The BBC’s popular entrepreneurial contest The Apprentice is reportedly bringing back its celebrity spin-off in late 2025 to celebrate the programme’s 20th anniversary.
It will be the first time since 2009 that famous faces compete under the guidance 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 participated in The Apprentice’s celebrity specials. A TV source suggested that booking Morgan specifically would generate “TV gold” given his longstanding rivalry with Lord Sugar, who has fronted every iteration of the franchise.
While few high-profile guests have been approached so far, executives reportedly plan to take their time securing the right line-up in order to maximise the show’s appeal in a special anniversary year. If confirmed, the celebrity edition will likely hit screens shortly before the broadcast of the 20th ‘civilian’ series of The Apprentice, maintaining the brand’s momentum.
The original version of The Apprentice launched in the UK on 15 February 2005, quickly becoming a ratings success. A pair of celebrity fundraisers followed soon after, with notable participants including Sir (now Lord) Alan Sugar’s eventual colleague, Baroness Karren Brady, as well as Piers Morgan, Cheryl Tweedy, and Maureen Lipman.
Morgan further boosted his profile by appearing in the US version, then hosted by Donald Trump. The show forged a personal rapport between the former Daily Mirror editor and Trump, who would go on to become President of the United States.
Meanwhile, the 19th series of The Apprentice returns to BBC One on Thursday, 30 January, with 18 new candidates competing for Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment and mentorship. Their first task will see them selling 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, transforming potatoes and tomatoes into profit, and designing Easter eggs—culminating in the famously rigorous “Interviews Week”.
Tom Allen, the comedian, writer, and actor, resumes hosting duties on The Apprentice: You’re Fired, broadcast on BBC Two immediately after each main show. This companion programme invites celebrity guests and business experts to unpick each candidate’s moves and missteps, offering deeper insight into the series’ quest to find the next great British entrepreneur.
