The iconic business reality show, The Apprentice, is poised for a milestone 20th series, launching with a record-breaking 20 candidates all competing for Lord Alan Sugar's £250,000 investment. The BBC programme returns on January 29, promising a 12-week spectacle of high-stakes tasks and dramatic boardroom firings.
A Landmark Series with a Dramatic Start
To mark two decades on air, the new series will kick off in dramatic fashion. For the first time, Lord Sugar will join the candidates on an overseas task, surprising them in Hong Kong. "They knew they were going to Hong Kong... But I’ve never turned up," Lord Sugar revealed. "So all of a sudden they come into this boardroom and there I am. So that was a nice surprise for them."
Supported by his trusted aides, Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell, Lord Sugar will face the challenge of whittling down the large cohort over 12 episodes, leading to potential double or even triple firings in a single show. The candidates will be tested with a range of tough assignments, from creating a children's book and selling live on TV to hosting a corporate away day in El Gouna, Egypt.
Meet the 2026 Candidates
This year's diverse line-up features entrepreneurs from across the UK with varied business plans. They include Andrea Cooper, a 46-year-old grandmother and lettings agency owner from Barnsley, and Conor Galvin, a photobooth business owner from Cork. Georgina Newton, an actress from east London, aims to start a mobile theatre company, while Dan Miller runs a student recruitment firm from Richmond.
The field also includes Carrington Saunders, a loungewear entrepreneur leveraging social media, and Marcus Donkoh, a south London barber with global ambitions for his grooming brand. Karishma Vijay from Surrey brings her beauty brand forward, stating she and Lord Sugar both "came from nothing."
Notably, candidate Levi Hodgetts-Hague, a former RAF gunner from Doncaster, has already attracted controversy after offensive historical social media posts were revealed, prompting the production company to review its vetting process.
Enduring Appeal and Evolution
Reflecting on the show's lasting success, Lord Sugar credits its ability to attract new generations. "I think the programme itself brings in a new audience every year," he said, noting viewers who started at age nine are now 29.
Baroness Brady echoed this sentiment, praising the show's evolution. "The business world has changed massively since series one, and the show has changed with it," she said. "We've got more entrepreneurial candidates, they're more digitally savvy, they are more aware of social impact and innovation." She confirmed her commitment lasts as long as Lord Sugar's, stating, "I'll be doing it as long as Alan's doing it."
With a blend of ambitious personalities, global tasks, and the promise of Lord Sugar's fiery verdicts, The Apprentice's 20th series is set to be a landmark season in the long-running competition's history.
