Who left The Apprentice this week? All the eliminated candidates from season 18
The finalists have been revealed!
The finalists of The Apprentice have been revealed after a gruelling interview episode, which saw the final five candidates have their business plans honed in on by Lord Sugar's most trusted advisors.
Their business plans were interrogated, CVs were picked apart and white lies were exposed as the candidates all battled it out to make the final.
But only two could make it through the final hurdle, meaning three had to leave the show.
So, which candidates left The Apprentice this week? Read on to find out who was fired.
Who left The Apprentice 2024 this week?
Week 11 - Dr Paul Midha
It was a twist plenty saw coming when Dr Paul Midha made the decision to change his business plan last minute, after the interviewers noted it may not be as strong as initially thought.
When Paul re-pitched his business plan to Lord Sugar, the mogul wanted full stakes in Paul's business, but he turned it down - which ultimately saw him fired from the competition.
In an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com, Paul revealed why he wasn’t prepared to budge on the potential offer.
He explained: "At the end of the day, it is a process, but this is my life as well, and I had to do what was right from a business sense, from a commercial sense [and] from a personal sense as well.
"If I were to take in that deal and I went home and my family have seen the journey and the struggles that I've been on to get to where I am, I know they would have been disappointed and heartbroken if I would have taken that deal, because I would have been devaluing myself."
Week 11 - Flo Edwards
Flo Edwards impressed during the series, but when it came to her business plan, not all went to plan - and Lord Sugar made the decision to fire her, knocking her out of the running for the final.
Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com about her journey on The Apprentice, Flo said: "If you look at all the candidates that came in this season, what an honour to be in the final five. To be surrounded by four other incredible business people, I'm honestly just so grateful."
Week 11 - Tre Lowe
Tre Lowe became the first candidate in week 11 to be fired. Lord Sugar wished him all the best, but time was up for the music and wellness entrepreneur.
Despite being fired, he was pleased to have made it as far as he did in the competition. In an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com, Tre explained that it felt "great" to be a fan favourite.
He continued: "The amount of people on the street that come up and speak to me, they really resonate with the authenticity I show. I talk a lot about my wellness journey. I talk a lot about the death of my brother. And it's not something that people always might think someone from the music background is going to be like."
Week 10 - Steve Darken
Steve was the second of two candidates fired in week 10, for his role in the creation of the curry vegan cheese.
Lord Sugar said in the boardroom: "Steve you were responsible for the curry flavoured product and that is the fundamental reason why this task failed. But at the end of the day, I’m homing in on can be in business with you, can be in business with her (gesturing towards Rachel) and I’m struggling here. However, Steve, I don’t believe that we’re meant for each other."
Steve said in the taxi home: "Honestly, [I'm] surprised that Lord Sugar fired me. I don’t think it was the right decision, he’s probably the first person ever to say no to this thing (gestures to himself)."
Week 10 - Foluso Falade
Foluso was the first candidate to be fired in week 10, for her role in the marketing and branding of her team's vegan cheese product.
Lord Sugar said in the boardroom: "Foluso, you have been quoted throughout the course of this process 'look I’m good at branding and I can show what to do', well you’ve shown me what you did and it’s not very good… the logo is a joke, the video is a joke and with all due respect, you failed."
In the taxi home, Foluso said: "Gutted to not make it to the final, it was literally arms reach away, but Lord Sugar didn’t want me on board and that’s perfectly fine. I’ll bank on myself, and I’ll prove him wrong"
Week 9 - Maura Rath
Maura's business is rooted in the promotion of her clients' wellbeing and she was looking to scale up with the help of Lord Sugar's investment.
Ahead of her appearance on the show, she admitted she deserved Lord Sugar's investment because her business promotes "positivity and wellbeing, in a profitable and scalable way, with five income streams".
Week 9 - Raj Chohan
A self-confessed "dog with a bone" when meeting her targets, Raj wanted to hit a gap in the market and would do whatever it takes for success.
Raj was recently awarded Mortgage Broker of the year in September 2023 and also the Silver Award Winner of Best Businesswoman in Finance, something she noted as her biggest business success to date.
Week 8 - Noor Bouziane
Noor Bouziane became the latest candidate to be fired from The Apprentice in the show's eighth episode.
Lord Sugar said in the boardroom: "I'm frustrated, Noor, that you don't understand how you've messed this thing up. I gave you the opportunity to prove yourself. It was a terrible, terrible advert and I'm afraid to say it is with regret, Noor, that you're fired."
As she was driven home, Noor said: "I'm grateful to have met amazing people and to have shown just a small percentage of what an amazing businesswoman that I am. And even though the advert got a lot of criticism, I still believe that it was really good."
Week 7 - Virdi Singh Mazaria
Time was up in the boardroom for Virdi Singh Mazaria as he became the eighth candidate to be fired from The Apprentice.
Virdi was brought back to the boardroom with Foluso, and Lord Sugar was less than impressed that the failure of this task was Virdi’s seventh time losing.
Week 6 - Sam Saadet
Sam Saddet became the seventh candidate to be fired from The Apprentice 2024.
Lord Sugar told the online fitness coach in the boardroom: "Sam, I admire your honesty and I can tell that you get on with everyone and that is a good virtue in business. However, the kids found the cereal boring and bland. So it is with sincere regret that you're fired."
While in taxi home, Sam said she was "completely and utterly" herself during process.
She continued: "And Lord Sugar knew that. His comments at the end meant more to me than anything and I completely went out on the high and I get to go home to my babies now.”
Week 5 - Onyeka Nweze
Onyeka became the sixth candidate to be fired from The Apprentice after Lord Sugar noted she was partially responsible for the team's failure.
"Onyeka, the lack of not explaining the ethos is also a very, very serious thing and so you are culpable where the failure is concerned," the business mogul said.
"Onyeka, you are clearly a charming and highly intelligent lady, and I appreciate that you've done your best throughout the course of this process, but on this occasion it simply wasn't enough. It is with regret, Onyeka, you're fired."
Week 4 - Amina Khan
In the first double firing of the series, Amina Khan became the fifth candidate to be fired from The Apprentice.
After Lord Sugar chose to bring back every candidate from the losing team back into the boardroom, it was ultimately the project manager and sub-team leader whose time was up.
Week 4 - Jack Davies
Jack was the fourth candidate to be fired from The Apprentice. Following on from his team's failure during the first shopping task of the series, Lord Sugar chose to fire him.
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Week 3 - Dr Asif Munaf
Asif Munaf was the third candidate to be fired from The Apprentice.
The business owner launched his brand whilst working 12-hour shifts as a doctor during the Covid-19 pandemic, something he noted as his biggest business success to date.
When asked why he deserved Lord Sugar's investment, Asif said: "With my range of vitamins and supplements, I would make sure he is fit, sharp and firing for at least another 20 series!"
Week 2 - Paul Bowen
Pie man Paul Bowen became the second candidate to be fired from The Apprentice.
Lord Sugar told him in the boardroom: "Paul, I admire you for admitting your mistakes but there were simply too many mistakes and so it is with regret Paul, you're fired."
As he headed home, Paul said in the taxi: "The biggest regret is obviously banging on about chocolate but, hey, it's time to go back and make some pies."
Week 1 – Oliver Medforth
Oliver Medforth became the first contestant to be fired from The Apprentice, after the boys lost the first task for season 18.
In an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com about his departure from the show, Medforth said: "I think it was quite a tactical play of [Virdi] to invite me in really.
"I didn't speak up much throughout the time that I was on there [and] that's probably why [he thought], 'I should bring him back in.'
"And he did, and Lord Sugar should have fired me and I respect him for that. And that's just the game."
If he could change how he did things on the show, Medforth said that he probably would have spoken up more.
He told RadioTimes.com: "I didn't put myself on the right team – I should have been on the hosting side, I shouldn't have been in the kitchen, clearly."
The Apprentice season 18 continues on Thursdays at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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Authors
Katelyn Mensah is the Entertainment and Factual Writer for Radio Times, covering all major entertainment programmes, reality TV shows and the latest hard-hitting documentaries. She previously worked at The Tab, with a focus on reality TV and showbiz news and has obtained a BA (Hons) in Journalism.