The Apprentice returns - preview plus guide to the candidates

So, the sixteen candidates are vying for one life changing opportunity - a �250,000 investment to start their own company, with Lord Sugar as their business partner.

And the boss wastes no time in testing their mettle, using the first task to challenge his potential partners’ entrepreneurial skills.

Each team are given �250 to invest in fresh fruit and vegetables, and Lord Sugar makes it clear that he expects a high return.

Sent to New Covent Garden Market, the teams do battle to offer the best product at the best price by making juices, fruit salads and soups, and pasta.

Of course, The Apprentice wouldn’t be The Apprentice without frayed tempers and high tensions, and there’s plenty of those in this first episode.

And ultimately it’s off to the boardroom, where someone will be the first to hear those immortal words from Lord Sugar - ‘you’re fired’.

- Evening Star editor Nigel Pickover will be live tweeting throughout the show. Follow him using the link to the right of this text.

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The candidates:-

- Alex Britez Cabral

Age: 28

Job: Estate agent manager

He says: “Fear is a great motivator. If you are successful, you are unpopular, so unpopularity is a good thing.”

- Helen Louise Milligan

Age: 30

Job: Executive assistant to the CEO of Greggs bakery

She says: “I see my job as my complete life. I work 24/7. There isn’t a cut off.”

-Edna Agbarha

Age: 36

Job: Business psychologist

She says: “Weak people in business are a waste of space and a limp handshake is unforgivable.”

- Ellie Reed

Age: 33

Job: Managing director of A&E Construction Recruitment

She says: “I don’t like lazy people... dole dossers that don’t want to work. I don’t like posh kids who have everything on a plate.”

- Natasha Scribbins

Age: 31

Job: Manager at recruitment firm KOBALTT

She says: “I’m like a really fine tuned switch. If I need to turn it down then I turn it down. If I need to turn it up then I turn it up.”

- Melody Hossaini

Age: 26

Job: Founder and director of youth consultancy InspirEngage International

She says: “Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the moon.”

- Tom Pellereau

Age: 31

Job: Inventor

He says: “For me The Apprentice is a bit like the Olympics or the World Cup for entrepreneurs... I want to challenge myself, find out if I am ready to step up to this level.”

- Gavin Winstanley

Age: 27

Job: Managing director of eyewear seller Glasses123

He says: “I want to be a big name in UK business... I’m everything. I’m all mouth. I’m a doer. I’m a leader.”

- Susan Ma

Age: 21

Job: Natural skincare entrepreneur

She says: “I’m short, sweet and smiley but when I do business I mean business.”

- Vincent Disneur

Age: 29

Job: Sales manager in telecoms software

He says: “My positive approach and very good looks make me stand out from the crowd.”

- Zoe Beresford

Age: 26

Job: Project manager for a drinks manufacturer

She says: “I will do whatever it takes to win.”

- Felicity Jackson

Age: 23

Job: Founder of career development company Surviving Actors

She says: “Lord Sugar will probably find it difficult to ever say anything negative to me because I always turn it round to a positive.”

-Glenn Ward

Age: 28

Job: Senior design engineer

He says: “Aggression isn’t the best form of strength... I bring a marriage of technical thinking with a bit of salesman bravado.”

- Leon Doyle

Age: 26

Job: Founder of online takeaway ordering site themastermenu.com

He says: “I don’t like your gimmicky salesman who thinks he can sell ice to an Eskimo. Chances are he probably can’t, and why would an Eskimo buy ice?”

- Edward Hunter

Age: 25

Job: Accountant

He says: “I’m the wheeler dealer who accidentally became a finance professional and wants out.”

-Jim Eastwood

Age: 32

Job: Sales and marketing manager

He says: “I’m not a show pony or a one-trick pony, I’m not a jack-ass or a stubborn mule, and I’m definitely not a wild stallion that needs to be tamed. I am the champion thoroughbred that this process requires.”