From selling mobile internet to TV presenting – where are the Apprentices now?

Although their antics keep us glued to our screens for a good couple of months every year, it’s easy to forget about the hopefuls from previous series of the Apprentice.

While a handful of the candidates go on to launch successful careers and stay in the limelight, many quickly slip under the radar and trudge back to the corporate world - to do more menial stuff such as sell selling mobile phones while trying to avoid getting recognised in client meetings.

Delving into their lives after appearing on the show, the Daily Mirror has discovered that many of the candidates have gone on very different paths after being given the thumbs up or thumbs down from Sir/Lord Alan Sugar.

While some have continued to enjoy the hustle and bustle of business, no doubt using mobile broadband to stay connected on the move, others have gone on the celebrity circuit or disappeared completely.

Here’s some of our favourites from the past few years:

Katie Hopkins, Series 3
Katie has endured probably the most difficult time of any former contestant on the show. After pulling out of the series before the final, she went on to launch a media career, appearing on reality TV programmes and entertainment shows such as 8 Out Of 10 Cats. She has also dabbled in politics – she apparently wants to follow in Margaret Thatcher’s footsteps and stand for the Conservative party at election. And that’s all before her chequered love life is brought into the equation, including a relationship with fellow contestant Paul Callaghan.

Ruth Badger, Series 2
The Badger, as she came to be affectionately known by fans of the show, has probably most skilfully straddled the worlds of entertainment and business of any candidate. After finishing runner up to Michelle Dewberry, she launched her own consultancy firm and appeared on television shows, offering advice to failing companies.

Kate Walsh, Series 5
After Kate got all the way to the final, it seemed a big career in business beckoned. Instead, the pretty blonde Brummie cashed in by launching a TV presenting career – primarily due to her success on a television shopping task on the show. After a brief stint on GMTV, she got her big break presenting Channel 5 news magazine show Live From Studio Five with Ian Wright and Melinda Messenger.

And one we’ll be keeping a close eye on in the future…
Stuart Baggs, Series 6
Undoubtedly the star of the most recent series, the 21-year-old made his fortune flogging cheap broadband before being selected as one of the contestants. With a one-liner for any situation and astronomical levels of confidence, it’ll be interesting to see where The Brand goes next…