The Apprentice 2026 is finally upon us, as 20 candidates all go head-to-head to be Lord Alan Sugar's next business partner.

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Over the next 12 weeks, Lord Sugar and his advisors Baroness Karren Brady CBE and Tim Campbell MBE will whittle down the candidates to just one to decide who will receive Lord Sugar's life-changing investment.

As ever, the stakes are high and the first task kicks off with a fan favourite buying challenge in Hong Kong! One candidate amongst the bunch is Priyesh Bathia who is sure with Lord Sugar's investment his business can pivot into a high growth business.

While viewers wait to find out how Priyesh fares in the process, read on to find out more about him and his business plan should he get the chance to pitch it to Lord Sugar.

Who is Priyesh Bathia?

The cast of The Apprentice dressed in formal attire, stood either side to Lord Sugar.
The Apprentice 2026 cast. BBC/Naked (A Freemantle Label)/Ray Burminston

Occupation: Global account manager

Location: Harrow, London

Priyesh Bathia is an account manager who is bringing the "perfect mix of charm and hustle" into the process.

Speaking of what makes him a unique candidate, Priyesh said: "I bring ideas, energy, and a bit of cheek, which means I don’t just talk the talk, I make things happen. I’m the type who’ll win over a room with my cheeky smile, get results, and still have everyone laughing by the end and won’t go down without a fight.

"Lord Sugar’s looking for someone who stands out, and I do, every single time and let’s be honest, that’s basically my brand."

What is Priyesh Bathia's business plan?

Priyesh Bathis is hoping to transform his business Boozy Bar, a small mobile cocktail bar business, into a scalable national brand.

Explaining his business plan further, Priyesh said: "I would also like to develop a Ready-to-Drink (RTD) cocktail and mocktail product line to be launched on supermarkets shelves, inspired by flavours from Asia and the success of BuzzBallz.

"We are not just another mobile bar or another RTD drink, but a fusion of both with a focus on customisation, providing unique cocktails and mocktails high end experiences, and cultural relevance that sets us apart from all competitors for all types of events."

Is Priyesh Bathia on social media?

Yes! Priyesh Bathia is fairly active on social media, sharing snippets of his day-to-day life on Instagram as well as his business.

You can follow Priyesh on Instagram @priyesh.bathia.

The Apprentice returns on Thursday 29th January at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

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Authors

Radio Times's senior entertainment writer Katelyn Mensah is looking at the camera and smiling. She wears a black top with a leopard-print jacket tied with a black bow
Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer

Katelyn Mensah is the Senior Entertainment 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.

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