Two Apprentice candidates have left the competition and Lord Sugar Alan has revealed his final five potential business partners
Dan Laurie Deputy Editor of Screen Time
22:00, 02 Apr 2026
The Apprentice final five contestants have been revealed
The final five candidates in the running to become Lord Alan Sugar’s next business partner have been revealed.
Kieran and Rothna both left the competition during Thursday’s (April 2) instalment of BBC’s The Apprentice.
This week, the candidates were unleashed on the pet industry with both teams tasked with designing a pet product and a social media campaign, before pitching to some of the UK’s biggest retailers.
Fans will remember Kieran made a deal with Lord Sugar last week that if he did not win this latest task, he would walk.
Kieran was therefore Project Manager this week and he stuck to his word and went walkies when the final profit revealed that his team had lost.
Kieran made a deal with Lord Sugar last week that if he did not win this latest task, he would walk(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Naked (A Freemantle Label)/Ray Burminston)
Speaking about his exit, Kieran said: “I think I am quite loud and out there and I am quite an easy person to blame if it all goes wrong because I put my ideas out, whereas some people don’t get noticed as much. I could have stayed if I fought for my spot.
“My two favourite moments were both with Lawrence. It was the carbonara selling on the market in Greenwich and then it has got to be the ‘lads day out’ in Isle of White. Nice glass of wine, feed the goats, clean the goats out – it’’s hilarious. That was great fun.”
It was then down to Rothna and Dan who were left to battle it out for a place in next week’s interview round and due to not selling anything during the pitches, Rothna was fired by Lord Sugar.
Addressing being fired, Rothna said: “It was disappointing in that immediate moment, but it wasn’t a complete shock because I was standing against Dan, who I knew had a really good business.
Rothna was fired by Lord Sugar due to not selling anything during the pitches(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Naked (A Freemantle Label)/Ray Burminston)
“I was in shock because I was so close to the final five and I just felt this wave of disappointment but slight relief because it’s an intense process. It was gut-wrenching when you’re so close to making final five.
“Winning the flower task, in week five, with such a monumental profit. I didn’t think I could do it, but I was very proud of myself and I think that will forever be a solid memory that I’ll hold for the rest of my life.”
Looking ahead to next week, it’s the iconic interviews round where , Dan, Karishma, Lawrence, Pascha and Priyesh will face 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 the grand finale.
The Apprentice airs Thursdays on BBC One at 9pm