OVER the years The Apprentice has seen many different business men and woman grace the famous boardroom.
Pie shop owner Phil Turner is hoping to win over Lord Alan Sugar after making it to the final of season 18.
Who is Phil Turner from The Apprentice?
Phil Turner hails from West Sussex and runs his own pie shop.
He launched to fame on the The Apprentice 2024, and is now hoping to win the £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar after making it to the final.
Phil will go up against business rival Rachel Woolford in the grand final.
Speaking to the BBC about his time on The Apprentice, and being a finalist he said: “It’s not been the easiest journey but I’ve held my head high and kept going each week.
“Now I’m ready to give it one more shot to show that Lord Sugar was right to see something in me and that I can be his next business partner.”
Some viewers were surprised to see Phil in the final.
During the grueling interview stage of the show, he concerned Lord Sugar’s advisers with his lack of numbers in his business plan.
He was also grilled by Mike Soutar over the date he claims his business was established and was accused of “lying to customers”.
But it seemed an emotional moment with Claudine Collins about his family pulled him back into the running.
When did Phil Turner open his pie shop?
Phil’s family-owned business dates back to the 1930s and he has since built it into “a seven-figure profitable business”.
Called Turner’s Pies, they say on their website: “Our award-winning products are baked daily, from scratch using only the finest ingredients.
“We work hard to maintain our tradition of quality and continue to produce some of the best meat pies in the country.
“Ours are no-nonsense, good old-fashioned favourites, done the right way for the whole family to enjoy.”
Phil took on the business, along with his older brothers Joseph and Peter, in 2009.
There is no failure that I have encountered in business or life that has not been necessary for growth.
Phil Turner
They took over the pie shop from their parents, and were crowned the Supreme Pie Champion in 2020.
Speaking about his career, Phil told the BBC: “Building my business over the years is a succession of failures.
“Almost everything I’ve done for the first time failed in one way or another.
“I live by the motto ‘we win or we learn’.
“There is no failure that I have encountered in business or life that has not been necessary for growth.
“Failure is necessary for success.”
When is The Apprentice final?
You can watch the final on BBC One on April 18, 2024 from 9pm.
Fans can also catch the action on the BBC iPlayer.
Viewers can stream every episode of The Apprentice there has ever been.
The Apprentice biggest moments
THE Apprentice has been a fan favourite ever since it burst onto the box in 2005.
Here we take a look at five of the biggest moments over the years on the hit BBC One show.
Tim Campbell– Former London Underground transport manager Tim Campbell won the first series of the reality show in 2005. He is now one of Lord Sugar’s aides on the show.
Sarah Lynn and James White– For the first and only time in the show’s history, both finalists were crowned winners in 2017.
Amy Anzel– Season 16’s fired candidate Amy Anzel was BANNED from the final celebration show, after a tit-for-tat exchange over Lord Sugar’s mocking tweets.
Michelle Dewberry– Telecoms consultant Michelle Dewberry won the second series of the show in 2006. However, after winning a six-figure job with Lord Sugar she lasted just four months before she sensationally quit.
Selena Waterman-Smith – We’re used to tensions running high in the boardroom, but in 2015 a disagreement between two candidates spilled over – for the first time – into a physical bust-up. Events manager Selina Waterman-Smith was given a verbal warning by show bosses for her role in an off-camera scrap with Charleine Wain.