The Apprentice’s Lord Alan Sugar says bosses are ‘fighting’ to get the show back on air despite the Covid pandemic and reveals production has begun for the new series
Lord Alan Sugar has revealed The Apprentice bosses are ‘fighting back’ to air the BBC show this year despite the coronavirus pandemic.
The businessman, 73, said that work has already begun on the new series and producers will do their ‘absolute damnedest’ to get the show back on TV.
It comes after last year’s season of the British show was cancelled due to difficulties assuring social distancing and the challenges of shooting overseas.
TV return: Lord Alan Sugar has claimed The Apprentice bosses are ‘fighting back’ to air the show this year amid Covid pandemic (Pictured: Karren Brady, Lord Sugar and Claude Littner)
Speaking to The Mirror, Lord Sugar said: ‘I am pleased to say we are going to be cracking on with a new series of The Apprentice very soon.
‘The pre-production phase has begun and plans are coming together to make sure we’re back on air later this year.’
The business mogul said that the return of the programme will show the world that ‘Britain is back on track and open for business once again’.
Challenges: The businessman said that work has already begun on the new series and producers will do their ‘absolute damnedest’ to get the show back on TV
Although he admitted that planning the filming of the TV show while complying with the changing Covid regulations could be ‘frustrating’, he said producers were determined to go ahead.
The Apprentice usually airs in October and applications are now open for candidates to apply to the show.
They will battle it out in front of Lord Sugar, Baroness Karren Brady and Claude Littner and one budding entrepreneur will win a £250,000 investment in their start-up.
Winners: The Apprentice usually airs in October and applications are now open for candidates to apply to the show. (pictured: Lord Sugar with eight previous winners of The Apprentice)
This comes after it was reported last year that Lord Sugar wanted to relocate filming of The Apprentice to Australia in 2021 as ‘life there is almost back to normal’.
The billionaire was recently in Australia for the filming of the Aussie version of Celebrity Apprentice and shared snaps on his Instagram of his time down under.
As well as enjoying a few matches of tennis, the TV star was pictured standing in front of landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
It was revealed last April that the BBC had temporarily halted production on the 2020 series, despite having a group of hopefuls ready to go, with that series eventually being cancelled due to the Covid crisis.
Exploring: The billionaire was recently in Australia for the filming of the Aussie version of Celebrity Apprentice and shared snaps of his time down under on his Instagram