For 10 weeks Wednesday night is Apprentice night.

Across the country people will tune into watch a group of suited and booted business hopefuls battle for a £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar.

For many part of the fun is watching as these budding tycoons battle against the clock and each other to stay out of the board room.

But what it is it really like behind the scenes as an Apprentice cadidate.

WalesOnline caught up with Manchester based PR and marketing businesswoman Jade English to get an insight into what it is really like on the show.

How you first hear you have a place on the show?

Before they get a chance to discuss team names and explore the house there is a pretty intense selection process.

"A long time ago I applied for the show online," said Jade. "You get through to the first stages where you have to pitch yourself for 10 seconds which is actually one of the toughest things you do.

"I didn't think I would get through that round but they put me through and before I knew it I was pitching my business plan.

"It is all really done via email initially. As it progresses you have more auditions and interviews to check you are the right fit."

What is it like watching the first episode

A lot of filming is already done by the time the first episode rolls around. However candidates do not get to see the final cut.

"I am watching it for the first time with everyone else," explained Jade.

"I got all my girlfriends round the house with me and with my family. It was so bizarre. I had never seen myself on television before except when doing my degree.

"You pick up mannerisms you didn't realise you had. I noticed that I touch my hair all the time. I also have some quite serious looks on my face! I Honestly didn't realise I was that intense!"

People talking about you on social media

One thing all candidates have to get used to is unrelenting scrutiny on social meda.

"It is difficult because as much as anybody would like to say they don’t care what anybody thinks about them we are only human," said Jade. "It is weird because sometimes you want to say to people ‘that is not what I am like' or 'I made a silly decision and this is why’. Obviously you cannot reply to everybody.

"Overall I think everybody’s personalities are portrayed but just with a magnifying glass on it.

"You personality is magnified because you are seeing a snapshot of your qualities in front of lots and lots of people!

"So far I think the show has been a representation of who everybody is."

Selling candyfloss

Jade's most memorable part on the show so far was when she got praise from Claude for selling a massive load of candyfloss.

"So far I won as project manager where I had the biggest win of the series so far but people seem to remember the candy floss selling," she said. "That is fine, it was so much fun. I didn’t know I was actually any good at sales before this process- I am bit chuffed to be honest with you."

What it is really like in the board room

The board room is a terrifying place

“I haven’t been brought back in the boardroom yet,” she says proudly.

“They look a lot closer to you on television - the table is absolutely huge.

“You sit down and you feel swallowed up by it, it's crazy in there.

"It is very nerve wracking because you don’t want to be put on the spot especially if you mess up. When you get those nice comments it definitely boosts you back up."

Karren v Claude

Karren Brady and Claude Littner are Lord Sugars eyes and ears

Many fans were devastated when the original assistants of Lord Sugar, Margaret and Nick, left.

However they were replaced by the equally cutting Claude and Karren. But which is more intimidating?

Jade said: "I aspire to be like Karren Brady. I think she is a phenomenal role model and I love her fashion sense!

"I always inclined to impress her as I would like to see a lot of myself in her but you would love Claude to be your dad.

"He is stern on the outside but I would imagine he would be a great dad or grandad."

Being recognised in the street (or the kebab house)

Inevitably, if you appear on national TV I have been recognised. This is something that all of the candidates have discoverd

" I have noticed a few people second take at me and was in a kebab shop the other day," said Jade.

"That is last place you want to get recognised! A guy came up to me and said ’hi are you on the Apprentice?’ I was like ‘oh no busted’ .

"I think the other people on the show are more recognisable. I don’t feel like I actually look like me on the show anyway. I can't describe the experience. It is strange watching it from some time ago because you cant really process that it is you!"

Do they really have only 20 minutes to get ready?

Every single episode a dishevelled looking candidate will pick up the phone in pyjamas and hear the familiar phrase "the cars will be arriving in 20 minutes".

But do they really only have that long to get all that hair spray on (guys and girls).

"We do only have that 20 minutes and nobody believes us!" says Jade.

"The thing is when the cameras are off you can top up your make-up. That is why we look a bit more preened and glam throughout the day.

"Honestly I can not tell you how good I have got at getting up. I can now shower in about 60 seconds. I do my hair the night before and I also had a book of outfits and planned them the night before. If Lord Sugar is coming for you preparation is key."

What is in those tiny bags they have to take to the board room?

It's a familiar sight. A depressed ex-candidate wheeling their tiny case out with "you're fired" still ringing in their ears. But why do people who have worn at least five different outfits have such a tiny case.

"It is an outfit for when you leave," said Jade. "If you get fired you don’t go back to the house and you need some clothes with you for the following day.

"One of the episodes the boys were that cocky and arrogant about the fact they had won the task. They were all trying to fight for being the alpha so were saying ‘I am not going to pack my suitcase’ and none did and then they lost the task. Then one of the boys had nothing to wear for the night!

"It was so funny - all the girls were laughing."

Is it hard work living in the house?

For most people the idea of being stuck in a house with loads of strangers is hell. However, according to Jade it has helped her focus on the task at hand.

She said: "The best thing without a shadow of doubt is the fact you don’t have the distractions of everyday life.

"You don’t have a phone or the internet or TV. You can really focus and I think you do realise who you are as a person.

"Imagine stripping back everything. You don’t have your luxuries but you figure yourself out 100%. You figure out what you want out of life. I feel like the process has changed my outlook on life in a positive way.

"I came out of that house and knew I had these ambitions. I have always known what I have wanted but I have always let everyday life get in the way of my dreams.

"You think when you take away everything else it focuses you. I also think in our society when you are a kid you have a dream and as you get older people make you think these things are not attainable.

"When you take a step back anything is possible if you just put your mind to it. I have trained myself to do positive things. Every morning I would make sure I had a run and did some meditation.

"I think that is why up to this point I have kept my cool on the show because I had trained my brain to be focused."

So what is her business idea?

Candidates are not allowed to reveal too much about their business plans until when (if) they get to the end of the process. However, Jade, who works in digital PR and marketing, has given WalesOnline a hint.

She is hoping to bag £250,000 for her business idea which is a website that will allow people to get a career in an area they may not have been able to achieve through experiences.