The Apprentice runner-up Anisa Khan has revealed what she considers to be the real reason why Dean Franklin won the 19th series of the BBC show.
Thursday night’s episode of the programme saw pizza company owner Anisa, 26, and AC company owner Dean, 34, battle it out for the £250,000 investment with Lord Alan Sugar.
After 11 long weeks, the final two were tasked with creating a new brand, producing an advertising campaign and then pitching their business to Lord Sugar and other leading industry experts.
At the end of the episode, Dean was revealed as the entrepreneur’s new business partner, and Anisa, owner of Bombay Pizza, has revealed exactly why she thinks Lord Sugar picked him.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline about her decision, Anisa said: ‘I think with Dean, it came down to… the finals is all about his business as well, right?
‘I think it wasn’t Anisa versus Dean in the final, it was very much like my pizza business versus his AC business, and his business does make more money than my one does.
The Apprentice runner-up Anisa Khan reveals REAL reason Dean Franklin won the show – and why she was doomed from the start despite place in BBC finale
AC business owner Dean, 34, was crowned winner of The Apprentice 2025 on Thursday night – and Anisa thinks she knows why
Anisa and Dean made it to the final two of the nineteenth series of the BBC series this year
‘So I think from a business perspective, it makes sense, we’re all sure that Sugar wants to invest in the one that makes more money.
‘And I think that’s what it came down to in the end.’
Although fans would think that the final boardroom was the most nerve-wracking time for the contestants, the businesswoman certainly didn’t feel like that.
Speaking about the nerve-wracking moment, Anisa said: ‘I know the final boardroom was the most important, but it’s also the one I was the most calm in it, because I think by that point, I was just speaking about my business, and I knew, in terms of the final task being about my business.
‘I knew that I had done everything I could have in a way, like I presented well, I said my arguments, I described the business.’
Despite not winning the show, Anisa has ‘no regrets’ and thinks that she did everything she could have to make a mark.
She continued: ‘So I left with no regrets, and that final boardroom, although, of course, the snatch on the line…
‘I’ve been a boardroom so much, I got used to it.
Thursday’s episode of the programme saw pizza company owner Anisa, 26, battle it out for the £250,000 investment
Anisa pitched her business idea to Lord Sugar and other leading industry experts during Thursday night’s episode
‘I felt like I knew Lord sugar, Baroness Brady and Tim, I feel like I knew them well at that point.
‘So the worst boardroom for me was the the first one, because it was new, I was so anxious that first one, because I didn’t know what’s gonna happen, and I was PM of a losing team.’
Anisa also hit back at those who say that contestants only go on the programme for fame.
She said: ‘I can’t speak for everyone’s intentions of going on to the show, but I know from my one it was very much to win the investment. That is the main reason I went on the show.
‘However, I think it’s also like, it’s obvious, if you’re going on TV, you’re in front of millions of viewers.
‘You do want some sort of thing, whether that’s for your self or for your business.
‘So I reached my goal by having my pizza brand on national TV, pretty much.
‘I guess you could argue, yeah, I went in for fame, but for the business, as opposed to my personal fame.
‘And I’m sure others went in there for their own personal fame as well.
‘But there’s a mixture. It’s a business show, but end the day, it’s also TV show.’
But things are looking up for Anisa and her business, with plenty of new customers who want to try her pizza.
Speaking about how the interest in her pizza changed after the interview episode last week, she said: ‘It was like hundreds of people.
‘We had queues coming out of my takeaway restaurant and it’s amazing.
‘Also it’s amazing because one, it’s great business, but two, it’s nice that I’ve had an impact on so many people.
‘So it’s strange, because obviously the show I did last year, and I knew I was finalists the whole time.
‘Like, the whole time the air shows I know how far I got right, I knew I did well on the show, but now the nation has caught up, now everyone’s so proud and I’ve had so many messages, and so many people have come in.
‘I’m trying my best to handle it, because honestly, last Friday and Saturday was just mental. Like, I’ve never experienced that level of busy.’
The Apprentice airs on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.
