TWO businessmen hope to impress Lord Alan Sugar in the new series of The Apprentice.

Sofiane Khelfa, 32, from Basildon, and Courtney Wood, 29, of Stanford le Hope, will put their business brains to the test as they go up against 16 other hopefuls in the TV reality show.

Mr Khelfa, a technology senior sales executive, said his friends might call him over-zealous, but believes when he gets down to business, his skills and personality will shine.

He said: “The best survivors in the world are the people who adapt, and I’m the best at adapting. I’m like a chameleon. I adapt to anything, anywhere, anytime.”

Mr Wood owns a novelty gift company and designs and creates gifts to supply toretailers.

He said: “How would I describe myself in one sentence? I’ll give you one word - awesome.”

The Apprentice is on BBC One at 9pm on Thursday, October 6.