

You came into the process with a fully established business, why are you fighting for Lord Sugar’s investment?

For me, it was never about the money; I wanted the mentorship and guidance from Lord Sugar to help me scale my business and take it to the next level. I have grown my business, Young Professionals, all by myself since the age of 17 - it’s been quite a lonely journey, very rewarding but very isolating at the same time. I felt this was the right time to seek the guidance and support of someone who's seen it all and has had greater business experience to help me make the right decisions.

Karishma Vijay 

Owner, Beauty Brand, Ashford, Surrey

You’ve made the final five, how does it feel?

It feels like the tables have turned. I am no longer proving myself. I get to sit across from the REAL business tycoons and I get to show Lord Sugar who I really am and who he is potentially shaking hands with. I’m nervous for the interviews because I might not have all the answers, but one thing I do have is a business that has changed lives and I hope that is enough.

Which task was the toughest for you and why?

The toughest task for me was task four. My first time being PM and there was a lot of pressure. None of the candidates even knew about my social media background, not because I hid it, but because they didn’t even ask. From the beginning of the process, most of them counted me out. They thought I was weak and said ‘you’re not a threat’. This was my opportunity to show them I’m not only a threat, I’m the dark horse they didn’t see coming.

What’s surprised you the most from being on the show?

How much my life experiences have put me at an advantage during this high-pressure environment. I’ve had to adapt a lot in my life. At the time I felt unlucky. I’m a big believer of ‘everything happens for a reason’ but I started to question that sometimes. Now I know that I was just getting stronger and smarter for this. Not having seen the show, I thought I’d be at a major disadvantage but actually, it gave me a perspective that wasn’t seen before.

What has this experience taught you about yourself?

It taught me that I am a lot stronger than I thought. I know how to innovate, I know how pitch, I know how to sell, I know how to back myself and I know how to lead. I’m ready to take on the cutthroat business world - in fact, I think I was born for it.

What do you admire most about Lord Sugar?

He valued my opinion. I may be a nobody next to him, but he saw me. He may have told me to ‘get to the point’ but he never shut me down. He has no favourites, he talks money and that’s it. I like that because I talk money too.

What qualities do you think a candidate needs to win Lord Sugar’s investment?

Lord Sugar is so bored of the same old candidates coming in and out of his boardroom, acting cocky and smart but not knowing a single thing about how to actually make the big bags. You need to be smarter. Better. Stand on business always. Put your hands up where you should, you never know, he might just write you a cheque for a quarter of a million pounds.

Your negotiating skills have led a lot of your teams’ victory; can you negotiate your way to the £250,000 investment?

I have no intention of negotiating or saying ‘please’ for this. I worked for this. I showed up to every task to fight for this. If he sees his next business partner in me, he’ll choose me. If he doesn’t, I don’t lose. I just add one more name to the list of people who underestimated me.

Lawrence Rosenberg 

Public Relations Specialist, Watford, Hertfordshire

You’ve made the final five, how does it feel?

It’s a totally surreal feeling - it’s nothing like anything I’ve felt before. Like, how could you compare it?! Especially after 10 gruelling tasks to get here. It’s a wild mix of joy, pride, relief, and achievement, all bundled into one very grateful person. Pretty much everybody who comes into this process wants to make the final five. In the house, I honestly can’t remember ever discussing who the finalists would be, but everyone was always predicting the final five, so it’s incredible to have made it to this point.

Which task was the toughest for you and why?

It’d be easy to say losing as PM for the gamified fitness task was the hardest, and being in the boardroom fighting for your life is never much fun. In lots of ways, that was the most difficult task - loads went wrong, our game wasn’t the best, and I was trying to sell the unsellable to a group of industry investors. Hong Kong was also a nightmare, you’re trying to compete against nine other boys you’ve just met to get a word in edgeways, whilst also not doing too much that you screw up early and get fired.

What’s surprised you the most from being on the show?

I surprised myself with how resilient I can really be. You’ve got to stay so focused over such a long period of time - it’s nothing like anything I’ve experienced before. This process puts you in a bubble that makes you feel like your life depends on the outcome of every decision. In the cold light of day, that’s obviously not true, but when you’re living, breathing and eating The Apprentice, it does start to feel like that. In those circumstances, coming out the other side having managed all that pressure makes me feel like I can handle anything.

How did you find living with the other candidates?

I have to say, the thing I was most worried about coming into the process was who the other candidates would be. You see the impression on TV, but pretty much every candidate is someone I’ll consider a close friend after the experience, and I’ve made some incredible memories with everyone along the way. I feel very humbled to call them all mates. It was an incredible once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m very grateful to every single person in that house for making the experience what it was.

What do you admire most about Lord Sugar?

Two obvious things stand out to me about Lord Sugar - one personal and one business - but both tie into what makes him such a legendary British business icon. First, the man has done everything. Advertising - done it. Product development - well, duh. Whether it was recreationally or in a business capacity, he’s just gone out there and lived life - isn’t that what we all want to do? Then there’s the age-old expression that your network is your net-worth, and Lord Sugar is the embodiment of that.

You had some close calls in the boardroom; do you feel like you’ve really had to fight for your place in the final five?

I think everyone has to fight for their place in the process every single day. But coming back from two brutal bottom threes means I’ve had to really fight for my place in the final five, but the battle to be here wasn’t just in those boardrooms, it was in the day-to-day of the tasks to build as much credit in the bank so I could stand on my laurels when I needed to.

Pascha Myhill 

Recruitment Consultant, Reading, Berkshire

You’ve made the final five, how does it feel?

It’s a real pinch me moment. Coming into this process with 19 other strong candidates and being one of five now standing in the line to become Lord Sugar’s next business partner, is surreal to me, a once in a lifetime opportunity that I will not be taking for granted.

Which task was the toughest for you and why?

The water advertising task with Big Zuu was the toughest for me. It pushed me completely out of my comfort zone. The creative direction, building a brand from scratch, and then producing an advert under serious time pressure; that’s just not my natural skill set. It exposed a weakness but at the same time, it forced me to adapt quickly, stay composed, and push through even when I felt out of my depth. And that’s what this process is about, growth under pressure.

What’s surprised you the most from being on the show?

How clever and tactical everyone really is. Every word, every decision, every move can be calculated. People are thinking three steps ahead, not just about the task, but about positioning, perception, and survival. It is not just business ability, it’s psychological.

What advice would you give to anyone considering applying for the next series?

Be yourself, unapologetically. Don’t try to create a “TV version” of who you think people want to see. The process is too intense, too long, and too exposing to maintain an act. Also, know your why.

Apply because you genuinely want the investment and you’re ready to fight for it. When the days are long and the boardrooms are brutal, your reason is what keeps you steady.

How did you find living with the other candidates?

Living with the other candidates was intense. You’re surrounded by ambitious, competitive, highly driven people 24/7. You finish a task, emotions are high, and then you’re all back in the house together. But what people don’t always see is the friendships that form. When you’re going through something that intense, you understand each other in a way no one else really can. You celebrate wins together, you debrief the chaos, and sometimes you just need to laugh about how mad the day was. Of course, it’s competitive, but living together teaches you a lot about people. It’s a social experiment as much as a business one, and that’s what makes it unforgettable.

If you win, you will be the youngest ever winner of The Apprentice, how do you think that would feel?

It would feel overwhelming in the best way. I’d feel proud. I’ve taken risks. I’ve backed myself in rooms where I could have easily doubted myself. To have that validated on that level would be surreal. I’d probably feel relief too. Relief that the hard work, the pressure, the sacrifices, all meant something much more and bigger. But more than anything, I’d feel grateful for the opportunity, grateful that I was brave enough to apply and that I didn’t let my age make me hesitate. And then after those feelings settle. I’d feel hungry. Because winning wouldn’t be the finish line, it would just be the beginning.

Priyesh Bathia 

Global Account Manager, Harrow, London

You’ve made the final five, how does it feel?

It’s an unbelievable moment, one of those true pinch me experiences that still doesn’t quite feel real. It’s one of the achievements I’m most proud of. It’s something I earned through my own hard work, resilience, and determination, and knowing I got myself there makes it even more special.

Which task was the toughest for you and why?

The live TV selling challenge. It was completely new territory. I’d never presented before, let alone sold a high-ticket item on national television, live. I was so far out of my comfort zone. It was a real sink-or-swim moment, and the pressure of live TV selling is unlike anything else.

What’s surprised you the most from being on the show?

How quickly loyalties can shift. Whether someone is your friend or not, when the pressure is on, people will protect themselves first. It’s a competition at the end of the day, and no one is ever truly safe. That was a tough reality to come to terms with. The experience showed me that in a high-stakes environment, you have to back yourself completely because when it comes down to it, everyone is fighting to stay in the game.

What advice would you give to anyone considering applying for the next series?

Be yourself and let your personality shine through, that’s what will help you progress, not pretending to be someone you’re not. Lord Sugar is looking for someone genuine and humble, and he doesn’t respond well to liars or schmoozers.

How did you find living with the other candidates?

I absolutely loved living with the other candidates it was one of the most special parts of the whole experience. It took me back to my university days, sharing a house with friends and making memories every day. What made it even more meaningful was the fact that we didn’t have our phones or any real sense of time. Without those distractions, we truly connected. We bonded through long conversations, learning about each other’s lives, ambitions, and stories in a way you rarely get the chance to do in the outside world.

What do you admire most about Lord Sugar?

How incredibly straight to the point he is. There’s no sugarcoating, he says exactly what he thinks, and you always know where you stand. Whether the feedback is positive or critical, it’s always real. You’re not left second-guessing or trying to read between the lines. He values hard work, integrity, and results, and he isn’t swayed by empty talk or flattery.

What do you think has been a defining moment for you during this process?

It was in week two, when I walked out of the boardroom believing I was safe only to be called straight back in, it was a complete curveball. But the moment I stepped back into that boardroom, my mindset shifted. I told myself I was not going down without a fight. Being given that second chance was a wake-up call and made me realise how much I wanted the opportunity and that survival in this competition isn’t just about performance, it’s about determination.

ant.fragnito@fremantle.com / naomi.hicks@fremantle.com

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