If you haven't been watching The Apprentice UK, then you may want to navigate away from this post because the winner of season 16 has just been announced!
Both were extremely strong throughout the season, so we were pretty psyched when we got the opportunity to sit down with Harpreet and Kathryn to ask them 18 burning questions. Here's what they had to say:
BuzzFeed UK: Hey Harpreet! Congratulations on your win, did you think you were going to win when it came down to it?
Harpreet Kaur: I gave 110% throughout the whole process up until the final, but at the end of the day you just don't know. It was Lord Sugar's choice, and Kathryn is also investable and has an amazing business – but I was confident that I'd done enough.
BuzzFeed UK: How much did it mean for you to be in the first ever all-female semi-final of The Apprentice?
Harpreet: I absolutely loved it! I believe that in life and in business, I cannot get by without strong supportive women around me. We were almost like four friends who all couldn't believe we'd made it this far. It was just awesome! I'm all about girl power, and I believe women are really really strong.
BuzzFeed UK: We completely agree! So did it mean a lot to beat the men?
Harpreet: You know what, as a woman, you do get that little bit of satisfaction. I'm gonna have to be honest, for me, it doesn't matter whether you're a man or woman. I'm happy working with everyone and anyone, gender doesn't come into it for me it's all down to ability. You can be any gender, colour, and race and it doesn't faze me whatsoever.
BuzzFeed UK: What were some of your highlights?
Harpreet: The car journeys were fun because you'd get in the car and you'd all look at each other and go "Woah, what just happened?". So that's really memorable for me. We didn't get too much time off in the house together, but when we did it was awesome. One of us would cook and we'd all eat around the table together and chill in the garden because it was summer. It was just amazing, and I genuinely formed some amazing friendships.
BuzzFeed UK: Did you find the process harder than you expected?
Harpreet: Big time! I got the shock of my life when I got there. I applied thinking I'm gonna smash these tasks, and when I got there the exhaustion, the difficulty, and the intensity of the boardroom and the cameras were very full-on. I just couldn't relax because I wanted to win so bad, but my determination and drive are what got me through.
BuzzFeed UK: Will your sister still be involved in your business?
Harpreet: Obviously Lord Sugar didn't meet my sister, so it was a difficult decision for him, but at the end of the day we've been running the company for six years. He's getting two for the price of one, so why would you not want that?!
BuzzFeed UK: Are there any behind-the-scenes facts people might not know about you that you can share with us?
Harpreet: I used to wear Kathryn's pyjamas every single night because they were that comfortable. Me and Akeem had a day off, and he was cooking egg-fried rice and we did the whole day together wearing them; we sat and enjoyed this gorgeous plate of rice made by Akeem. A week later, we were in the kitchen on that corporate away day task and I was so frustrated because Akeem knows how to make the most amazing rice, but he just wasn't bringing it!
BuzzFeed UK: Allegedly you had to film two endings – can you talk us through that?
Harpreet: Basically, in the end, you do have to film two alternatives, one in which I'm hired and another where Kathryn is hired. We only recently found out who the actual winner was, so you're almost in limbo for a while. Apart from that, everything is how you see it there's no acting involved!
BuzzFeed UK: Would you seek advice from Tim and Karren in the future?
Harpreet: Tim and Karren are so inspiring to me. I'm a massive fan of The Apprentice, so I've watched Karren for a while and she's such a badass businesswoman to me! And it was so amazing getting to know Tim and spending time with him. I have the utmost respect for him too!
BuzzFeed UK: Lastly, if you could go back in time and tell your 16-year-old self anything, what would it be?
Harpreet: Go and chase your dreams, and don't worry about anything else! As long as you work hard, have good morals, and treat people with respect, you don't have to be nervous or unconfident about the future. Success doesn't mean money. Success means living a happy and fulfilled life doing what you wanna do – so just go smash it!
BuzzFeed UK: Hey Kathryn! Congrats on getting to the final, did you think you'd ever make it this far?
Kathryn Burn: I definitely thought I was capable, but going through the process there were many times where I thought I'd get fired. To be in the final and be a runner-up, I'm very proud of myself.
BuzzFeed UK: You should be! Did you and Harpreet celebrate after finding out you guys were in the final two?
Kathryn: I remember that evening we went back to the house had some champagne and takeaway with the production team. We were just so proud of each other and buzzing that we were in it together. So to be in the final with my closest friend was really special.
BuzzFeed UK: How was it to reunite with your fellow candidates in the final?
Kathryn: It's cut from the show, but I was actually crying! I'd only seen Steph and Britt two days before, but it was really emotional.
BuzzFeed UK: People have particularly loved this series, so what's the response been like for you?
Kathryn: My Instagram has gone absolutely crazy because I had around 2,000 followers before, and now I have like 57-58K. I get hundreds of messages a day and they're all so lovely. It's amazing to have people you don't know reach out and show appreciation.
BuzzFeed UK: What are your favourite behind-the-scenes memories?
Kathryn: I loved being in that house because it was such a lovely environment. Everyone left the drama from the boardroom in the boardroom, so coming back was nice and especially important when you don't have your family and friends with you.
BuzzFeed UK: We could see you being a really good presenter, do you think you'll ever go down that route?
Kathryn: I've had a lot of people reach out for presenting actually, but my priority right now is my pyjamas. But who knows what the future holds!
BuzzFeed UK: Is there anything you learnt from the other candidates that you'll take forward with you?
Kathryn: I remember Francesca used to always open the pitch with a question, which I now do because you engage the audience straight away and it sounds professional. We all try to learn from each other because it's an opportunity, so why wouldn't you?
BuzzFeed UK: Lastly, if you could choose a celebrity family to sport your pyjamas, who would it be?
Kathryn: I love this question because I know the answer and I say it all the time! It's the Humes family. I think they're the most beautiful family and are so well respected, so I would love to get them into my pyjamas!
Answers edited for length and/or clarity.