A spoonful of Sugar helps young entrepreneurs

The teen version of The Apprentice shows 16 and 17-year-olds, some of whom are already running businesses, displaying raw entrepreneurial talents to win access to a fund worth 25,000.

In the first episode, being screened tomorrow, hopeful Hibah Ansary, 16, is seen in tears as tensions run high.

Viewers also see Lord Sugar warn the youngsters that he is no "happy clappy teacher", adding: "You can look at me as the head teacher that you'll love to hate. I'll be firm but fair."

He adds: "You all probably think that I'm some grumpy old git. It's not true – I'm not that old."

But when he comes to fire the first candidate, Lord Sugar carefully explains to all three candidates that they have "tremendous potential" and acknowledges "it's a difficult thing to be the first person to go".

Asked if he had modified his manner, Lord Sugar, who left school at 16, said: "I obviously had to consciously recognise that I was dealing with much younger people."

"And so obviously I spoke to them in a much different manner than you would do to more mature candidates...."