BBC announces first full-length Celebrity Apprentice series
The BBC has commissioned the first full-length Celebrity Apprentice series for 2026, following an upcoming Christmas special
The BBC is expanding Celebrity Apprentice for the first time.
A full six-part Celebrity Apprentice series has been commissioned for 2026, marking the first time the star-studded version of the long-running business reality show will run beyond the short Comic Relief specials previously aired in 2007, 2009 and 2019.
The announcement follows the upcoming Christmas special, which will broadcast this festive season on BBC One and iPlayer.
The new series will give celebrities their first chance to experience the full Apprentice format, rather than the two-episode charity editions that have previously aired.
Further details on contestants and tasks will be released later, but bosses say the extended series will put famous candidates under the same pressures typically faced by regular contestants.
Lord Sugar, who has fronted The Apprentice since 2005, said: “We’ve had some great celebrity names walk into my boardroom over the years, but they’ve only ever had a small taster of what it’s like to be a candidate. It’ll be interesting to see how our future celebrities fare across a full series, removing their PAs, PRs, agents and all the other assistance they have in their day-to-day lives to fully immerse themselves into world.”
BBC head of entertainment Kalpna Patel-Knight added: “The Apprentice is a much-loved part of the BBC’s entertainment offering and we can’t wait to see how the celebrity candidates rise to the challenge when the series launches later in 2026.”
Paul Broadbent, director of programmes at Naked, added: “It’s a joy to be bringing to our screens for a full series. Viewers have our two fantastic Christmas specials to come, which will give them a taste of what to expect from the next series. The celebrities will need to leave their ego at the boardroom door and prepare to roll their sleeves up for some very challenging – and hugely entertaining – tasks.”
The Apprentice first aired in 2005 and has broadcast 226 episodes across 19 series, evolving into one of the BBC’s most recognisable entertainment formats.
