Swindon’s own Apprentice star has talked about what drove her to apply as she makes week three of the popular reality show, and one step closer to the £250,000 prize. 

Kathryn Louise Burn got a great reaction from her hometown when she was announced as one of the candidates vying to impress Lord Sugar on the BBC series. 

Born and raised in Liden, the 29-year-old went to Liden Primary School before going to Dorcan Technology College as it was known at the time, before heading to college, but quickly dropped out. 

“It wasn’t for me, I found I just wanted to make money, so I got my first job at 17, working for Virgin Holiday Cruises,” she said. 

She worked there for two years, before becoming a mortgage advisor at Nationwide and then an Events Manager and then she launched her own business - My Christmas Pyjamas. 

“I was living in Australia at the time, and so was my brother, and we were coming home for Christmas and I thought we should all wear matching pyjamas but I couldn’t find any for a whole family.

“I did some research and sourced some wholesalers and launched my own business which has grown and grown since then.”

Kathryn has plans to grow the business with the launch of My Everyday Pyjamas planned for this month which she says is what prompted her to apply for the show. 

“My business was at the stage it could be expanded and I know what I’m capable of so I knew I could get that investment she said.

“Obviously, the winner gets a life-changing amount of money and I wanted to be in with a chance.

“My parents brought me up to just go for things and see what happens. In the first audition there were so many people I thought ‘how am I going to stand out here?”

But Kathryn’s successful application had to be kept a close secret, and only nearest and dearest could be told.

“I could only tell a few people; my mum and dad, siblings and two best friends, who had to sign non-disclosure agreements,” she said.

“I had to keep it a secret from everyone else until they announced it last week which was very hard because I wanted to tell people but now it’s exciting because they can watch it happen on TV.

“The reaction was great to be honest, but no-one was surprised.

“Everyone was saying it’s ‘so you’, ‘it’s the perfect show for you’ and they were all so happy that I was going to have a platform like the Apprentice.”

Kathryn will next appear on the hit programme on Thursday, January 20 at 9pm.