This year's hopeful entrepreneurs compete for a £250,000 investment to start their own company with Alan Sugar being their business partner. The 16 contestants are split into two teams and are sent to New Covent Garden Market, where they are given £250 to invest in fresh fruit and vegetables. The teams then have to use their ingredients to make tempting juices, fruit salads and pasta meals to cater for London's hungry workforce. One of the members of the loosing team is fired by Alan at the end of the show.

The hopefuls have to enter the world of technology when they are challenged to think big and go global. The two teams have to design, launch and promote a new mobile phone application. One of the candidates from the loosing team is fired by Lord Sugar at the end of the show.

The remaining candidates meet Lord Sugar at the Savoy Hotel in London, where they are challenged to source 10 products for it's reopening. One of the candidates from the loosing team is fired by Lord Sugar at the end of the show.

The remaining candidates left in the running meet Alan at the British Museum where they learn that their next task is to set up beauty treatment businesses in Birmingham. At the end of the show one of the candidates from the loosing team is fired by Lord Sugar.

Alan picks the team leader once again and challenges the two teams to manufacture, name and brand a new pet food. At the end of the show two of the candidates from the loosing team end up being fired this week.

The remaining candidates are called by Alan to a rubbish dump where they are challenged to create junk-collection businesses. At the end of the show another of the loosing candidates is fired by Lord Sugar.

The two teams travel to the newspaper district of Fleet Street in London, where they are challenged by Alan to create and publish a free magazine. At the end of the show one of the loosing candidates is fired by Lord Sugar.

The remaining candidates have to sell British products to the French. One half of each team stay in London, selecting designs presented by entrepreneurs ranging from children's toys to top-end bikes yo sell in France. The rest travel to Paris to set up sales meetings. At the end of the show one of the candidates from the loosing team is fired by Lord Sugar.

As the remaining candidates left in the runing are enjoying a day off Lord Sugar turns up and ends up instructing them to make, brand and pitch a new type of upmarket biscuit. One of the candidates from the loosing team is fired by Lord Sugar at the end of the show.

Lord Sugar challenges the two teams to sell a pallet-load of wholesale goods. One of the candidates from the loosing team is fired by Lord Sugar at the end of the show.

This special episode profiles the remaining five candidates left in the competition.

The two teams are given two empty shops in London's West End and instructed to create and open fast-food outlets, developing a brand and selling to the public for a few hours. They then have to pitch their concept to Lord Sugar and industry experts.

Dara O'Briain offers his theories on how to become a winning candidate before next week's final.

The final four candidates battle it out to try and win the opportunity to set up a business with Alan Sugar and receive a £250,000 to put into the new company. Their final task is the the interview stage. At the end of the show Lord Sugar announces this year's winner.