'We knew we were going to get married'

The Apprentice stars Akshay Thakrar and Harpreet Kaur talk about their whirlwind romance

- LUCY ROBINSON

As The Apprentice hits our screens again, 18 new hopefuls will fight it out for the chance to land Lord Alan Sugar's £250,000 investment and mentorship.

With boardroom battles seeing candidates throw each other under the bus to avoid getting fired, there's often no love lost between the ruthless contestants. But despite the demanding tasks, Akshay Thakrar and Harpreet Kaur fell head over heels for each other after the 2022 season.

"It's funny because my mum made jokes about it. She said, 'Good luck, you might find your wife,'" Akshay, 30, tells us. "I told her to not be silly because it was a business show and such a high-pressure environment.

"But within 12 months, we've bought a home, got engaged and have been planning a wedding."

During their time on our screens, Harpreet, 32, was crowned the winner of The Apprentice, while Akshay was ninth to be eliminated.

"I never thought I'd meet someone on the show. I just didn't expect it at all," adds a loved-up Harpreet.