Gary Lineker cameo axed from Celebrity Apprentice
Gary Lineker's cameo appearance has been scrapped from the Celebrity Apprentice due to time restrictions.
Gary Lineker's appearance has been cut from Celebrity Apprentice.
The former Match of the Day host was one of a string of famous faces drafted in to help the celebrity contestants sell gingerbread biscuits for Children in Need on the upcoming festive special, but due to time constraints, only a small number of the helpers could be featured.
The Sun newspaper reports that Gary - who filmed his appearance in March, two months before he stepped back from Match of the Day - will now no longer be featured
Lord Alan Sugar previously admitted he was impressed with the big names the teams had brought in to help.
He said: "I was very impressed that they managed to call these people in, they are top names.
“The main thing is that these celebrities, and I have a lot of respect for them, is they give up three days of their busy time for this great cause, it’s the money that’s raised for Children in Need.”
His helper, Baroness Karren Brady, also praised the celebrities for giving up their time to help.
She said: “There are so many people that are coming to help us, and they’re coming because they love the show, they love the charity, and clearly they have a connection with the celebrities.
“So Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Robbie Williams.
“Piers Morgan – I don’t think we should forget that one.
“And Rylan Clark and Gary Lineker.”
The upcoming Celebrity Apprentice special will see the cast travel to Lapland in Finland to create festive treats before finding buyers to stock them to raise money for the charity, and it has become the "first time ever" the star-studded teams' creations have gone on sale to the public.
Jake Wood, AJ Odudu, Angela Scanlon, Charlie Hedges, Eddie Kadi, JB Gill, Kadeena Cox, Matt Morsia, Rob Rinder, Sarah Hadland, Shazia Mirza and Tom Skinner - who shot to fame after taking part in the civilian version of the show - will star in the two Christmas specials.
Kalpna Patel-Knight, the head of entertainment commissioning at the BBC, previously said: "The celebrity candidates will be giving viewers a tasty treat or two this Christmas that viewers can literally sink their teeth into, all while supporting the incredible work of BBC Children in Need. Are viewers going to be Team Gary the Penguin or Team Jolly McTrouble? Let the festive boardroom battle begin!"
