A Putney businesswoman is one of 18 hopefuls to work with Alan Sugar in tonight's new series of The Apprentice.

Siobhan Smith, 34, runs a wedding service company for couples in the United Kingdom with desires to marry in Dubai.

As well as flying aeroplanes, scuba diving and jumping off cliffs, the mother-of-one is a travel and lifestyle blogger in addition to being a wedding planner and celebrant.

Mrs Smith believes she is a ‘very direct person’ and will always call a spade a spade, but does not mean to be rude so much as forthright.

She told the Wandsworth Guardian: “You’re not going to have me stab you in your back, but I am always one of those people who will say it to your face if I have a problem with you or the way someone is doing something. I will just say it.

“Some people don’t like that because they’re not that kind of person.

“I worked very hard during the process and it’s about getting the job done and winning the task at hand, to be honest.

“Not necessarily the whole process, but to win the task because that’s my end goal really.”

Her role model is Colonel Sanders, the founder of KFC, who ‘at the age of 65 had knocked on more than 1,000 doors in over two years trying to sell his recipe before getting his first yes’.

It is because he ‘never gave up on his dream’ that Siobhan looks up to him.

Asked about meeting Lord Alan Sugar, she added: "He’s is a very blunt and very direct great business man an inspiration to me.

“He is a little bit intimidating in the boardroom, just because you’re coming under scrutiny. So that was probably one of the hardest parts for me when you are in the boardroom, not knowing if you’re in the firing line or not.

“He is a really strong businessman, as are Claude [Littner] and Karen [Brady] as well.”

Listing her strengths as being direct, dynamic and compassionate, Mrs Smith is keen to use Lord Sugar and his team’s experience to take her business ‘to the next level’.

With a varied background that started when she left St Bernard’s School, in Westcliff-on-Sea, at 18, she does not think being a mother will stop her from continuing to chase her ambitions.

Siobhan said: “I think a lot of people don’t know that, before I was a wedding planner and a mother that I was actually a banker for many years.

“So that’s something I wanted to let people know that I am a wedding planner and mother now, but it’s not all I’ve ever been.”

The Apprentice is now into season 13, which will premiere tonight (October 4) on BBC One at 9pm.