TV & Showbiz

A full series of The Celebrity Apprentice is coming to UK screens for the first time ever

In addition to the two-part special this festive period.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 11th December 2025

Britain’s much-loved version of The Apprentice is getting its first-ever full celebrity season next year as the series is set to copy the spin-off format seen in the US.

The popular reality TV show competition, where game-show meets the world of business, has been running here in the UK since 2005.

Now coming up 20 seasons and already well over 200 episodes, including specials, the producers have just as much of a challenge coming up with fresh ideas as the contestants do.

With that in mind, the BBC has now ordered the first dedicated The Celebrity Apprentice series, separate from the mainline show and set to run longer than previous iterations.

As confirmed by multiple sources – including one of renowned businessman and host Alan Sugar’s own advisors, Andrew Bloch – the first proper Celebrity Apprentice season will air in 2026.

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Bloch explains that it’ll come in the form of a six-episode series that “will see a new line-up of famous faces take on weekly business challenges set by Lord Sugar, competing to avoid the words ‘You’re fired’ and ultimately be crowned The Celebrity Apprentice winner.”

While previous instalments in the celebrity version have either been attached to Christmas specials or the likes of Comic Relief/Red Nose Day in March, this inaugural fully-fledged chapter is set to take place sometime early next year, though an official release date is yet to be announced.

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Speaking of seasonal episodes, any viewers who’ve never seen the show or at least not with recognisable household names starring in it, the 2025 festive special will be airing across two parts later this month.

You can see the trailer down below.

Speaking on the commission, BBC’s 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.”

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The lineup of special guests for next year’s series is yet to be confirmed, but the lineup for the upcoming Xmas episodes is as follows: AJ Odudu, Angela Scanlon, Charlie Hedges, Eddie Kadi, Jake Wood, JB Gill, Kadeena Cox, Matt Morsia, Rob Rinder, Sarah Hadland, Shazia Mirza and Tom Skinner.

Skinner actually took part in the regular show back in 2009, helping launch his public persona, before going on to get involved in social media, appearing on Strictly Come Dancing and even politics.

Have you seen the celeb version of The Apprentice before, and/or will you be watching this one?

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Featured Images — Publicity pictures (via BBC Media Centre)

TV & Showbiz

BBC to air long-lost Morecambe and Wise episode this month to celebrate star’s 100th birthday

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A long-lost episode of The Morecambe and Wise Show is set to air on the BBC this month, after being ‘missing’ for decades.

In what is already gearing up to be a memorable moment, the episode – which was first broadcast on the BBC on 16 September 1968, and was thought to have been lost forever before being recovered – will be shown on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer in a couple of weeks time to coincide with when Eric Morecambe would have turned 100 years old.

The episode was discovered by Film Is Fabulous! – which is a charitable trust run by film collectors and television enthusiasts.

It was found in the estate of a former television industry professional, before being returned to the BBC.

Audiences tuning in to the episode can expect to see sketches written by Sid Green and Dick Hills – with Ann Hamilton appearing as Pauline in a sketch set in a nudist colony, while Jenny Lee-Wright plays Eric’s niece, a balloon dancer.

It also includes a musical performance from The Paper Dolls, who enjoyed hits in the 1960s.

This ‘lost’ programme is the third episode from Morecambe and Wise’s first series after returning to the BBC, following a period working with commercial television.

Eric Morecambe’s daughter, Gail, has described the recovery of the episode as ‘a lovely surprise’, adding: “I’m really looking forward to seeing it on a screen once again after so many years.”

Gary Morecambe, Eric’s son, added: “I honestly didn’t think there was anything out there left to find, and when something like this comes out of nowhere, it’s really quite wonderful. Hats off to Professor Justin Smith and his team, whose dedication and hard work brought this gem back to us. I’m very excited about seeing it for the first time since I was 12.”

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Noreen Adams, who is the Director of BBC Archives, concluded: “We’re delighted to share this comedy gold that we thought was lost forever with viewers across the UK.”

This long-lost episode of The Morecambe and Wise Show will be broadcast on BBC Four at 8pm on on Thursday 14 May, and available to watch whenever you like on BBC iPlayer from then.

Featured Image – BBC | Film is Fabulous!

TV & Showbiz

Channel 4 is looking for Mancs to play world’s biggest game of hide and seek

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

‘Cunning’ Mancs are wanted to take part in the world’s biggest game of hide and seek, as a popular reality competition show returns.

The Hunt: Prey vs Predator is coming back to Channel 4, and producers have now put out a nationwide casting call for contestants to take part.

People from Greater Manchester are being urged to put an application in.

Described as being an ‘exciting’ reality series, The Hunt: Prey vs Predator is a psychological competitive adventure show where players are tasked with tracking down and hunting their rivals in the ultimate game of cat and mouse in the wild.

Channel 4 is looking for Mancs to play world’s biggest game of hide and seek / Credit: Channel 4

Produced by CPL Productions Ltd – the BAFTA award-winning production company behind Married At First Sight UK and Love is Blind UK – the show’s creators are now calling on ‘cunning’ people with the charm and skill to compete to get in touch and apply for the upcoming series.

A casting call on the Channel 4 website simply reads: “Do you want to play the world’s biggest, most exciting game of hide and seek?

“If you have the cunning, charm, and skill to compete, we want to hear from you.”

Think you’ve got what it takes? Applications for the next series of The Hunt: Prey vs Predator are now open, and all you need to do is fill in a short application form and one of the production team will get back to you if they would like to proceed.

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Producers will only be accepting applicants who are aged 18 and over, and the closing date for applications is 1 September 2026.

Find out more and apply here.

Featured Image – Channel 4

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