The Celebrity edition of The Apprentice is reportedly set to return to BBC One in late 2025 to mark the show’s 20th anniversary.
It’s the first time the spin-off from the BBC One business contest, which is fronted by Lord Alan Sugar, 77, has been staged in 16 years.
Producers of the show are reportedly hoping to sign some big names including Cheryl Tweedy and Piers Morgan, as they have appeared on celebrity spin-offs before.
A TV insider told The Sun: ‘Execs want to get A-list stars involved for this very special version of The Apprentice, and signing up Piers, in particular, would be TV gold as there’s a long-running stand-off between him and Lord Sugar.’
‘Few celebrities have been approached yet as the show is still at the early stages and they want to take their time carefully selecting the right mix for the programme.’
The celebrity version is likely to go out towards the end of 2025, and the show will reportedly air just before the release of the 20th series.
The Celebrity edition of The Apprentice is reportedly set to return to BBC One in late 2025 to mark the show’s 20th anniversary (Lord Alan Sugar is pictured)
Producers of the show are reportedly hoping to sign some big names including Piers Morgan, as he has appeared on celebrity spin-offs before
It was also reported that they are hoping to sign Girls Aloud star Cheryl
has contacted the BBC for comment.
The first episode of the UK’s Apprentice, which was hosted by the then Sir Alan Sugar, aired on February 15, 2005, and it was almost an instant hit with viewers.
Then came the celebrity spin-offs in 2007, first for Comic Relief, featuring Piers, Cheryl, Maureen Lipman and Karren Brady, who went on to star in the ‘civilian’ version of the show alongside Lord Sugar.
In 2008, Sport Relief produced a celebrity spin-off and the lineup included Alan Carr, Jonathan Ross, Michelle Mone, and Patsy Palmer.
In the same year ,Piers went on to star in the US version of the show when the now President of the United States, Donald Trump, was fronting the contest. It was also the cementing of a personal relationship between the two men.
Meanwhile, the nineteenth series of The Apprentice will air on BBC One early next year and 18 brand new candidates will battle it out to win Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment and mentorship.
According to TV Zone, it’s win or luge as the candidates will hit the slopes, kicking off the series in the Austrian Alps tasked with selling tour packages.
For the candidates who survive the first boardroom with Lord Sugar, an array of challenging tasks will lie ahead.
The celebrity version is likely to go out towards the end of 2025, and the show will reportedly air after the release of the 19th series (Karren Brady, Lord Alan Sugar, and Tim Campbell)
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Across the series they will be creating a virtual popstar, turning a ton of potatoes and tomatoes into cash, and designing and marketing Easter Eggs.
And not forgetting Interviews Week, when the final five will face the grilling of a lifetime from some of Lord Sugar’s trusted business associates.
With 18 determined entrepreneurs battling it out for Lord Sugar’s investment and guidance, The Apprentice remains one of the toughest business competitions around.
For the candidates, this is a make-or-break moment, where winning the process could change their lives and catapult their business to the next level, but one wrong move and those dreams will come crashing down.
Comedian, writer, and actor Tom Allen, 41, will return as host of The Apprentice: You’re Fired, which will air each week on BBC Two and iPlayer, straight after the main show.
Tom will be joined by a host of celebrity fans and business professionals to dissect and debate the candidates’ progress through each task.
The Apprentice will return to screens for series 19 in 2025.