The Apprentice and fans pay tribute to the late Stuart Baggs 'the brand'

It was all about the best characters on Thursday night and social media lit up with fans of the show when it featured a montage of the late Stuart Baggs, the contestant from season six who tragically died in 2015 at the age of 27.

He wasn't so much an Apprentice as "a brand" and his bravado was legendary.

"I'm not a one-trick pony, I'm not a 10-trick pony, I've got a field of ponies to run to this," he memorably said.

The tributes rolled in from fans for the "brilliant" contestant.

Others remarked that he was their number one contestant: "Stuart Baggs will always remain my most favourite #TheApprentice candidate ever."

The impact Stuart had on fans of the show has lasted 10 years after he appeared.

The Apprentice boss Lord Alan Sugar made his own memorial to Stuart who, aged 21, was the youngest to ever compete on the show.

"He could talk the hind legs of a donkey. He was quite amusing, he actually made me laugh for once in the boardroom," said Lord Sugar.

"Stuart was one of our most memorable characters and regretfully he's passed away. But he'll never be forgotten. What a great character."

Then of course there was Ruth "The" Badger from season two of The Apprentice in 2006.

She came second in the series, to Michelle Dewberry, but many on social media felt she was "robbed".

Others remarked on her no-nonsense attitude to the tasks and her take-no-prisoners approach in the boardroom.

"I’m not saying The Badger was good, but in real life Lord Sugar is now working for her #TheApprentice," tweeted one fan.

Some of the contestants themselves got involved in the nostalgia, like Melody Hossaini, who made it to week 10 of 12 in season seven.

The Apprentice Best Bits will return next Thursday onen BBC One with an episode focusing on the celebrity specials.

While you’re waiting visit our TV Guide to see what’s on tonight, or check out our guide to new TV shows 2020 to find out what's airing this autumn and beyond.