The Apprentice 2026 winner reveals moment she thought Lord Sugar was going to hire differently

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Karishma Vijay, who won The Apprentice in 2026, has shared that she believed Lord Sugar was considering hiring both her and Pascha Myhill right up until the very end of the show.

Tonight, Karishma and Pascha competed in a final challenge for Lord Alan Sugar’s investment. They each launched their business idea to a panel of industry professionals and former winners, with help from candidates who had previously been on the show.

After gaining public support and creating branding materials, the two finalists made their final arguments to the investors, explaining why their business deserved the £250,000 investment.

Lord Sugar ultimately chose to invest in Karishma, even though he thought Pascha’s presentation was excellent. He hinted he could have easily chosen a different candidate – something he’s rarely done in the past.

Karishma recently told TopMob she believed Lord Sugar considered hiring both her and Pascha. She said, “I’m incredibly proud of Pascha, and I honestly thought he might choose us both. But it’s a fantastic result for both of us girls in the end.”

Lord Sugar has rarely hired both finalists – it’s only happened once before, in 2017. He explained he simply couldn’t choose between the two candidates that year.

This time, though, he stuck with just a single winner, and honestly, it was a really surreal moment – that’s how Karishma described it, and I totally get why! It felt so unexpected and unique.

It sounds like a cliché, but I remember being in the boardroom with Lord Sugar early on, and he told me to get straight to the point. Then, just a few weeks later, he was struggling to remember my name! After that, I just figured it was okay, whatever happened.

When he said my name and told me his decision with a smile, I realized he believed I could bring him financial success. In that moment, we genuinely connected, and I felt a personal bond that went beyond just money.

Karishma explained that she feels a strong connection with him because they share similar backgrounds and have both come a long way. Even though he’s much more experienced, she recognizes a bit of herself in his journey.

We have a very honest and genuine connection, both personally and professionally. I’m really proud he recognized my abilities and potential, especially seeing my true personality shine through during the competition. I was thrilled when he ultimately chose me!

Although Pascha didn’t receive Lord Sugar’s investment, she’s still busy growing her business and has a lot to concentrate on.

I’m incredibly proud of Karishma, whether she won or not,” Pascha shared with TopMob. “She absolutely deserved the win. Honestly, I thought I’d be eliminated in week 4! I didn’t have much confidence in myself, so just making it to the final feels like a huge accomplishment for me.

After speaking with Lord Sugar one-on-one, he told me to stay in touch. I’ve always planned to start my own company by the time I’m 25, and he actually asked me in the boardroom if I would still do that even if he didn’t invest in my business, Pascha.

I’m completely committed to taking the time to thoroughly understand the recruitment field and the care industry. I’m definitely still planning to pursue this, either independently or with investment.

The Apprentice is available to watch on catch-up on BBC iPlayer.

Authors

Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer

Katelyn Mensah writes about entertainment for TopMob, covering everything from popular TV shows and reality competitions to important documentaries. Before joining TopMob, she worked at The Tab, where she focused on reality TV and celebrity news. She has a degree in Journalism.

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2026-04-17 00:34