A former candidate of The Apprentice has spoken of her empathy for the tough tasks facing the current batch of hopefuls trying to impress Lord Alan Sugar.

Ellie Reed made it to episode five of the BBC One show in 2011. The former Bingley Grammar School pupil said she had no regrets about taking part.

She said: “I really enjoyed it because I already had my own business. I wasn’t desperate to win. I was just loving the excitement of being on The Apprentice. I got on with everyone else and I wasn’t nervous about meeting Lord Sugar, I was just excited to be there.

“It’s definitely really tiring. It’s harder than it looks. You’re up at half five in the morning and you’re trying to get ready in half an hour with four of you sharing the same room. It’s like being back at university.”

Ellie, who lives in Bingley, now runs executive recruitment agency Ellie Reed Consultancy Limited, based in Leeds.