Popular BBC entrepreneurship competition The Apprentice will reportedly bring back its celebrity special in late 2025 to celebrate the programme’s 20th anniversary.
It will be the first time since 2009 that famous faces will compete under the supervision of Lord Alan Sugar, 77, in the boardroom.
Production insiders are said to be pursuing big names, including Cheryl Tweedy and Piers Morgan, both of whom previously starred in celebrity specials The Apprentice. A TV source suggested that booking Morgan specifically would generate “TV gold” given his longstanding rivalry with Lord Sugar, who has headlined every edition of the series.
Although only a few notable guests have been approached so far, executives plan to take their time securing the right lineup in order to maximize the show’s appeal in the special anniversary year. If confirmed, the celebrity version will likely hit screens shortly before the 20th “civilian” series of The Apprentice airs, keeping up the brand’s momentum.
The original version of The Apprentice was released in the UK on 15 February 2005, and quickly became a ratings success. A pair of celebrity fundraisers followed soon after, with high-profile participants including Sir (now Lord) Alan Sugar’s colleague, Baroness Karen Brady, as well as Piers Morgan, Cheryl Tweedy and Maureen Lipman.
Morgan boosted his profile by appearing on the US version, then hosted by Donald Trump. The show established a personal relationship between the former Daily Mirror editor and Trump, who would later become President of the United States.
Meanwhile, the 19th series of The Apprentice returns to BBC One on Thursday 30 January, as 18 new candidates compete for a £250,000 investment and mentoring from Lord Sugar. Their first task is to sell Alpine tour packages in the Austrian mountains, as they scramble to prove their entrepreneurial mettle. Throughout the series, they will face a range of projects including creating a virtual pop star, turning potatoes and tomatoes into profit, and designing Easter eggs – culminating in the famously rigorous ‘Interview Week’.
Comedian, writer and actor Tom Allen resumes hosting duties on The Apprentice: You’re Fired, which airs on BBC Two immediately after each main show. This companion program invites celebrity guests and business experts to expose each candidate’s moves and mistakes, providing a deeper insight into the series’ quest to find the next great British businessman.
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