The long wait for a new series of The Apprentice is almost over, with Lord Alan Sugar finally returning to the boardroom this week to run his eyes over 16 new prospective business partners.

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The fresh batch of The Apprentice contestants will be hoping to avoid hearing the words "You're Fired" for as long as possible, and one candidate who has aspirations to go all the way is Sustainability Company owner Francesca Kennedy Wallbank from Surrey.

The 26-year-old says she has "never lost anything" in her life – but can she keep her winning streak alive throughout the series? Here's what we know about Francesca so far.

Who is Francesca Kennedy Wallbank?

Age: 26

Job: Owner of a Sustainability Company

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From: Surrey

Instagram: @cheski.kw

Francesa is an eco-conscious maths graduate who is eager to win the competition to help fund her latest business idea – which provides a carbon footprint for businesses using an equation that she created.

Francesca is a direct descendant of William Wordsworth and comes from a long line of successful entrepreneurs – while she claims she's not used to being second best, saying: “I’ve never lost anything, I always win.”

What has Francesca said about joining The Apprentice?

Francesca revealed that she had joined the show in an Instagram post, announcing the news to her followers by saying: "So excited to finally share the news with you all! I will be in this year’s @apprenticeuk. Watch me from Thursday at 9pm on @bbcone. I’ll be competing for investment in my business The Carbon Footprint Co from @lord_sugar."

Meanwhile, speaking to the BBC about her strengths, she said: "There are two types of people in the world: people that say they are going to do things and people that actually do them. And I’m a doer."

When does The Apprentice start?

The Apprentice finally returns to BBC One on Thursday 6th January 2022 at 9pm, with the opener also available on BBC iPlayer.

Lord Sugar will be without his trusty aide Claude Littner this year as he recovers from surgery, with former Apprentice champion Tim Campbell taking Littner's place alongside Baroness Karren Brady for this series.

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The Apprentice series 16 will begin on 6th January 2022 on BBC One at 9pm. If you’re looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide.

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