This year's The Apprentice series was back with all the drama and competitiveness we wanted to start the year with a bang. 

The first episode saw the 16 candidates battle it out to win over Lord Alan Sugar and his aides, Baroness Karen Brady and first-ever The Apprentice winner Tim Campbell.

The candidates are in for a winning prize of a £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar. 

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What happened in episode one? 

At the beginning of the episode, the candidates were thrown in at the deep end and started the task straight away.

Teams had two days on board a ship to create an advertising campaign before pitching their concept to industry experts. 

Project managers were Kathryn Burn for the girls and Akshay Thakrar for the boys. 

The girls chose to create a 'Bouji Cruises' brand name, while the boys went for a well-being cruise campaign called 'Never Ending Nautical'. 

After gathering feedback on their logo, the boys' team was not filled with confidence.

One ship staff member said the colours looked like a "public vomiting incident". 

The girls team had similar feedback, with one staff member saying they thought it looked more like a booze cruise than a luxury holiday. 

In the boardroom, Lord Sugar was less than impressed with both teams' logos, social media teaser and TV adverts. 

However, the girls won the task and were greeted with a champagne reception in a sprawling mansion in London, where they will be staying throughout the competition. 

This Is Local London: The front of the contestant’s house (BBC/ Naked)The front of the contestant’s house (BBC/ Naked)

Left in the boardroom was Akeem, Ashkay and Harry, who all tried to convince Lord Sugar to keep them in the competition. 

Who was fired? 

Former pharmacy manager Harry Mahmood, 35, was the first to be fired by Lord Sugar.

Akshay accused Harry of "sitting behind a seat and watching us make decisions."

"You just kept pushing and pushing and pushing and it was disruptive," said Lord Sugar. 

"I really don't like disruption. You say your mantra is if life doesn't come knocking you build a door, but it is regretful that im about to show you exactly where that door it.

"Harry it is with regret you're fired."

This Is Local London: Final 3 in boardroom: Akeem, Ashkay, Harry (BBC/ Naked)Final 3 in boardroom: Akeem, Ashkay, Harry (BBC/ Naked)

Before the series started, Harry described himself as the “Asian version of Lord Sugar” and said he hoped to work with the Amstrad founder to become “the bad boys of the bath bomb world”.

In the taxi on the way home after being fired, Harry said: "This isn't the last you've seen of Harry that's for sure.

"You'll see me again on the Fortune 500 of the UK's richest people. Watch this space."

Who is still in the series? 

  • Aaron
  • Akeem
  • Akshay
  • Alex
  • Amy
  • Brittany
  • Conor
  • Francesca
  • Harpreet
  • Kathryn
  • Navid
  • Nick
  • Sophie
  • Shama
  • Stephanie 

The Apprentice airs on BBC One and iPlayer at 9pm on Thursdays.