A CONFESSED "self-improvement" junkie from Buckhurst Hill is taking on the challenge of a lifetime by appearing on BBC show The Apprentice.

Samuel Judah, 35, is a product developer who worked for Ford for 15 years before quitting to appear in the second series of the show, which started last week.

He beat off competition from more than 10,000 other applicants and is now competing against 13 other contestants to win a lucrative job with Amstrad boss and Chigwell resident Sir Alan Sugar.

The contestants live in a mansion in north London's Millionaires Row with their business skills tested to the limit.

Mr Judah, who has a degree in manufacturing and engineering, is also a black belt in Jujitsu, says he loves testing himself to "breaking point".

And he feels his martial arts experience will stand him in good stead for the show, which sees one apprentice fired' each week.

He said: "You learn about dealing with multiple assailants; you can't panic and lose your head when that starts happening."

Speaking before the programme started, Mr Judah said: "I'm not here to entertain people, I don't give a sh*t about that. For me it's business."

The Apprentice is on BBC2 at 9pm every Wed-nesday.