The final showdown of The Apprentice 2025 is set to unfold tonight, as Anisa Khan and Dean Franklin vie for Lord Alan Sugar's coveted £250,000 investment. The competition has been fierce, narrowing down from 18 candidates over the past 12 weeks to just these two finalists, each bringing unique business ideas to the table.
After a tense series of interviews last week that saw Amber-Rose Badrudin, Chisola Chitambala, and Jordan Dargan eliminated, Khan and Franklin emerged as the last contenders standing. Both finalists are eager to prove their worth and secure Sugar's backing for their entrepreneurial ventures.
Anisa Khan, a pizza company owner from London, has maintained a determined mindset throughout the competition. "My mindset was always to win," she stated, reflecting on her journey. Despite facing setbacks, she remained optimistic, even planning her outfit for the final in advance. "I was like, 'I'm going all the way to the final so I need to get my final outfit ready,'" she said. Khan's business, Bombay Pizza, currently operates as a dark kitchen within her father's Indian restaurant, a model that Sugar has encouraged her to focus on for scaling her business.
Khan's passion for her craft runs deep, and she views winning as not just a personal victory but a broader representation of women in the food industry. "Winning would mean everything to me," she explained. "I want my business to grow, and I genuinely believe this is a million-pound business that could become something big. But representation for me is so important as well. To be the winner of The Apprentice and have Lord Sugar investing in me shows that he believes in me."
On the other hand, Dean Franklin, who runs an air conditioning company in Essex, expressed his disbelief at making it to the final. "You sign up to this process and you think, 'I've got a one-in-80,000 chance of actually getting on the show,'" he remarked. Franklin described reaching the final as a dream come true, acknowledging that even getting this far is a significant achievement.
Franklin's business, ADL Air Conditioning, has garnered attention for its outstanding reputation, earning the Best Tradesperson of the Year award in 2022-23. He believes his business aligns well with Sugar's interests in science and electronics, hoping to leverage that connection to secure the investment. "For them to go into school the next morning and say, 'My dad's won The Apprentice,' that's bragging rights for life!" he said, emphasizing the pride he would feel for his children if he were to win.
As the finalists prepare for the final pitch, they will be joined by familiar faces from earlier in the series, who will assist them in creating brands and advertising campaigns. This collaborative effort is expected to add an exciting dynamic to the final, as both Khan and Franklin strive to impress industry experts with their business proposals.
The final episode of The Apprentice 2025 is scheduled to air at 9 PM on BBC One and will run for approximately 60 minutes. Following the conclusion of the main event, viewers can tune in to The Apprentice: You’re Hired, where comedian Tom Allen will interview the winner.
In anticipation of the final, Gambling.com has already named the 'odds-on' favorite to win, adding an extra layer of excitement for fans. As the clock ticks down to the live finale, the question on everyone's mind is: who will emerge victorious?
With so much at stake, both Khan and Franklin are ready to deliver the pitch of their lives. As they step into the final boardroom, they carry not only their dreams but the hopes of many who resonate with their stories. The outcome is uncertain, but one thing is clear: tonight, one of these aspiring entrepreneurs will take a monumental step toward realizing their business ambitions.
