The Apprentice 2026: Which Asian Candidates are in the Final 5?

On Thursday, April 2, 2025, the latest episode of The Apprentice revealed which candidates made it to the Final Five.

The final task of the series saw Lord Alan Sugar ask the contestants to create and pitch a new pet product.

Led by Karishma Vijay, Team Alpha chose to make an original bed for dogs, which had an owner’s voice recorded inside.

Meanwhile, Team Alpha created a cat tree, which allowed cats to get a taste of nature.

Although both products received their fair share of criticism, Team Alpha won the task with 2,600 orders.

This meant that Karishma, Pascha Myhill, Lawrence Rosenburg, and Priyesh Bathia automatically advanced to the Final Five.

In the losing team, Project Manager Kieran McCartney left the process due to a previous deal he had made with Lord Sugar.

This left Rothna Akhtar and Dan Miller to face Lord Sugar’s decision as to who would take the final spot in The Final Five.

While admitting his dilemma, the business mogul ultimately chose to fire Rothna, as she had sold no units to retailers during the task.

When Dan returned to the house, Karishma got upset over Rothna’s exit.

Between sobs, she said: “You guys know I was so quiet in the beginning.

“In the hotel, before we left Hong Kong [in the first task], everyone was eating in the hotel, having dinner.

“There wasn’t enough space on the table, so I was sitting by myself.

“And Rothna was like, ‘Come sit with me’.

“I don’t think I would have got this far without her.”

South Asian candidates refer to people who have heritage from backgrounds, including Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, and Bangladeshi origins.

Among the Final Five for The Apprentice 2026, these candidates are Karishma, Pascha and Priyesh.

Let’s find out what they had to say about making it this far.

Karishma 

Reaching the Final Five

It feels like the tables have turned. I am no longer proving myself.

I get to sit across from the REAL business tycoons and I get to show Lord Sugar who I really am and who he is potentially shaking hands with.

I’m nervous for the interviews because I might not have all the answers, but one thing I do have is a business that has changed lives, and I hope that is enough.

Her toughest task

The toughest task for me was Task Four [Advertising Water]. My first time being PM, and there was a lot of pressure.

None of the candidates even knew about my social media background, not because I hid it, but because they didn’t even ask.

From the beginning of the process, most of them counted me out.

They thought I was weak and said, “You’re not a threat”.  This was my opportunity to show them I’m not only a threat, but I’m the dark horse they didn’t see coming.

What surprised her the most?

How much my life experiences have put me at an advantage in this high-pressure environment.

I’ve had to adapt a lot in my life. At the time, I felt unlucky. I’m a big believer in ‘everything happens for a reason’ .

But I started to question that sometimes. Now I know that I was just getting stronger and smarter for this.

Not having seen the show, I thought I’d be at a major disadvantage, but actually, it gave me a perspective that I hadn’t seen before.

What has the experience taught her?

It taught me that I am a lot stronger than I thought.

I know how to innovate, I know how to pitch, I know how to sell, I know how to back myself, and I know how to lead.

I’m ready to take on the cutthroat business world – in fact, I think I was born for it.

What does she admire the most about Lord Sugar?

He valued my opinion. I may be a nobody next to him, but he saw me.

He may have told me to ‘get to the point’, but he never shut me down.

He has no favourites; he talks money, and that’s it. I like that because I talk money too.

What qualities does Lord Sugar’s investment require?

Lord Sugar is so bored with the same old candidates coming in and out of his boardroom, acting cocky and smart but not knowing a single thing about how to actually make the big bags.

You need to be smarter. Better. Stand on business always.

Put your hands up where you should; you never know, he might just write you a cheque for a quarter of a million pounds.

Could she negotiate to win the show?

I have no intention of negotiating or saying ‘please’ for this. I worked for this.

I showed up to every task to fight for this. If he sees his next business partner in me, he’ll choose me. If he doesn’t, I don’t lose.

I just add one more name to the list of people who underestimated me.

Pascha

Reaching the Final Five

It’s a real pinch-me moment.

Coming into this process with 19 other strong candidates and being one of five now standing in the line to become Lord Sugar’s next business partner is surreal to me, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I will not be taking for granted.

Her toughest task

The water advertising task with Big Zuu [Advertising Water] was the toughest for me.

It pushed me completely out of my comfort zone.

The creative direction, building a brand from scratch, and then producing an advert under serious time pressure; that’s just not my natural skill set.

It exposed a weakness, but at the same time, it forced me to adapt quickly, stay composed, and push through even when I felt out of my depth.

And that’s what this process is about, growth under pressure.

What surprised her the most?

How clever and tactical everyone really is. Every word, every decision, every move can be calculated.

People are thinking three steps ahead, not just about the task, but about positioning, perception, and survival. It is not just business ability, it’s psychological.

What advice would she give to future applicants?

Be yourself, unapologetically. Don’t try to create a “TV version” of who you think people want to see.

The process is too intense, too long, and too exposing to maintain an act. Also, know your why.

Apply because you genuinely want the investment and you’re ready to fight for it.

When the days are long and the boardrooms are brutal, your reason is what keeps you steady.

How did she find living with the other candidates?

Living with the other candidates was intense. You’re surrounded by ambitious, competitive, highly driven people 24/7.

You finish a task, emotions are high, and then you’re all back in the house together.

But what people don’t always see is the friendships that form.

When you’re going through something that intense, you understand each other in a way no one else really can.

You celebrate wins together, you debrief the chaos, and sometimes you just need to laugh about how mad the day was.

Of course, it’s competitive, but living together teaches you a lot about people.

It’s a social experiment as much as a business one, and that’s what makes it unforgettable.

How would she feel about becoming the youngest winner of The Apprentice so far?

It would feel overwhelming in the best way. I’d feel proud. I’ve taken risks.

I’ve backed myself in rooms where I could have easily doubted myself. To have that validated on that level would be surreal.

I’d probably feel relief too. Relief that the hard work, the pressure, the sacrifices, all meant something much more and bigger.

But more than anything, I’d feel grateful for the opportunity, grateful that I was brave enough to apply and that I didn’t let my age make me hesitate.

And then after those feelings settle, I’d feel hungry. Because winning wouldn’t be the finish line, it would just be the beginning.

Priyesh

Reaching the Final Five

It’s an unbelievable moment, one of those true pinch-me experiences that still doesn’t quite feel real. It’s one of the achievements I’m most proud of.

It’s something I earned through my own hard work, resilience, and determination, and knowing I got myself there makes it even more special.

His toughest task

The live TV selling challenge. It was completely new territory. I’d never presented before, let alone sold a high-ticket item on national television, live.

I was so far out of my comfort zone. It was a real sink-or-swim moment, and the pressure of live TV selling is unlike anything else.

What surprised him the most?

How quickly loyalties can shift. Whether someone is your friend or not, when the pressure is on, people will protect themselves first.

It’s a competition at the end of the day, and no one is ever truly safe. That was a tough reality to come to terms with.

The experience showed me that in a high-stakes environment, you have to back yourself completely because when it comes down to it, everyone is fighting to stay in the game.

What advice would he give to future applicants?

Be yourself and let your personality shine through; that’s what will help you progress, not pretending to be someone you’re not.

Lord Sugar is looking for someone genuine and humble, and he doesn’t respond well to liars or schmoozers.

How did he find living with the other candidates?

I absolutely loved living with the other candidates; it was one of the most special parts of the whole experience.

It took me back to my university days, sharing a house with friends and making memories every day.

What made it even more meaningful was the fact that we didn’t have our phones or any real sense of time. Without those distractions, we truly connected.

We bonded through long conversations, learning about each other’s lives, ambitions, and stories in a way you rarely get the chance to do in the outside world.

What does he admire the most about Lord Sugar?

How incredibly straight to the point he is. There’s no sugarcoating; he says exactly what he thinks, and you always know where you stand.

Whether the feedback is positive or critical, it’s always real. You’re not left second-guessing or trying to read between the lines.

He values hard work, integrity, and results, and he isn’t swayed by empty talk or flattery.

His defining moment

It was in Week Two, when I walked out of the boardroom believing I was safe, only to be called straight back in; it was a complete curveball.

But the moment I stepped back into that boardroom, my mindset shifted. I told myself I was not going down without a fight.

Being given that second chance was a wake-up call and made me realise how much I wanted the opportunity and that survival in this competition isn’t just about performance, it’s about determination.

Meanwhile, Rothna opened up about being fired.

She said: “It was disappointing in that immediate moment, but it wasn’t a complete shock because I was standing against Dan, who I knew had a really good business.

“I was in shock because I was so close to the Final Five, and I just felt this wave of disappointment, but slight relief because it’s an intense process.

“It was gut-wrenching when you’re so close to making the Final Five.”

“Winning the flower task, in Week Five, with such a monumental profit.

“I didn’t think I could do it, but I was very proud of myself, and I think that will forever be a solid memory that I’ll hold for the rest of my life.”

Posting on Instagram, Rothna also thanked her supporters and followers and detailed her feelings on being eliminated.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Rothna Akhtar (@rothna.a)

The Apprentice returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 9 pm, for its penultimate episode of the series.

The Final Five will face intense scrutiny over their business plans from Lord Sugar’s advisors in a round of tough interviews.

After this, Lord Sugar will pick two candidates who will compete one final time to be his next business partner.