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Date: January or February 2026 (TBC)
The Boss: Lord Alan Sugar
Advisors: Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell
Number of Candidates: 18
Network: BBC One and BBC iPlayer
Production Company: MGM Television
The Apprentice debuted on BBC One in February 2005, following the success of the US version of the same name.
The 2026 instalment will mark the business reality competition series’ 20th anniversary and will see 18 contestants compete for a huge investment in their business.
As Series 20 will mark a huge milestone for The Apprentice, it is expected to feature special anniversary tasks and themes in celebration of its history.
The BBC has yet to announce an official premiere date for the upcoming series. However, based on previous series, The Apprentice is likely to return to TV screens in January or February 2026.
Like past seasons, it is expected to provide 12 episodes of business chaos, conflict, and drama, which has secured the show’s longevity.
Series 20 of The Apprentice will return to BBC One, and you can catch up on any episodes you miss on BBC iPlayer.
It is likely to arrive on various streaming platforms outside the UK at a later date, such as Apple TV or Amazon Prime Video.
The Boardroom Boss
Lord Alan Sugar has hosted The Apprentice since the show first launched in 2005. While the BBC hasn’t confirmed his return, he recently indicated he will be back as the boardroom boss for the show’s 20th anniversary.
The media speculated that the 20th series might be a natural point for Lord Sugar to step away from the hit reality competition show. However, he recently commented that he enjoys appearing on The Apprentice too much and retirement isn’t an option right now.
He recently expressed why he continues to star in the show, “I enjoy doing this thing, and I enjoy finding young people and putting them in businesses and starting. I’m starting from scratch again with them, and that’s what I enjoy doing.”
Based on Lord Sugar’s current contract with the BBC, he is expected to remain on the show until at least Series 22 in 2028.
The Advisors
Baroness Karren Brady has served as Lord Sugar’s aide since series six (2010), carefully observing the candidates to ensure the right people remain in the competition.
Tim Campbell was the series one winner of The Apprentice and joined as an advisor in 2022, replacing Claude Littner.
The Format
Series 20 of The Apprentice will feature 18 candidates vying for Lord Sugar’s investment and mentorship.
The ambitious professionals will be divided into two teams to complete a business-themed task each week. One candidate in each group will step forward as project manager to lead the team to success.
Each team will then be shadowed by Karren Brady or Tim Campbell, who will carefully observe the individual and teams’ successes and mistakes before reporting back to Lord Sugar.
The teams will then return the boardroom, where Lord Sugar will assess their performances, providing the teams with an opportunity to discuss the task and identify their mistakes.
After careful consideration, Lord Sugar will announce the winning team, who will receive a luxurious reward. The losing team will then return to the boardroom to determine who is responsible for the task’s failure, resulting in Lord Sugar firing one or more candidates.
The Prize
The winner of Series 20 of The Apprentice will receive a £250,000 investment in their business. Also, they will receive mentorship from Lord Sugar, setting them up for success in their chosen industry.
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