Former Workington Comets rider Paul Bowen makes his first appearance in the new series of BBC show The Apprentice tonight.
Bowen is one of 18 candidates battling it out for Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment and mentorship.
The opening episode sees the candidates host a corporate away day in the Scottish Highlands, before one hopeful is already sent packing from the show.
Bookmakers rate Bowen, whose pie business already lists Manchester City FC among its clients, as favourite to win the series – but there are 12 tasks to work through before that stage.
Bowen rode on and off for Workington’s National Junior League side, the Meteors between 2014 and 2018.
In 2017 he was promoted to the Comets side in the Championship after Rob Shuttleworth quit the club mid-season.
Bowen, now 34, rode as a guest reserve in three meetings – at Derwent Park against Ipswich and Edinburgh and away at Scunthorpe. He didn’t manage to score a point in any of the meetings.
His sporadic appearances for the Meteors were down to his involvement with the family business, as well as a couple of injuries.
More recently Bowen has been riding for Belle Vue Colts, combining his appearances with his day job as director of Bowen Pies.
The first episode is screened on BBC One tonight at 9pm and will also be available on the BBC iPlayer.
