Lord Alan Sugar has firmly dismissed any speculation about stepping away from his iconic role on The Apprentice, declaring he has no intention to retire and will continue presenting the hit BBC business reality series for as long as the broadcaster desires his services. The 78-year-old entrepreneur, who recently signed a new contract securing his involvement for at least three more series, humorously referenced his age while emphasising his commitment to the programme.
"I'll carry on as long as the BBC want me to"
In an exclusive interview with The Mirror, Lord Sugar addressed questions about his future plans with characteristic wit and determination. "Part of the contract is the BBC has got to provide me with an electronic Zimmer frame!" he joked, before adding more seriously: "I mean, three years takes me to about 82 I suppose, [by] the time I'm finished, but I'll carry on as long as the BBC want me to."
The business magnate drew an amusing parallel with professional athletes, stating: "And I will know personally when it's time for me to kind of hang up my finger, if you know what I mean. As the footballers say, they hang up their boots, hang up my finger or something." He concluded by highlighting his physical fitness, remarking: "I'm happy about it. I'm a very fit person."
Landmark 20th Series Launches with International Twist
The Apprentice makes its highly anticipated return this week for its landmark 20th series, featuring twenty ambitious candidates competing for the ultimate prize: a £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar himself. This year's hopefuls include a diverse range of entrepreneurs, from a mortgage broker who cites Kim Kardashian as her role model to an actor running a touring theatrical production company.
The series opener promises an unexpected twist as Lord Sugar reveals he personally surprised the candidates during filming in Hong Kong. "The thinking behind it was it's the 20th series and what can we do that's different?" he explained. "So I thought, 'Well, why don't I jump on a plane and surprise them in Hong Kong?' It's not as if I'm surprising them in Hounslow or something like that. They didn't know I was there."
He continued: "So all of a sudden they come into this boardroom and there I am. So that was a nice surprise for them. They were surprised but they weren't unhappy with it – maybe a little excited."
Diverse Challenges Test Entrepreneurial Skills
This series will push candidates to their limits with an array of demanding business tasks designed to test their commercial acumen and resilience. The challenges include:
- Creating and marketing a children's book
- Selling products during live television broadcasts
- Orchestrating a corporate away day in El Gouna, Egypt, on the Red Sea coast
These varied scenarios will assess the candidates' ability to adapt to different business environments and demonstrate true entrepreneurial spirit under pressure.
Trusted Team Returns for New Series
Lord Sugar will once again be supported by his experienced advisory team, comprising Tim Campbell, the inaugural winner of The Apprentice back in 2005, and Baroness Karren Brady, the prominent businesswoman and West Ham United vice-chairman. Their combined expertise and sharp observations will prove invaluable as they help Lord Sugar assess which candidate deserves his substantial investment.
The Apprentice returns to BBC One and iPlayer on Thursday 29 January at 9pm, marking the beginning of what promises to be another compelling series of business battles, boardroom confrontations, and high-stakes decision-making.
