Apprentice fans had the chance to learn a little more about St Albans candidate Luisa Zissman during last night’s programme (Monday).

The special programme told the stories of the five finalists, including interviews with their nearest and dearest and old pictures from their family photo albums.

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It told the story of Luisa’s childhood in Buckinghamshire and the beginning of her career.

She got her first job at 16 when her parents said they would buy her a horse but she had to cover the upkeep costs.

She said: "That taught me a lot about responsibility I thinking having to look after him and pay for him and make sure he was kept.

"When I got to 17 I was just like this is what I want to do. I love having my own money and independence and I want more of it.

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"I didn’t like being employed and I didn’t like being told when to do - especially when I thought I was right and the people I was working for perhaps weren’t running their businesses properly.

"I was like; I could do a much better job of this than they can."

She also went on to talk about the inspiration she took from her parents.

She said: "My mum is an amazing role model to me. I love my mum.

"I’ve been called strong and argumentative in the board room but my mum would eat every single candidate in here for dinner."

Her mum Christina Kalozois, who also featured in the programme, said: "She’s always had her own opinions on how things should be done which lends itself to having your own business because otherwise you’re not going to get on working for a boss.

"As a businesswoman people probably wouldn’t initially see the soft side to her. It can come across as being very aggressive but I like to call it assertiveness.

"She had a very varied and, I think, happy childhood. She was very bubbly and she was always dancing around the house."

The programme went on to talk about Luisa’s life away from her three businesses, and focused on her two-year-old daughter Dixie.

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Luisa said: "Being a mother is the hardest job in the world and as a working mother I think you feel constant guilt.

"But I want her to have a lovely life and I want to provide for her."

During the show both of Lord Sugar’s aides shared their thoughts on the St Albans businesswoman.

Nick Hewer said: "Right from the off Luisa established herself as perhaps the strongest business people in the process. But she does tend to people’s noises out of joint.

"But at the end of the day this is a business task and she gets business right on the nail every time and some of the others don’t.

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Karren Brady spoke about the warning Luisa in the boardroom after task 8, when Luisa took over the project manager from Jason.

She said: "Alan gave Luisa a really stern warning after task 8 and you know what she listened, she adapted and she absolutely understood that is she wasn’t going to be a team player it was over for her."

The reaction to Luisa’s success in St Albans also featured in the clip.

Local residents shared their view on the cupcake businesswoman.

One said: "I think Luisa does have charm. She’s got a feisty charm and I think that is really important as a business woman. You need that.

Another man said: "Luisa is certainly very pretty and she has attracted a lot of attention because of that. Maybe she works her charm but I don’t think it will work on Lord Sugar."

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The penultimate round of this year’s competition, which will see each of the candidates grilled about their CVs and business plans, will be aired on BBC One on Wednesday, July 17.