The latest series of The Apprentice has been cancelled as the nation continues to stay in lockdown amid the spread of the deadly COVID-19.
Lord Alan Sugar, 73, who fronts the BBC programme, revealed the news on Sunday after being asked about the future of the business-based reality show by a fan on Twitter.
The entrepreneur clarified that contestants lined up for the 2020 series will ‘be called on’ for the next series of The Apprentice – whenever that may be.
AXED! The latest series of The Apprentice has been cancelled as the nation continues to stay in lockdown amid the spread of the deadly COVID-19
A fan of the show tweeted Lord Sugar to ask: ‘Is the Apprentice cancelled this year, Lord? Sorry if you have already answered that?’
The TV personality shared the question, confirming: ‘Yes I guess so. Could be back in Spring 2021 or skip a whole year and back in October 2021.’
Moments later, another fan tweeted: ‘So the applicants from this year will get a chance next year or have they lost their chance if the show is cancelled this year, Lord?’
Clarifying the situation, Lord Sugar wrote: ‘The BBC has a selection of candidates ready to go from the last recruitment process in March. They will be called on once we have the green sign to start filming @bbcapprentice.’
The way it has to be: Lord Alan Sugar, 73, who fronts the BBC programme, revealed the news on Twitter on Sunday after being asked about the future of the business-based reality show
The future of the upcoming series was thrown into doubt earlier this month after filming was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
BBC bosses and production company Boundless halted production on the 16th installment of The Apprentice and were forced to cancel two trips abroad.
Filming for the programme was due to begin in the next few weeks, but everything has been put on hold amid the pandemic.
The BBC have previously said that they’ll review production of all TV shows on a ‘case by case’ basis and will continue to follow guidelines from the World Health Organisation.
A BBC spokesperson told MailOnline earlier this month: ‘In light of the spread of Covid-19, after much consideration, Boundless the producers of The Apprentice, have postponed filming in consultation with and supported by the BBC.
‘We will continue to review all productions on a case by case basis and will continue to follow the latest news and advice from the Foreign Office, World Health Organisation and Public Health England.’
Halted: BBC bosses and production company Boundless have halted production on the 16th installment on the business-based reality show and have been forced to cancel two trips abroad (pictured: The 2019 candidates)
Meanwhile, a source further added to The Sun: ‘Filming has been scrapped for the foreseeable future so this year’s series may not air at all because of the coronavirus.
‘There were trips abroad planned which can’t be filmed now, on top of the rest of the show – so everyone is expecting it to be cancelled altogether as there’s no knowing how long lockdown will go on for.
‘It’s a real shame as it is massively popular and brings in millions of viewers but we can’t see how it’s going to be possible to get it out on time.’
Axed! The whole series, fronted by Lord Sugar, has been axed as the nation continues to stay in lockdown amid the spread of the deadly COVID-19
Last year’s series of The Apprentice was won by Carina Lepore, who runs an artisan bakery.
She fought off stiff competition from Scarlett Allen-Horton, with the series bringing in an average of seven million viewers.
Shows across the nation hang in the balance as the global crisis continues to worsen, with long-running soaps such as Coronation Street, EastEnders and Holby being suspended.
Comment: ‘In light of the spread of Covid-19, after much consideration, Boundless the producers of The Apprentice, have postponed filming in consultation with and supported by the BBC’
Dramas including Line Of Duty and Peaky Blinders have been also been halted, while production on films including Fantastic Beasts 3 and the new Batman movie have stopped.
The British Soap Awards was recently cancelled, while Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway live shows have been replaced by a highlights episode.
Sporting events, music festival and other social gatherings have been either cancelled or postponed due to the crisis.
Success: Last year’s series of The Apprentice was won by Carina Lepore, who runs an artisan bakery