THE Apprentice lovebirds Harpreet Kaur and Akshay Thakrar have made history as the BBC show’s first on-screen couple to get hitched.
Businessman Akshay popped the question to The Apprentice 2022 winner, 32, in a sweet rooftop proposal last May.
And just over a year later they have now made things official in a three-day wedding ceremony.
Proud groom Akshay, 31, posted a series of snaps to Instagram with the caption: “Blessed and Married. Starting our forever chapter.”
The digital marketing agency owner then re-posted the gallery and added: “Appreciate all the love and messages.”
The first image captured the pair in a traditional Indian ceremony at the Hare Krishna Temple in Watford, with the pair wearing matching white embroidered garments and floral garlands.
The second snap depicted their civil ceremony at Wentbridge House Hotel in West Yorkshire, while the final snapshot saw dessert parlour business founder Harpreet donning a floor-length red frock with a flowing train.
Akshay, meanwhile, looked chic in a black suit embroidered with sequin detail on the lapels and a bow tie.
Talking of their nuptials, he said: “It’s crazy – what a story that we met on the show, I said in my speech, ‘I think I’m the only man who can say I met my wife on The Apprentice.'”
He added to The Mirror: “The only way I can describe our wedding is that it felt like a movie, it was amazing.
“We knew the other was The One straight away, and it’s just gone from strength to strength from the beginning.”
There was even a nod to Lord Alan Sugar’s telly show during the ceremony, with Harpreet and Akshay competing in a contest set to the backdrop of The Apprentice theme tune.
The challenge determined who was the boss of the relationship with Harpreet – who bagged the life-changing £250,000 investment two years ago – coming out on top.
MEANT TO BE
Akshay told how his mum had even hinted he could find his forever partner during the long-running series.
The London resident admitted to OK! Magazine how his parent had told him: “Good luck you might find your wife,” but he told her not to be “silly.”
He explained: “I told her to not be silly because it was a business show and such a high-pressure environment.”
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.
Yet just a year after the series aired, he got down on one knee on a bed of roses to pop the question.
Meanwhile, BBC’s Asian Network host Harpreet gushed how – even aside from the huge cash prize – the show has changed her life.
She previously said she was even recruiting The Apprentice finalist Kathryn Burn to play an important role.
Speaking to Yahoo, she said: “My best friend is Kathryn, the finalist, she’s going to be my bridesmaid as well. I’ve got a best friend, husband and an investment out of The Apprentice.”
Harpreet added: “Because it’s a big fat Indian wedding: there’s a number of days to plan and a number of outfits I need to plan.
“I’ve just finally ordered dress number one which I’m really excited for. We’re trying to keep it quite an intimate do, which is very difficult when you’re Indian, but we’re really looking forward to it.”
