The BBC reality competition is returning for its newest series tonight with new faces ready to impress investor Lord Alan Sugar and his board, in the hopes to win the ultimate prize - a £250,000 investment in their business plans. The 19th season will cover 12 episodes of challenging tasks where the candidates will fight to make the most profit and impress investors and customers to win rewards and gain the favour of business mogul, Sugar, in order to stay at the top.

A fan favourite, the awaited show drops tonight (Thursday 30th January) on BBC One at 9pm. The reason the show was pushed back its usual drop due to the third season of The Traitors - which welcomed in 2025. The hour long episode will run on till 10pm, coinciding with Love Island's All Stars on ITV. The Apprentice will be followed by The Apprentice: You’re Fired on BBC Two after the ending of each episode. The episodes will drop weekly and will be available on BBC iPlayer Live, and on demand on their catch-up website.

The fresh candidates will be introduced and whisked off to a new location - this year's being Austria. Their task? To sell and run Alpine tours for the current ski season. Previous seasons have left viewers guessing as to what disaster will strike first. The 18 hopefuls are ready for tonight's competition to start. Here's what we know of them so far:. Amber-Rose, a convenience store owner from London, has shared how she began her business aged 22 where she broke into “a challenging industry where earning respect as a woman wasn’t easy". She says that "being a part of [The Apprentice] process has been a life-long dream" and that its a "wonderful opportunity to show other young girls with similar beginnings that they can also achieve anything they set their hearts on”, reported by the Edinburgh Evening News.

Amber-Rose's business plan includes "daily messages asking for our bubble tea to make a comeback". The confident store owner insists that "if Lord Sugar doesn’t invest in me, he would quite literally be leaving money on the table!”. Anisa, a pizza company owner from London, says she wants to prove her “sharp acumen" — "whether in the kitchen or the boardroom". Her business is currently small but Anisa insists it has a "unique concept" that has "proven its appeal".

Aoibheann is a hair and beauty salon owner from Donegal, Ireland who wishes to be an example that women "possess the power to carve their own paths and realise their dreams, all while upholding their dignity and professionalism”. Walsh insists her model “maximises profit potential while minimising risk" and that she has "already identified a gap in the market, secured patents, and developed prototypes". Her only need is an investor like Sugar to "amplify" her reach.

As a Middlesbrough hair transplant consultant, Carlo has already admitted to having "perfectionist tendencies" of setting "extremely high standards" but hopes to "embrace imperfections and focus on progress". He has strongly put that he “deserves" Lord Sugar's investment because of his "relentless" journey and claims, having "worked 15-hour days over the past several years", that "no one works harder than [him]!”.

Chrisola is a virtual assistant company owner from Essex who apparently "thrives outside [her] comfort zone" and self-proclaimed "natural leader". Viewer's may be keen to see whether Chrisola will be able to maintain her "110%" effort. Also from Essex, and owner of an air conditioning company, Dean believes the competition “is right up his street". Believing himself "very similar" Lord Sugar, Dean says: "I’m just hoping [Sugar] can show me the ropes and together we can get to the next level”.

Originally from Lancashire, Emma is the owner of an online gift store and says she's "ready for the next stage" of her success and "never lets anything or anyone stop me for long”. "My most creative instincts flow through my excel-sheet colour coding" says the corporate manager form London. Emma says her business plan "targets a true gap in the market" and five year plan to "disrupt coffee culture one shop at a time”.

A motivational speaker from Milton Keynes, Frederick opened up about his struggle with “confidence" in public speaking. “I don’t just want to make money, I want to do so while changing people’s lives for the better”. “The biggest challenge I hope to tackle is living and working closely with 17 other individuals in a highly competitive and intense environment" said the cosmetic dentist from London. With a more friendly spirit, Jana hopes to "walk away with not just a potential investment, but genuine friendships that will last far beyond the show”.

Dr. Jana has three degress under his belt: a BSc in Biology with Psychology, a degree in Dentistry, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry. A tutoring company owner from Liverpool/Kent - Jonny said, before the show: “I hope to prove that it is possible to succeed in business while also being compassionate. Like Lord Sugar, I have faced setbacks in my life and have channelled them into opportunities".