The Celebrity Apprentice 2026 Cast Unveiled: A Star-Studded Lineup
The BBC has officially revealed the complete cast for the inaugural full-length series of The Celebrity Apprentice 2026, featuring twelve prominent personalities from across the entertainment and media landscape. This marks a significant expansion from the two-part Christmas special aired in 2025, which was won by JLS star JB Gill and his team for Children in Need.
Lord Sugar's Charitable Challenge
Over six intense episodes, the celebrities will face a series of demanding business tasks set by the formidable Lord Sugar. The ultimate prize is a substantial £100,000 donation to the winner's chosen charity, adding a high-stakes philanthropic element to the competition.
Lord Sugar commented on the unique nature of this series, stating: "We've not done anything like this before, and it'll be entertaining to see these 12 celebrities being put through six weeks of some brilliant business challenges. But just because they're celebrities, it doesn't mean they're going to get an easy ride, especially when there's £100,000 at stake for their chosen charity."
Meet the Diverse Contestants
The announced lineup represents a broad spectrum of British celebrity culture, including news anchors, singers, reality stars, and social media influencers. While an official release date for the second season remains unconfirmed, filming is currently underway.
Notable Cast Members
Richie Anderson, the 38-year-old Radio 2 presenter and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant, expressed his excitement on Instagram, writing: "Lord Sugar will see you now. Excited to be taking part in the first ever full length series of The Celebrity Apprentice with these smashers. Let's get down to business."
Max Balegde, a 27-year-old TikTok sensation with 3.7 million followers, brings digital influence to the boardroom. Having previously appeared on the Australian version of I'm A Celebrity..., Balegde shared his anticipation online, captioning a promotional video: "Can't wait to see how this turns out..."
Jordan Banjo, 33, a founding member of the dance troupe Diversity and former Kiss Radio host, humorously noted his business anxieties, joking about having "night terrors hearing 'YOU'RE FIRED'" since filming began.
Alexandra Burke, the 37-year-old X Factor winner and West End star, adds musical theatre prestige to the competition, while Kay Burley, the 65-year-old veteran Sky News journalist, brings decades of broadcasting experience.
Maddie Grace Jepson, a 26-year-old social media star and actress from Back to the Future: The Musical, shared her enthusiasm, posting: "SO EXCITED to be a candidate on the first ever full series of Celeb Apprentice!"
Gethin Jones, the 48-year-old former Blue Peter presenter now with BBC Sport, represents Welsh broadcasting, and Toni Laites, 25, the American winner of Love Island 2025, adds international reality TV flair.
Sheli McCoy, 37, known as Sabre on the BBC's Gladiators reboot, highlighted her transition from physical to business challenges, stating: "I'm so appreciative of the opportunity to showcase what my business mind can do after previously only stepping into the limelight showcasing what my physical body is capable of."
Danny Miller, 35, the Emmerdale actor and I'm A Celebrity 2021 winner, captioned his cast announcement with: "It's nothing personal.. it's just business."
Laura Smyth, a 44-year-old comedian and former English teacher, received support from Jedward after sharing her participation news, while DJ Spoony, 55, a Radio 2 presenter and British Empire Medal recipient, expressed his long-standing fandom of the show.
This diverse ensemble promises to deliver compelling television as they navigate Lord Sugar's rigorous business challenges, all while competing for a significant charitable cause. The series expansion reflects the BBC's commitment to evolving its reality programming with a celebrity twist that combines entertainment with philanthropic impact.
