Young Apprentice star Navdeep Bual is settling back into routine studying for her AS-Levels at Seven Kings High School in Ley Street.

But things are not quite back to normal for the 16-year-old as the limelight cast by the BBC show continues to shine.

After getting more than 200 Facebook friend requests, nearly 2,000 Twitter followers and becoming a worldwide trend on the social networking site, Navdeep is a familiar face to millions of the show’s viewers.

“It’s been fun getting recognised,” she says.

“I went to Stratford the other day and people were coming up to me asking to go for a coffee.

“There’s one guy who is a bit crazy. He’s a bit of a Twitter stalker.

“He once posted a picture of my face with a heart on it.”

The new-found fame is almost a relief to Navdeep, who had to keep her involvement on the show a secret for months since it was filmed in the summer.

She had to disappear from her school prom, and miss the after party, to be whisked to a hotel with the other contestants.

She said: “I arrived in my prom dress at about midnight.

“Depending on far I got it could have been weeks or months so I just told people I was in India and didn’t know how long for.”

Navdeep, who lives with her parents and four siblings in Glebelands Avenue, said her family were proud of the result.

The former head girl made it until week six of the programme, when she was fired by Lord Sugar after losing a challenge to create a hair product.

The decision came as a shock to many viewers but Navdeep said she was “content” to get so far.

She added: “I think Lord Sugar’s decision was based on my CV from before the show.

“Everyone else had done a lot in business but mine was more varied.

“It’s scary speaking to someone of Lord Sugar’s status knowing that he’s judging you every time you see him.

“But he was really nice after I got fired.

“He came out and gave me his card and told me he knows how hard it is when you get to that stage.”

Despite the pressure of the series and the intense competition, Navdeep said the contestants are “great friends” and are planning a reunion in February.

Although Navdeep said she “loved” all the challenges on the show, she has decided against a career in business in favour of humanitarian work.

She hopes to study medicine and work for the United Nations.

She said: “I can go into the World Health Organisations and work myself up, maybe to general secretary, we’ll see.

“I just want to make sure the opportunities I have don’t go to waste.”