EXCLUSIVE interview with Swindon's Kathryn Burn as The Apprentice returns
She finished second in last year's series
Last updated 5th Jan 2023
Lord Sugar's search for a new business partner returns to our TV screens tonight.
This year, The Apprentice will see 18 candidates vying for a £250,000 investment from the business tycoon.
They will attempt to prove their worth across a range of challenges, with at least one contestant being fired each week.
Aiding Lord Sugar will be Baroness Karren Brady, Claude Littner and Tim Campbell - all keeping a watchful eye on proceedings.
This series' opening episode is based in Antigua, where the two teams try to sell and run bespoke tours.
Greatest Hits Radio speaks EXCLUSIVELY to Kathryn Burn
Kathryn Burn, from Swindon, was runner-up on The Apprentice last year. Her online pyjama brand came agonisingly close to bagging Lord Sugar's investment, but was pipped by Harpreet Kaur's dessert business in the final.
In an exclusive interview with Greatest Hits Radio, the former Dorcan Academy student explained how her life has changed since the show aired.
"It's different! It's nice, it's always nice. I get so many lovely comments ... people come up in the street and speak to me, almost like they know me.
"I've loved it, it's not too much.
"It's just a nice level of people knowing who you are and they often say: 'Well done, you did great, we were really routing for you,' which is really nice to hear," she said.
'Just start - don't wait for things for things to be perfect'
During 2022, Kathryn signed a deal with Hilton London Metropole, allowing guests to order her My Christmas Pyjamas sets straight to their hotel rooms. She has described the partnership as being "invaluable" to her festive business.
The 30-year-old has also revealed she's expecting to return to our TV screens this year, telling Greatest Hits Radio there are a few projects "in the pipeline".
For any Swindonians looking to follow in her footsteps and become an entrepreneur themselves, Kathryn has shared her advice.
"Just start - don't wait for things for things to be perfect. If I think back to when I first opened My Christmas Pyjamas it absolutely cracks me up, because ... on my website I had a section for shower curtains!
"I hadn't quite found my niche yet and I was just selling all Christmas stuff on my website, not having a clue about business, (or) what would sell.
"I'm still learning now ... you're best off just getting going and then learning as you go," she added.
Series 17 of The Apprentice gets underway on Thursday 5 January at 9pm.