The Apprentice's fate confirmed after 18 series as BBC share announcement

The Apprentice fans are set to be delighted as the BBC show's 19th series has been confirmed and will be making a return to our TV screens next year.

Viewers will yet again be joined by businessman Lord Alan Sugar and his trusted advisors Baroness Karren Brady and winner of the show's first series, Tim Campbell MBE.

The trio will welcome 18 brand new candidates who are set to battle it out for the opportunity of a lifetime and win Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment and mentorship. With mixed teams from the offset, it’s win or luge as our candidates hit the slopes.

Kicking off the series in the Austrian Alps, the contestants will be tasked with selling tour packages. For the candidates who survive the first boardroom with Lord Sugar, an array of challenging tasks lie ahead.

Across the series they will be creating a virtual popstar, turning a ton of potatoes and tomatoes into cash, designing and marketing Easter Eggs, jetting off to Turkey for a corporate hospitality challenge and taking on the classic discount buying task in historic Stratford-upon-Avon.

And not forgetting Interviews Week, when the final five will face the grilling of a lifetime from some of Lord Sugar’s trusted business associates.

The series remains one of the most popular shows on TV as the previous season saw an average 6.6M viewers tune in per episode.

Businesswoman Rachel Woolford, who has two gyms in Yorkshire, one in Leeds, and another in Harrogate won the latest series and became Lord Sugar's business partner.

At the time, the boutique gym owner was surprised to finish on top. "I couldn't quite believe it, to be honest with you, I think nothing can prepare you for that moment," she told BBC Newsbeat.

"I went on The Apprentice with the hopes to expand my business and now I've come out of it as Lord Sugar's business partner, and the guarantee that my business and studio is going to grow."

Comedian and actor Tom Allen will also return as host of The Apprentice: You’re Fired, which will air each week on BBC Two and iPlayer, straight after the main show.

He will be joined by a host of celebrity fans and business professionals to dissect and debate the candidates' progress through each task.

The Apprentice returns to BBC One in 2025