BAKER BOSS ALANA HEADS LORD SUGAR’S BUNCH OF HOT HOPEFULS

THESE are the nine fittest entrepreneurs going head to head in a bid to impress Lord Sugar when hit show

returns to our screens.

A total of 18 hopeful contestants will battle it out on the BBC One series, which kicks off next week, and half of them are females.

Leading the pack is bakery boss Alana Spencer, 24, from Mid Wales, who launched her very first business aged just 17 and who says she will stop at nothing to get what she wants.

Hot on her heels are self-professed ‘Tasmanian Devil’ Aleksandra King, 38, and 25-year-old ‘pocket rocket’ Frances Bishop, who runs a children’s clothing firm in Doncaster.

Salon owner Natalie Hughes, 30, is hoping to give the other contestants a run for their money and describes herself as a hustler, while fashion entrepreneur Jessica Cunningham, 29, is planning to exploit her rivals’ weaknesses. Make-up studio owner Grainne McCoy, 31, thinks that Lord Sugar’s mentoring could be just what she needs to make her first million.

Workaholic Michelle Niziol, 35, design and marketing agency owner Rebecca Jeffery, 31, and 28-year-old recruitment consultant Trishna Thakrar complete the bevvy of beauties.

The girls will also be up against nine blokes to secure Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment.

Hoping to impress Lord Sugar and his sidekicks Karren Brady and Claude Littner are novelty gift firm boss Courtney Wood, 29, Dillon St Paul, 37, and JD O’Brien, 37. There’s also IT consultant Karthik Nagesan, 33, Mukai Noiri, 36, the self-proclaimed James Bond of Wiltshire Oliver Nohl-Oser, 33.

And completing the list are Paul Sullivan, 38, Samuel Boateng, 27, and Sofiane Khelfa, 32, who reckons he’s a business chameleon who can adapt to any situation.

The popular show will be back for its 12th series on October 6 and the first episode will see the business newbies being tested on their negotiation and selling skills.