It has been announced today that Ricky Martin, winner of the 2012 Apprentice series and co-founder of Hyper Recruitment Solutions (HRS), will be grilling the five remaining candidates to help Lord Sugar decide who should be taken through to the grand final.

The episode, which airs at 9pm Wednesday 17th December on BBC1, will see Ricky grill the semi finalists as part of a four-person panel, with the remaining candidates then whittled down to the lucky two who will battle it out in the final for the £250,000 business investment from Lord Sugar.

The Science and Technology Recruitment Entrepreneur has gone from strength to strength since winning his business partnership with Lord Sugar and has recently moved out from Lord Sugar’s premises into his own office to allow for his rapid growth.

Ricky’s firm, Hyper Recruitment Solutions (HRS), a recruitment company specialising in the sciences, has not only managed a profitable first full year but has supported over 1000 jobs in the industry since it’s creation.

Ricky said, “The last two years have been a rollercoaster but I couldn’t be happier with how things have turned out. I’m sure it will be strange to be on the other side of that desk this time but I can’t wait to get started. I wouldn’t be where I am now without Lord Sugar and The Apprentice so it was an honour to be asked back on the show as part of the interview panel. I have always identified this as one of the most vital stages of the competition and with my experience in interviewing, managing selection processes and having been involved in hiring across Lord Sugar’s companies, it’s great to be able to bring my experience to the table.”