I NEVER LOST FINAL DREAM – TV’S ALANA
APPRENTICE finalist Alana Spencer has said she “never lost the dream” of reaching the show’s finale as she competes with rival candidate Courtney Wood for Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment.
The two contestants will pitch their business plans to more than 200 industry experts including Lord Sugar during tonight’s final.
Cake company owner Spencer, 24, and Wood, 29, who runs his own novelty gift business, have endured 12 weeks of intense challenges in a bid to team up with the business magnate.
Spencer, who left school at 18 to start a small kitchen on the side of her parents’ house in Ceredigion seven years ago, said her rocky start in the competition had initially given her doubts over her chances of reaching the final.
“I went in thinking I had a really strong chance. Obviously my confidence got knocked at the beginning and after those first few weeks I didn’t think there was a chance, but by the final five I thought there was a chance I could win it again.”
She revealed she had unsuccessfully applied for the Junior Apprentice show when she was 17 but “never lost the dream” of reaching the final boardroom.
Wood said he “wouldn’t have applied” if he did not think he could win, adding he was inspired by last year’s winner, Joseph Valente.
He said: “I was looking for an investor last year. I happened to watch the final, I saw Joe win and I thought I could do it.”
Wood added that Lord Sugar was the “ideal investor and mentor” for his business.
The pair beat off competition from Frances Bishop, Grainne McCoy and Jessica Cunningham in Thursday’s semi-final after 13 candidates had already been fired or quit.
Tonight’s show will see Spencer and Wood joined by a number of their former Apprentice colleagues as they are tasked with creating a brand for their business and unveiling an advertising campaign.
Spencer said despite their rivalry, each of them would “genuinely be chuffed for the other person” if they fail to win.
The Apprentice final airs at 9pm on BBC One tonight