Baroness Brady, Lord Sugar and Tim Campbell return this January (Picture: Ray Burmiston/BBC/PA Wire)
There’s a post-Christmas treat awaiting fans of BBC show The Apprentice.
The long-running, Lord Alan Sugar-fronted business reality series is back in the New Year, for its 17th season.
The latest instalment was confirmed back in November, but now we have a release date. And there’s not long left until we can watch contestants get ‘fired’ left, right and centre.
So, when does The Apprentice 2023 begin? And what else do we know about this year’s series?
Here’s all the latest.
When does The Apprentice 2023 start?
The 17th series of The Apprentice is set to launch on Thursday, January 5 2023.
It’ll air on BBC One, time TBC (usually 9pm). For now, you can still catch series 16 on BBC iPlayer.
Who are the judges on The Apprentice?
Lord Alan Sugar is back for series 17, as the boss of the show.
Previously, the business mogul and media personality has said he’d like to get to 20 series– and he’s been on it since the first series in 2005 – so there’s no huge surprises there.
A recently released trailer for the series sees him sending the contestants to Antigua for their first task as he promises: ‘One of you will be gone before your postcards get back.’
Joining Lord Sugar will be advisor Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell MBE, who was The Apprentice’s first UK winner.
Tim joined series 16 to fill in for fan favourite Claude Littner, as he recovered from injuries sustained in a serious bike accident in April 2021, including learning how to walk again.
Happily, Claude is confirmed to be back for two episodes in series 17, but Tim will also be staying on, after proving to be a huge hit.
A show insider told the PA news agency in November 2022: ‘We were really pleased to have Claude back – he is a much-loved part of The Apprentice and Tim (Campbell) was a big hit with viewers last time so to have them both in the new series is a real treat.’
What do we know about the new series so far?
A massive 18 candidates will take part this year – all vying for a coveted business partnership with Lord Sugar.
The winner of the show usually receives a £250,000 investment in their own business, as series 16 champion Harpreet Kaur did for her dessert delivery brand Oh So Yum.
The show hasn’t had this many candidates since 2013, so it’s set to be one of the biggest series yet.
The Apprentice series 17 kicks off with a challenge in Antigua (Picture: Getty)
Previously, it was revealed that the contestant’s first task in the new series will be to head to the Caribbean island of Antigua, where they’ll be creating and selling excursions to tourists.
Back in the UK, a series of challenges await them, including creating cartoons, hosting immersive events, entering the world of male beauty products and getting to grips with the street food industry.
Who are the Apprentice candidates?
Here’s who you’ll be watching on The Apprentice this year…(Picture: BBC)
There are 18 candidates taking part in the series this year, ranging from a cannon firer to a safari guide.
Here’s who you’ll be watching in the coming weeks:
- Avi Sharma, city banker from London
- Bradley Johnson, director of a construction company, from North Yorkshire
- Dani Donovan, owner of a hair salon, from Hertfordshire
- Denish Kaur Bharj, financial controller, from Leicestershire
- Emma Browne, senior account executive, from County Kildare
- Gregory Ebbs, owner of an online antiques marketplace, from Shropshire
- Joseph Phillips, safari guide, from Worcestershire
- Kevin D’Arcy, accountant, from Dublin
- Mark Moseley, pest control company owner, from London
- Marnie Swindells, court advocate, from London
- Megan Hornby, sweet shop and cafe owner, from East Yorkshire
- Reece Donnelly, theatre school owner, from Glasgow
- Rochelle Anthony, hair salon and academy owner, from Bedfordshire
- Shannon Martin, bridal boutique owner, from West Yorkshire
- Shazia Hussain, technology recruiter, from London
- Simba Rwambiwa, senior sales representative, from Birmingham
- Sohail Chowdary, martial arts school owner, from Southampton
- Victoria Golbourne, online sweet business owner, from Merseyside
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