The Apprentice returned to our TV screens tonight (February 1) for its 18th series on BBC One.

Lord Alan Sugar was back alongside his trusted advisors Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell MBE as 18 hopeful candidates began their latest business adventure.

Throughout the series, they will complete brand-new tasks and battle it out for the opportunity of a lifetime for Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment and mentorship.

However, each week, one will be fired and sent out of Lord Sugar’s boardroom after much deliberation.

But who was the first to leave The Apprentice in week one? Let’s find out.

Who left The Apprentice tonight?

Yorkshire sales executive Oliver Medforth became the first contestant to exit the latest series after encountering some difficulties making a brownie.

He boasted of running five retail shops, from Newcastle to Swindon for his family distillery and setting up a soft drink brand before being fired by Lord Sugar during Thursday’s episode.

During the boardroom, Lord Sugar said: “Ollie, it’s funny that you’re amongst eight colleagues and quite a few of them didn’t know what you did, and so I say no smoke without fire.

“It’s a tough one, Ollie I’m sorry to say mate you’re fired.”

Oliver, who did not put himself forward as project leader or as head of the sub-team, was looking forward to the sales tasks before being let go after hosting a Scottish Highlands corporate away day, which saw chaos in the kitchen and tardy tours.

Oxford Mail: This is why Oliver Medforth was fired from The ApprenticeThis is why Oliver Medforth was fired from The Apprentice (Image: BBC/Naked)

London chartered company secretary Onyeka Nweze and Leicester music producer Virdi Singh Mazaria were both chosen as the project managers for the female and male team, respectively.

During the episode, Oliver did not make his voice heard when sub-team leader Bognor Regis pie company owner Phil Turner opted for expensive meals and no alcohol as the welcome drink became a bottle of water.

Oliver also asked lots of questions of Phil in the kitchen, while making food for the corporate client, and did not seem to know that the abbreviation tbsp stands for tablespoon.

“I’ve never been in the kitchen before,” Oliver said when he was tasked with making a brownie and seemed to forget to put flour in the dessert.

The food was also served late and their clients thought the food had been microwaved, the episode showed.

Recommended reading:

Virdi decided to take London management consultant Steve Darken and Oliver into the boardroom with him following them losing the task when the client asked for a refund of 52%.

Oliver was blamed by his fellow competitors for being “quiet” during the task and told he would not be receiving Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment.

In the taxi after being sent home, Oliver said: “(I’m) a little bit disappointed to go out first, it’s been a fantastic experience on this process, and I wish each and every candidate the best of luck.”

The Apprentice continues on Thursdays on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.