The Apprentice ‘forced to scrap trips abroad amid Covid pandemic’

The Apprentice will reportedly not be able to hold trips abroad for the next series due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The hit BBC show usually sees candidates travel to other countries to take part in various tasks during the competition, but show bosses are said to be unable to let this happen as a result of ongoing travel restrictions.

An insider claimed to The Sun: ‘This is another hurdle the producers have had to jump as Covid-related restrictions are still in place.

‘Although lockdown in Britain is easing, that’s not the case in other countries. It’s a real headache.

‘Some of the show’s most famous moments have seen the candidates thrown in at the deep end to complete tasks in places where they don’t always speak English.’

It comes after the series’ presenter Lord Alan Sugar recently confirmed that the show will not be broadcast this year, and will instead return in 2022.

The 74-year-old businessman said that the forthcoming 16^th series will begin filming later this year, and will be set to air at the ‘early part of next year’.

The most recent series of The Apprentice took place in 2019 and was won by Carina Lepore.

He said: ‘I think you’ll see it in the early part of next year, in fact that’s the plan.

‘If things go well, and there’s no outbreaks or third waves, we’re planning to start recording later this year and it should be just after Christmas that they’ll start it again.’

Lord Sugar discussed previous investments from the series and said that while other business had thrived during lockdown, previous winner Carina’s bakery has ‘suffered’ as a result of the pandemic.

‘Some of them have benefitted tremendously because the online business has gone up.

‘The baker has suffered, as you can imagine. [Winners] have been told, “If you fail, if you use up all the money, that’s it, it’s over.”’

Discussing the future of the programme, Lord Sugar added: ‘I said last year that I wanted to do 20 years. We would have been doing series 16 this year and I was happy to do four more.

‘But of course, it is the BBC who will decide if they wish to do it. I fully understand they are in charge but if they wanted to do it, I think 20 years is a nice round figure.’

Karen Brady and Claude Littner are set to return alongside Lord Sugar in the upcoming episodes.

The BBC declined to comment when approached by Metro.co.uk.

The Apprentice is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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