The Missing Candidate: Revealed.

The elusive 16th candidate who stepped down from his place on BBC One’s hit show, The Apprentice, has today been revealed as 30-year-old entrepreneur, Adam Freeman from Essex.

Adam started his first company at the age of 20 selling ringtones and made his first million by the time he was 25.

Adam says of his decision to leave: “I’m quite similar to Sir Alan at my stage in life at the moment. I have thrown away an opportunity of a lifetime, but the reality is, I just couldn’t do it and I feel like this is the right decision I’ve made.”

Executive Producer Michele Kurland said: “It’s an incredibly tough process and candidates need to be 100% sure that they are able to give up their time and commitments to take part. Adam had a last minute change of heart and felt that he couldn’t leave his family for a long period of time and we supported his decision.”

See Adam Freeman’s interview tonight on The Apprentice: You’re Fired, BBC Two at 10pm.