Marnie Swindells was crowned the winner of The Apprentice on Thursday as Lord Sugar picked her to be his next business partner.

The court advocate, 28, won Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment after her boxing idea fought off stiff competition from Rochelle Anthony’s diverse hair salon. 

Picking his winner in the final boardroom session of the series, Lord Sugar remarked: ‘Two very excellent candidates. But I’ve always been known to be a gambler, I’ve always been known to try new horizons so I’m going to try a new horizon’, as he opted to take a punt on Marnie’s business.

He had initially been worried about investing in her plan seeing as she’d never run a business before, but ultimately decided it was a better option over Rochelle’s second hair salon.

Watching the scenes unfold at home, viewers were quick to hail Marnie as a ‘worthy winner’, while remarking that Lord Sugar make the ‘right decision’ in picking her.  

‘Marnie was a worthy winner!’ commented one viewer.

While another gushed: ‘Aw I’m so happy for marnie!! So well deserved.’

‘Well done Marnie, wishing you the best of luck with your new business – right decision by Lord Sugar I think’ said a third.

‘Yes Marnie! I knew it’ tweeted a fourth excited watcher.

‘Worthy winner! Chuffed for Marnie’ came the response of a fifth person.

With another agreeing with Alan’s decision as they wrote: ‘Right decision I think.’

The series 17 finale saw previously fired candidates return once more and help the girls create bra ding for the businesses, including a digital billboard, a TV advert and an interactive demo. 

At the end of the tasks, Marnie and Rochelle both took to the stage to pitch their ideas to a room full of industry experts – as well as Alan, Tim Campbell and Karren Brady – with the duo promoting their brands and answering tough questions.

After seeking the help of the experts, Lord Sugar, the finalists and the other former candidates headed back to the boardroom where he dissected their business ideas and branding endeavours.

Following a final chat with the girls and his trusted advisors, Lord Sugar then made his decision, opting to invest £250,000 into helping Marnie create her dream boxing gym – with a focus on feelings rather than fitness. 

Speaking after her win, Marnie said in the taxi: ‘It feels so strange to be called Lord Sugar’s business partner! But I’ll not stop saying it because I’m so happy!’ 

It comes as after Apprentice winner Marnie Swindells has hit back at critics who have compared the show to Love Island, saying it is possible to be both glamorous and a serious businesswoman. 

The boxing champion beat salon owner Rochelle Anthony to win the BBC1 contest and a £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar to franchise her gym. 

However, despite the final being an all-female affair, the programme has been accused of dumbing down and selecting contestants who look like they belong on Love Island. 

Exclusively speaking to the Daily Mail, Ms Swindells said: ‘Women can have it all, and to say we have to pick between being glamorous and being good businesswomen is an insult. We can do both and we can do it all. 

‘It is okay for women to be online and be expressive and show their fashion, their make-up and hair. Time has moved forward, and we are in a more digital age. 

‘The saying ‘get yourself a woman that can do both’ shouldn’t even exist. It goes without saying that we are all of those things. ‘Women can take on many hats and be many different people and it really is an unfair narrative.’ 

Ms Swindells, a court advocate from Manchester, impressed Lord Sugar during the winner-takes-all task after pitching her boxing gym to hundreds of industry experts.

 And now she says that following the tragic death of Sarah Everard in March 2021, who was killed by Metropolitan police officer Wayne Couzens, and the murder of Zara Aleena last June, she hopes her boxing business Bronx can help women regain power on the streets. 

Ms Swindells, 28, said: ‘One thing I am really passionate about is to teach the real skill and the real technique. I think often women get palmed off with Boxercise and Boxfit – but those classes won’t keep you safe.

 ‘If you ever do need to throw a punch and protect yourself it is really important women know how to transfer the weight into a punch and really take care of themselves. ‘I’m a huge advocate of teaching real boxing even if you have no ambitions to fight. We need the real deal.’