Dean Franklin has been crowned the winner of The Apprentice 2025, beating Anisa Khan in Thursday night’s final to become Lord Sugar‘s new business partner.
The 34-year-old AC business owner has definitely got the last laugh after he was grilled by Mike Soutar about a sex toy picture during the interview process last week.
Dean and Anisa, 26, had to pull out all the stops to show Lord Sugar that they are the best business partner to receive his £250,000 investment.
The two had to create a brand new brand, produce an advertising campaign it and then pitch it to Lord Sugar and other leading industry experts.
Luckily they had some help from previous contestants Liam Snellin, Frederick Afrifa, Jonny Heaver, Jordan Dargan, Mia Collins, Amber-Rose Badrudin, Nadia Suliaman, Chisola Chitambala, Melica Moshiri and Emma Street.
Anisa decided to create her brand and trusted Amber-Rose to make the advert for Zaal Pizza, while Dean put Liam in charge to make his advert, while he made he brand Domesticool.
Dean Franklin has been crowned the winner of The Apprentice 2025, beating Anisa Khan in Thursday night’s final to become Lord Sugar ‘s new business partner
The 34-year-old AC business owner has definitely got the last laugh after he was grilled by Mike Soutar about a sex toy picture during the interview process last week
Liam’s advert totally contrasted against his brand’s name Domesticool, as his idea was that the product warmed up homes, so they had to reshoot.
Meanwhile Anisa made a chickpea pizza on a Dahl base and was totally impressed with Amber’s advert.
After the adverts and branding was completed, they presented in front of professionals to show off their products.
Anisa explained that she wanted make 10 new dark kitchens in the next five years, and Dean said that he wants to expand his business.
Back in the boardroom Lord Sugar said: ‘No disrespect to you or you, but profits of £20 or 30,000 a year, is of no interest of me, I’m looking for big business.’
Anisa said: ‘What I’m proud about is my product, my pizzas taste great and I’m confident with that.
‘I agree my numbers are not that big, but I did that myself.’
Dean told Lord Sugar: ‘I’ve been a supervisor for one of the biggest air conditioning companies in the UK, I’ve seen the operation. I know how it works. I had 24 blokes underneath me.
Dean and Anisa, 26, (pictured) had to pull out all the stops to show Lord Sugar that they are the best business partner to receive his £250,000 investment
Former contestants returned to the show to help the finalists with one final task
The two had to create a brand new brand, produce an advertising campaign it and then pitch it to Lord Sugar and other leading industry experts
Anisa explained that she wanted make 10 new dark kitchens in the next five years, and Dean said that he wants to expand his business
Back in the boardroom Lord Sugar said: ‘No disrespect to you or you, but profits of £20 or 30,000 a year, is of no interest of me, I’m looking for big business’
‘If I can get to that stage, I can run it a lot smoother.’
Lord Sugar said: ‘I have got a dilemma because you’re both very credible.’
Unfortunately Anisa, who had put herself forward as project manager a number of times, didn’t do enough to win.
Announcing the news that Dean was his new business partner, Lord Sugar said: ‘This is the way I see it.
‘Dean, through the process you’ve been quite good. There have been a few rocky moments where you remained in it by the skin of your teeth, but do I have the confidence in the residential market?
‘As opposed to food, where everyone’s got to eat, and a £10, £12 pizza is affordable to most people. That’s where I am at the moment.’
Lord Sugar announced: ‘Giving it deep consideration, I’m going to say that Dean, you’re going to be my business partner’
Speaking after his big win, Dean said: ‘I can’t believe I’ve just won The Apprentice. This is going to mean the world to me and my family. My kids are going to be over the moon’
Lord Sugar and winner Dean posed with miniature air conditioning units following the final
He then added: ‘Giving it deep consideration, I’m going to say that Dean, you’re going to be my business partner.’
Speaking after his big win, Dean said: ‘I can’t believe I’ve just won The Apprentice. This is going to mean the world to me and my family. My kids are going to be over the moon.’
Dean’s huge win comes after a very awkward moment last week.
The remaining five contestants squirmed during the interview process.
Anisa, Dean, Amber-Rose Badrudin, Chisola Chitambala and Jordan Dargan were grilled by Mike Soutar, Claudine Collins, Linda Plant and Claude Littner.
The entrepreneurs certainly found it very hard, but there was one very awkward moment that left Dean very red-faced.
Dean was left lost for words when Mike brought up an old picture that was posted on his company’s social media account.
The interviewer went on to show the contestant a snap of a sex toy attached to an AC unit and asked: ‘Do you remember posting his on social media?’
An awkward Dean laughed to himself and scratched his head.
He then replied: ‘So we were working in a sex shop and I thought it would be quite funny…
‘Clearly not.’
Dean was left lost for words when Mike brought up an old picture that was posted on his company’s social media account last week
Mike Soutar went on to show the contestant a snap of a sex toy attached to an AC unit and asked: ‘Do you remember posting his on social media?’
Mike fumed: ‘It’s a sex toy on an air conditioning unit! It’s currently on your social media?!
‘This doesn’t say to me “Here’s a trusted organisation that is going to come into my home and treat it like their own”.
‘Does it really feel like fun?’
‘Not right now. Not right now,’ Dean replied.
The Apprentice airs on BBC.
