The Apprentice: Dani Donovan, owner of Sawbridgeworth salon Mermane, bids to win this year's series

A Sawbridgeworth salon owner is competing in this year's series of The Apprentice.

The BBC begins its 17th season of tycoon Alan Sugar's business challenge on Thursday January 5, at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with Dani Donovan hoping to triumph over 17 other contestants.

The 26-year-old runs Mermane, offering Russian hair extensions and styling, in The Square and is hoping her CV and skills will stop her from getting fired by billionaire Baron Sugar.

At stake is the chance to become his business partner and win a £250,000 investment in her new venture.

In the Radio Times she described herself as "a different kind of business owner", hoping to bring personality and relatability to the show.

She told the magazine: "Business doesn't need to be fancy words and suits."

According to Radio Times, Dani believed she should triumph because her business fills "a huge gap in the market" and "feels really current" – in fact, it "baffles [her] that no one has done it yet".

In the first episode, Dani and her fellow contestants will fly to Antigua and be split into two teams to tackle their first challenge.

Under the beady eyes of Baron Sugar's sidekicks, Baroness Karren Brady and Claude Littner, they will create and sell excursions for tourists. On their return to London, one hopeful will be fired.