A TAUNTON woman is set to become the second youngest contestant ever on The Apprentice.

Lottie Lion, 19, has sent a warning to the other candidates not to underestimate her because of her age.

Ahead of her appearance on the first episode of the new series on BBC1 next Wednesday at 9pm, Lottie said: "I hope they'll take me seriously. If not, I'll prove to them that actions speak louder than words."

In the first programme the 16 candidates will head to South Africa, where the men will go on safari and the woman will visit a vineyard.

"It's exciting because I started collecting wine when I was 12, but it's ironic that Lottie Lion goes to South Africa and won't see a lion," she told the County Gazette.

Lottie, whose family are Belgian, grew up in North Devon before moving to a farm outside Dulverton, where she set up a car cleaning business earning £25 a week as a 12-year-old

She studied at Richard Huish College, Taunton, and later moved to the county town, where she worked as a librarian at Bishop Fox's School for a time.

Lottie set up in business operating a national members' club for ladies in the countryside following a confrontation at a shooting event.

She said: "When one of the gunmen arrived, he said, 'You're a woman, surely you're not shooting with us today'.

"I realised women needed more representation in field sports.

"I'm sure he'll feel quite silly when he sees me on The Apprentice, but it's not just him that's the problem - there's an attitude that men go shooting, women ride horses, it's about the culture of agricultural Britain.

"I organise shoots and equestrian events, social events and dinners. In 2021 I hope to expand to a boys' country club.

"Living in the countryside is quite isolating. People have a lot of time on their hands, so I put them in contact with each other and organise events."

Lottie applied to go on The Apprentice while enjoying a couple glasses of wine in front of the TV.

She had almost forgotten about the application when she was among 600 of the 50,000 original applicants invited to a gruelling audition.

She sailed through the day and was among 70 potential candidates invited to a day of screen tests before being put through a psychological assessment to ensure she could handle the stress of appearing in front of Lord Sugar and spending up to 12 weeks in The Apprentice house.

Lottie said: "I want to earn my own money, to be successful. I don't object to hard work and getting dirty. I fancy myself as an entrepreneur. I'm a strong character and I'm very persuasive.

"I was apprehensive but excited when I heard I was going on The Apprentice."