A co-star romance, family tragedy and an ISIS drama: As The Apprentice returns, how are the previous years' winners faring now?

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He's been hiring and firing and delivering withering put downs in the boardroom for more than a decade.

And tonight, Alan Sugar returns to screens with a new crop of 18 hopefuls desperate for his £250,000 investment.

Flanked by his advisors Karren Brady and the fearsome Claude Litner, Lord Alan is on the hunt for one impressive candidate worthy of his money. 

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The Apprentice returns to BBC One tonight for the 12th series of the hit show, which will see 18 candidates battle it out for Lord Sugar's investment 

Recently, Alan told The Express that he'd love the BBC to do a 'where are they now' show on past winners to inspire other young entrepreneurs. 

'The winners from past series now have houses, families, employees and a future,' he said.  

But what level of success have they really achieved as a protegee of Lord Sugar?

As the hit BBC1 show returns for series 12 tonight, FEMAIL looks back at the 11 previous winners to see whether they're still thriving in the business world.

SERIES ONE: TIM CAMPBELL

The first ever winner of the UK version of The Apprentice, which was previously aired on US TV with Donald Trump as the boss, was a former London Underground transport manager. 

Back when the series started, the winning candidate was given a job at  Lord Sugar's company Amstrad, where Tim launched the Integra electronic anti-wrinkle device at Argos and Harrods.

Tim from Stratford, East London, the son of a Jamaican-born single mother, was described as a 'worthy winner' by the technology magnate.

Tim Campbell was the first winner of The Apprentice and worked for Lord Sugar's firm Amstrad for two years, during which he launched an electronic anti-wrinkle device

With his boss's blessing, in March 2007 Tim left his £100,000 year job to set up his own male-grooming business and to run a social enterprise called the Bright Ideas Trust.

The trust is designed to support young entrepreneurs from disadvantaged backgrounds. Tim also co-authored a business guide called What’s Your Bright Idea?

In 2012, he was awarded an MBE for services to Enterprise Culture, and in the same year he became a member of Estate Office Property Consultants, a boutique London agency specialising in property and other investments for wealthy clients.  

This year, the 39-year-old - who is also a motivational speaker - co-founded Marketing Runners Ltd, a digital marketing agency.

Tim Campbell was awarded an MBE in 2012 for services to Enterprise Culture

SERIES TWO: MICHELLE DEWBERRY

Quiet, but determined Michelle, now 36, who grew up on a council estate in Hull, Yorkshire, was the second Apprentice winner in 2006.  

After landing a £100,000 job Michelle worked on the launch of Xenon Green, which specialised in computer equipment disposal.

She quite the company just one month before the end of her year-long contract, claiming the job 'wasn't what it said on the tin'.  

Quiet, but determined Michelle, now 36, who grew up on a council estate in Hull, Yorkshire, was the second Apprentice winner in 2006

Michelle also battled personal heartache during this time - while dating fellow contestant Syed Ahmed she suffered a miscarriage and the pair split soon afterwards. 

Michelle went on to become a Sky News TV pundit, run a shopping website called Daily Chic and penned an autobiography called Anything Is Possible.

In 2014, she had surgery to remove a spot on her face after a biopsy revealed it was cancerous. She urged fans to get pimples checked.

Currently she appears on Sky News Sunrise reviewing the day's papers, and is about to launch Let's Get Britain Working - a website aimed at helping job-seekers get back into work.

Michelle is a Sky News pundit and is launching a website to help people who are unemployed get back into work 

SERIES THREE: SIMON AMBROSE

The Cambridge graduate who attended school with Nick Clegg and comes from a line of successful businessmen, was hired in series three in 2007. 

London-born Simon, who became a member of Mensa at 13, went on to work for property company Amsprop, run by Lord Sugar's son Daniel, for three years, as well as studying to be a chartered surveyor.

He left to start his own ventures and is said to run several bars in London.  

London-born Simon Ambrose won The Apprentice in 2007 and went on to work for property company Amsprop, run by Alan Sugar's son Daniel, for three years

As well as being a property developer, Simon also runs an events company, has invested in a restaurant and is chairman of the London Contemporary Orchestra.

He suffered a family tragedy in 2015 after his sister was struck by a train while on unsupervised leave from a mental hospital. 

She was left in a vegetative state and then passed away from pneumonia. 

As well as being a property developer, Simon also runs an events company, has invested in a restaurant and is chairman of the London Contemporary Orchestra

SERIES FOUR: LEE MCQUEEN

Middlesex milkman's son Lee McQueen - renowned for his 'That's what I'm talking about!' catchphrase - won the 2008 series. 

He scooped the top role despite fibbing on his Apprentice CV about the length of time he'd spent at university.

On what should have been his first day as development director at Lord Sugar's Amscreen, the 38-year-old former IT recruitment manager got off to a bad start by calling in sick with food poisoning.

Middlesex milkman's son Lee McQueen - renowned for his 'That's what I'm talking about!' catchphrase - won the 2008 series

But father-of-three Lee went on to work for the firm for two-and-a-half years, setting up a successful digital media business with Lord Sugar's son Simon.

In September 2010 Lee, 38, who is now based in Oxfordshire, set up his own sales recruitment and training agency, Raw Talent Academy. 

He also takes on public speaking engagements and has been a judge at the Recruitment Consultant Awards.  

Lee McQueen, 38, now runs his own sales recruitment and training agency, Raw Talent Academy

SERIES FIVE: YASMINA SIADATAN

Restaurant owner Yasmina Siadatan fell pregnant four months into her year-long stint at Lord Sugar's Amscreen Healthcare company following a whirlwind romance with a colleague.

The 35-year-old daughter of an Iranian entrepreneur, from Hull, Yorkshire, fulfilled her 12-month £100,000 contract with the firm but didn't return after maternity leave.

There seemed to be no hard feelings with a spokesperson for Lord Sugar saying at the time: 'Yasmina did a great job and the door is always open should she ever want to return.'

Yasmina Siadatan with fellow finalist Kate Waslk during series five of The Apprentice 

After taking time off to have her two sons Rupert and Roman, Yasmina was headhunted by former Dragon’s Den star James Caan and now works as creative director of Start Up Loans.

She also appears regularly on TV to review the day's papers.  

Earlier this year she discovered that her half-brother had travelled to Syria to fight for ISIS after reading reports of the trial of four Muslim extremists, one of whom was his wife.

A spokesman said the business consultant condemned her brother Isiah’s actions in Syria, and revealed she had not had any contact with him for more than five years.

The spokesman added: ‘She wishes to make it clear that she condemns these alleged actions and political views in the strongest possible terms.’

Earlier this year it was revealed that 35-year-old Yasmina's half-brother Isiah has travelled to Syria to fight for ISIS 

SERIES SIX: STELLA ENGLISH

After winning The Apprentice in 2010, the 36-year-old went on to work at Lord Sugar's Viglen, which sells IT solutions to the education sector.

She then moved to the digital TV service YouView, but she walked out after 13 months of employment when told her contract would not be renewed.

The mother-of-two said her £100,000 job consisted of administrative tasks and she was just an 'overpaid lackey'.

While unsuccessfully trying to sue Lord Sugar for constructive dismissal, she lost her job at Citigroup, battled reposession of her home and her marriage to husband Ray broke down.

Stella won series six of The Apprentice after beating Chris Bates, but she later went on to sue Lord Sugar for constructive dismissal 

Stella English pictured arriving at an East London Employment Tribunal hearing where she accuses her former boss Lord Alan Sugar of constructive dismissal

She was pictured at the Jobcentre and revealed she only had £90 in the bank.

However, she turned things round and is now a host for Crowd Box – a TV channel that helps entrepreneurs raise money through crowd-funding – and works as a management consultant.

Stella is now dating snooker ace Ali Carter and says she has no regrets about working with Lord Sugar

'I'm now earning twice as much money as I did when I worked for Lord Sugar, so it has worked out for the best,' she said.

The mother-of-two says she's now earning twice as much as she did while working for Lord Sugar and has found love again after her marriage breakdown 

SERIES SEVEN: TOM PELLEREAU

Inventor Tom was the first first contestant to win a £250,000 investment after the show's format changed. 

Former mechanical engineering student Tom went into business with the tycoon developing an S-shaped nail range called Stylfile, which was sold at Tesco and Asda supermarkets. Their company has a turnover of £1.5million.

Now, Tom, 36, from Twyford, Hampshire working on inventions such as double screen acoustic diffuser for musicians and a bowel cancer screening device and 

He also created a children's story app with his sister last year, which reached number two in the App Store Book Charts.

Inventor Tom Pellereau, 36, was the first contestant to win a £250,000 investment after the show's format changed

The inventor, pictured at the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory second birthday after party, is working on new devices and developed a children's storytelling app with his sister 

SERIES EIGHT: RICKY MARTIN

Former pro-wrestler Ricky Martin - who changed his name from Richard to emulate the pop star - had the nation in fits of giggles after declaring, 'I truly am the reflection of perfection'.

However the 32-year-old qualified biochemist from Portsmouth had the last laugh and went on to win Lord Sugar's investment.

Ricky set up an Essex-based company called Hyper Recruitment Solutions, specialising in scientific recruitment. 

Former pro-wrestler Ricky Martin, 32, was something of a figure of fun when he first entered the contest, but he went on to win series eight in 2012

He told MailOnline: 'The honest reality was I was going to start the business whether I won the show or not. 

'But Lord Sugar's help has been invaluable and it would never had grown to this scale this quickly without him.'

Lord Sugar echoed his praise adding: 'Ricky is a glowing example for younger people. Not everybody is a Mark Zuckerberg, a Richard Branson or a Google but you can start a business from scratch and grow it into something.'

Ricky, pictured with fellow winner Dr Leah Totton, set up an Essex-based company called Hyper Recruitment Solutions, specialising in scientific recruitment

SERIES NINE: LEAH TOTTON

Irish-born Leah Totton beat off baker Luisa Zissman to win Lord Sugar's £250,000 cash injection during series nine.

The 28-year-old's decision to open a Botox clinic came under scrutiny with critics claiming it would encourage more women to have cosmetic procedures.

However, ice-maiden Leah beat off her haters and her central London-based clinic does a roaring trade.

Irish-born Leah Totton beat off baker Luisa Zissman to win Lord Sugar's £250,000 cash injection during series nine

She recently opened another clinic in Loughton, Essex and the launch was attended by Lord Sugar and several other Apprentice winners, including Ricky Martin and Joseph Valente. 

Her clinic offers a mind-boggling array of skin treatments, from hair transplants and skin peels to laser treatment and lip enhancements, going up to a price of £1,450. 

It will also offer customers an 'exclusive' fat-busting treatment, which Leah claims is a world first, according to the Londonderry Sentinel.

Dr Leah's decision to open a Botox clinic came under scrutiny with critics claiming it would encourage more women to have cosmetic procedures

Earlier this year, industry experts predicted Leah's business was well on its way to making her first million, after figures revealed it had £439,000 in cash in its coffers, up from £190,000 in 2014.

In a recent interview with MailOnline, Leah shared her advice for starting a business and pitching to her investors.

She said: 'I think when you have an idea and you feel passionate about it that it's a unique skill to be able to get that passion across and make others see your vision.

'Now we have been going for a few years people pitch to us and I'm on the other side of the fence. It's something where when someone pitches to you and you think "I can really see how this is going to work", and others not so much.'

Lord Sugar attended the launch of Dr Leah's latest clinic in Loughton, Essex in March this year 

SERIES TEN: MARK WRIGHT

The 26-year-old sales manager came out victorious and went on to launch digital marketing website Climb Online with Lord Sugar's investment.

One of the main problems he's encountered is people confusing him with his TOWIE namesake.

He added: 'I'm the better looking of the two Mark Wrights! That's the one thing I've got in my favour. But I can't get my b***** Twitter verified because they think I'm a bloody account off the other geezer off TOWIE! 

Mark Wright, winner of the tenth series of The Apprentice, with his new business partner Lord Sugar 

'I've got to send in my birth certificate and all this stuff – they think I'm a replication account. But I asked Lauren Goodger, and she said I'm definitely the better Mark Wright.'

Dr Leah Totton clearly agrees as it was revealed earlier this year that the pair are dating. 

He's also become embroiled in Twitter wars with Duncan Banatyne after the Dragon's Den star said he wouldn't invest in his business. 

Sales manager Mark Wright came out victorious in 2014 and went on to launch digital marketing website Climb Online with Lord Sugar's investment 

He said: “I asked Duncan Bannatyne for advice and my girlfriend still left me,' he told The Sun.

'I would end up with no money if I listened to him. If he’d held on to hisfirst wife, he would have more cash to splash.

'Bless him, I think he is going to have to open a lot more gyms if he is going to keep going through the girls. 

It was revealed earlier this year that Leah Totton and Mark Wright, both Apprentice winners, are dating 

SERIES ELEVEN: JOSEPH VALENTE

The half-Italian entrepreneur, 25, impressed Lord Sugar with his business plan of franchising his plumbing company, and the billionaire decided his idea was more worthy of investment than runner-up Vana Koutsomitis' gamified dating app.

After winning the life-changing investment, Joseph went on to promote the benefit of apprenticeships for young people.

He was expelled at the age of 15 and started his career as an apprentice before going on to found his own plumbing business in Peterborough. 

He has used the investment to expand his company ImpraGas, which maintains and installs plumbing, heating and electrical products.

Italian entrepreneur Joseph Valente, 25, impressed Lord Sugar with his business plan of franchising his plumbing company, and went on to win last year's series of The Apprentice

Joseph Valente has used Lord Sugar's investment to expand his company ImpraGas, which maintains and installs plumbing, heating and electrical products

He hopes to bring his business to London in the next five years and take on the likes of British Gas and Pimlico plumbers. 

'I have mainly invested The Apprentice money in our set up, bringing in a jobs booking and management system,' he explained. 

'We also have bought four new offices and purchased new vans and uniforms. We are expanding county by county - Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and we are hoping to move to London in the next five years.'