First Apprentice fired

One hopeful faces Lord Sugar's wrath in the boardroom...

10:16 22 March 2012

Risk analyst Bilyana Apostolova has become the first candidate to be booted off this year's series of the Apprentice.

Lord Sugar chose to fire the 25-year-old over the two other members of Team Stirling, self-appointed team leader Gabrielle Omar and quiet Katie Wright, after they lost the first task of the series.

The boys were pitted against the girls in a design task, which involved buying black products, customising them and selling them on the streets of London.

Stirling went for printed children's clothing, jigsaws and bags, while the boys on Team Phoenix chose to go for the tourist market, flogging bags and teddy bears with London bus and Union Jack designs.

Despite over pricing their products at first and having issues with quality control, the boys triumphed and were saved from a grilling in the boardroom.

Team leader Gabrielle chose to bring both Bilyana and Katie in with her to face the wrath of Lord Sugar, but despite appearing to lean towards firing Katie, it was Apostolova who was ultimately sent home.

In his closing speech, Sugar said:

"I'm not listening to anybody anymore now, I've had enough of listening to you. I'm telling you what the situation is whether you like it or not. 

"It is a difficult decision to make in this first task so the person leaving today may feel that they haven't had enough time to show themselves but that's tough, that's what this process is about.

"You don't do yourself any favours, Bilyana - you're fired."

In the taxi on her way home, she commented:

"I feel the decision wasn't fair and I don't think that my performance cost us the task. But my business plan is excellent so I'll just move on straight away."

The Apprentice returns on Wednesday 28 March on BBC One at 9pm.