Claire `The Rottweiler\' Young
TV,the apprentice
Claire Young The Apprentice
Age: 28
Career: Senior Retail Buyer
Qualifications: BSC Equine Science
Lives: South London
She says: "I\'m just as happy watching the rugby in the rain as I am sipping champagne."
Need to know: Claire\'s role model is Oprah Winfrey, she\'s convent educated, she enjoys Club 18-30 holidays and horse riding, her motto is JDI which means "just do it".
The handbag.com team\'s first impressions: "She will miss her horse too much and annoy everyone with her lack of common sense."
Helene `One For The Lads\' Speight
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Helene Speight The Apprentice
Age: 32
Career: Global Pricing Leader
Qualifications: 9 GCSEs
Lives: Wakefield, West Yorkshire
She says: "I expect nothing on a plate and I am prepared to come out of my comfort zone to get ahead."
Need to know: Helene is nearly 6ft tall, a self confessed tomboy, likes playing football, was nearly kicked out of school when she was 16.
The handbag.com team\'s first impressions: "Looks a little bit jaundiced, but mostly normal... obviously hasn\'t a hope."
Jenny `The Stickler\' Celerier
TV,the apprentice
Jenny Celerier The Apprentice
Age: 36
Career: Sales Manager
Qualifications: BA Marketing
Lives: Leicester
She says: "If you are sitting on the fence you are taking up too much space."
Need to know: Jenny is a single mum and has a son aged 18, she educated herself to degree level, she once dug up her parents\' garden and sold all their flowers, she likes custard creams.
The handbag.com team\'s first impressions: "No one who enjoys custard creams can be trusted. Almost certainly evil."
Click here to watch our exclusive video interview with Jenny Celerier!
Take a look at the doodle Jenny Celerier did for us
Lindi `The Princess\' Mngaza
TV,the apprentice
Lindi Mngaza The Apprentice
Age: 22
Career: Business Liaison Manager
Qualifications: NVQ Level 2/3 in Customer Services and IOSH 1 Managing Safety at TBG Learning
Lives: Birmingham
She says: "My nickname among friends is African Princess as I am from royal descendents."
Need to know: Lindi is dyslexic, her role model is Richard Branson, she\'s a qualified aerobics instructor, she has a background in drama and the performing arts, she claims to have royal blood.
The handbag.com team\'s first impressions: "Lose the Clockwork Orange make-up."
Watch our brilliant video interview with Lindi Mngaza
Take a look at the doodle Lindi Mngaza did for us
Lucinda `The Leopard\' Ledgerwood
TV,the apprentice
Lucinda Ledgerwood The Apprentice
Age: 31
Career: Risk Manager
Qualifications: BSC in Psychology and Neuroscience
Lives: Edinburgh
She says: "I always win so it\'s a natural conclusion, I will win."
Need to know: In her spare time Lucinda is studying for a degree in Aromatherapy and Herbal Medicine, she plays the harp, she is very good at scuba diving and once turned down the chance to be a scuba diving body double in a James Bond film because it would have interrupted her university studies.
The handbag.com team\'s first impressions: "Will probably end up marrying Nicholas de Lacy-Brown."
Click here to watch our exclusive video interview with Lucinda Ledgerwood
Sara `Dangerous\' Dhada
TV,the apprentice
Sara Dhada The Apprentice
Age: 25
Career: International Car Trader
Qualifications: BA Law and Economics at University of Leicester and LLM International Commercial Law
Lives: Leicester
She says: "I\'m a true example of pure class and elegance. I don\'t try to be glamorous - I\'m just naturally like that."
Need to know: Sara hates people who don\'t wash their hands when going to the toilet and people who don\'t listen to her because she "is always right", she once drove from Leicester to Mumbai in two weeks.
The handbag.com team\'s first impressions: "Annoying."
Click here to watch our exclusive Sara Dhada video interview!
Shazia `Fourth Time\'s The Charm\' Wahab
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Shazia Wahab The Apprentice
Age: 35
Career: Mosaic Artist and Company Director
Qualifications: BA Business Studies at University of Westminster and Diploma in Marketing by Chartered Institute of Marketing
Lives: South London
She says: "I am a stubborn cow who always has to have the last word."
Need to know: Shazia\'s family (including her parents and 11 brothers and sisters) hold the Guinness World Record for the most degrees held by one family in the UK, she has applied for The Apprentice more than once.
The handbag.com team\'s first impressions: "Supercilious... probably likes the sound of her Mercedes in traffic."
Watch our video interview with Shazia Wahab
Take a look at the doodle Shazia Wahab did for us
Alex `Lady Killer\' Wotherspoon
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Alex Wotherspoon The Apprentice
Age: 24
Career: Regional Sales Manager
Qualifications: BA Managerial Administrative Studies at Aston Business School
Lives: Bolton
He says: "I expect people to obey clear instructions. If this doesn\'t happen I become annoyed."
Need to know: Alex\'s first job was selling horse manure, in his spare time he likes boxing and ballroom dancing, over the years he has punctured a lung, broken his ribs, shattered his knuckles, severed his voice box, broken his fingers and dislocated his jaw. Alex also says he\'s single - but has a girlfriend - go figure.
The handbag.com team\'s first impressions: "Clearly the candidate in the most need of an income - and a hairstylist."
Watch our exclusive video interview with Alex Wotherspoon
Ian `In Yer Face\' Stringer
TV,the apprentice
Ian Stringer The Apprentice
Age: 26
Career: Software Sales Manager
Qualifications: 8 GCSEs
Lives: Flitwick, Bedfordshire
He says: "There are two types of people in the world; winners and... I don\'t know how to say the word, I can\'t say it."
Need to know: Ian enjoys "management speak", likes football, he once had a No 8 hit in the charts after rewriting the lyrics to Tony Christie\'s (Is This The Way To) Amarillo for a charity football song in aid of Sport Relief.
The handbag.com team\'s first impressions: "Looks in need of anger management classes. Could blow at any moment."
Watch our video interview with Ian Stringer
Take a look at the doodle Ian Stringer did for us
Kevin `The Winner\' Shaw
TV,the apprentice
Kevin Shaw The Apprentice
Age: 24
Career: Bank Manager
Qualifications: 11 GCSEs and 2 A-levels
Lives: Woking
He says: "It\'s obvious that I\'ll play a key part in the show from the start. I don\'t mess about."
Need to know: Kevin is friends with racing driver Jenson Button, became a bank manager at the age of 19, likes to bond with people by singing, dancing and "having morning huddles".
The handbag.com team\'s first impressions: "He\'ll either be the first to get fired or he\'ll win it."
Watch our hilarious Kevin Shaw video interview
Take a look at the doodle that Kevin Shaw did for us
Lee \'Reverse Pterodactyl\' McQueen
TV,the apprentice
Lee McQueen The Apprentice
Age: 30
Career: Recruitment Sales Manager
Qualifications: 8 GCSEs and BTEC Diploma in IT
Lives: Princes Risborough, Bucks
He says: "There is no airy-fairy stuff with me, I tell it how I see it."
Need to know: Lee describes himself as a cat and likes to cheer up his colleagues up by doing a "reverse pterodactyl" impression which involves him standing on a chair and screeching.
The handbag.com team\'s first impressions: "Stupid... probably good at lacrosse."
Michael `The Stomach Churner\' Sophocles
TV,the apprentice
Michael Sophocles The Apprentice
Age: 25
Career: Telesales Executive
Qualifications: MA in History & Classics
Lives: North London
He says: "I am an exceptional individual. I am an exhibitionist, I am fearless, I want money and I am unscrupulous."
Need to know: Michael says that his current job in media sales earns him "an astronomical amount of money", describes himself as a "good Jewish boy", lists his passions in life as women, food, drink and gambling.
The handbag.com team\'s first impressions: "Like Mr Mistoffelees the theatre cat... but less fur and personality."
Watch our video \'interview\' with Michael Sophocles
Nicholas `The Fop\' de Lacy-Brown
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Nicholas de Lacy Brown The Apprentice
Age: 23
Career: Barrister, Artist and Property Developer
Qualifications: LLB Law degree and MA in Medical Law & Ethics
Lives: Shoreham-by-Sea
He says: "My father fought the hurdles of his working class upbringing to provide me with privileged education and luxury."
Need to know: Nicholas adopted his grandmother\'s name De Lacy five years ago because it made him feel more sophisticated, he sees himself as an artistic, country hopping lord, claims his worst moment in life was when he once got a B in a GCSE. In his spare time Nicholas enjoys painting, visiting galleries and reading in the bath surrounded by candles.
The handbag.com team\'s first impressions: "Will probably cry at some point during the series."
Watch our video interview with Nicholas de Lacy Brown
Take a look at the doodle that Nicholas de Lacy Brown did for us
Raef `The Prince\' Bjayou
TV,the apprentice
Raef Bjayou The Apprentice
Age: 27
Career: Entrepreneur
Qualifications: BA Politics & History at University of Exeter
Lives: North West London
He says: "The spoken word is my tool, (I\'m a) terrific conversationalist and raconteur with incredible charisma. (I\'m) priceless, absolutely priceless."
Need to know: Raef has "never lost an argument" yet, "faced death in the face many times", lists lawn tennis, antiquarian book collecting and cognac among his interests.
The handbag.com team\'s first impressions: "Will be our favourite contestant... ever."
Watch our fantastic video interview with Raef!
Simon `Soldier Boy\' Smith
TV,the apprentice
Simon Smith The Apprentice
Age: 35
Career: Senior Satellite Television Engineer
Qualifications: 8 GCSEs
Lives: Harlow, Essex
He says: "I am loud, bombastic, I don\'t play games. Everyone wants me on their team."
Need to know: Simon has served in the Royal Artillery as an NCO, he enjoys creative writing, singing, has never missed an episode of The Apprentice and claims to have had Harry Redknapp sacked from West Ham.
The handbag.com team\'s first impressions: "Looks like a murderer, but probably quite nice."
Watch our video interview with Simon!
Take a look at the doodle Simon Smith did for us
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