Entertainment
The Apprentice: Where is the BBC show filmed?
The Apprentice 2022 candidates and Lord Alan Sugar. (Picture: BBC/Boundless/Ray Burmiston)
As The Apprentice enters its 16th series, the business reality contest hosted by Lord Alan Sugar has featured some iconic locations over the years.
Contestants have completed often hilarious but challenging tasks at some of London’s most well-known attractions, across the UK and even abroad.
But with Covid-19 restricting travel, this year’s programme was shot exclusively in the UK.
But where are classic scenes filmed such as the boardroom, loser’s cafe, and contestants’ house? Read on to find out more.
Where is the boardroom?
The boardroom has featured some of the tensest and awkward scenes in the show, as well as being home to Lord Sugar’s infamous catchphrase: ‘You’re fired!’
Apprentice contestants after being brought back into the boardroom (Picture: BBC)
As contestants squabble over who is to blame for failing a task, Lord Sugar and his aides look disapprovingly on from across a vast meeting table.
But while the room may look like its been filmed in a typical city office – with many assuming it takes place in Canary Wharf – the scenes are actually shot at a custom-built set at Black Island Studios in London.
Lord Alan Sugar is often seen surveying central London (Picture: BBC)
Where is the contestants’ house?
The contestants’ house has been based at some pretty glamorous locations over the years. But this year’s mansion could be the swankiest to date.
Huxley House is based on Bishop’s Avenue in North London, often referred to as Billionaire’s row, and is currently listed at a whopping £17 million, according to JamesEdition.
Huxley House on Bishops Avenue in London, referred to as ‘Billionaires Row’ (Picture: JamesEdition)
The home features eight bedrooms, a swimming pool, sauna, gym and games room as well as a cinema screen and bar.
Besides The Apprentice contestants, the street has also hosted one of the world’s biggest popstars, as Justin Bieber rented a 15-bedroom mansion here in 2016.
Eagle-eyed viewers might recognise the house from Channel Four’s Britain’s Most Expensive Houses, which aired on January 5.
So the house is up for grabs – if you have a spare £17.5 million in the bank, that is.
Where is the Bridge cafe?
The scenes filmed after a team loses a challenge are a favourite among Apprentice fans.
Contestants are seen looking despairing in a dreary builder’s cafe as they argue over what went wrong, while the winning team is sent on a snazzy experience for their prize.
But the Bridge cafe scenes, also known as the ‘loser’s cafe’, are actually shot at two separate locations in London.
The Bridge Cafe is famous for contestants debriefing after tasks (Picture: TripAdvisor)
The first and most well-known location is the Bridge Cafe in West Acton, West London, where those iconic exterior shots of the drab cafe are filmed.
Despite its less than appealing appearance, the cafe has very positive feedback on Google – with customers praising the excellent value-for-money breakfasts and clean toilets.
Former contestant Dean Ahmad even left a shining review on Tripadvisor, saying the cafe had: ‘Top notch tea and staff always welcomed me and my guests no matter the mood we were in. Less blue sky thinking, more tea drinking if you know what I mean.’
To top it off, the greasy spoon even sells ‘You have been fired’ mugs.
La Cabana 2 has featured in the Apprentice since 2017 (Picture: BBC)
While the second cafe, which is used for interior shots, is La Cabana 2 in Willesden, North-West London.
Located in the Cumberland Business Park, it serves traditional English breakfasts along with other classic British cafe fare and is open every day from 6am to 4pm.
Viewers were left distraught when they noticed the change from the beloved original, but over time fans have warmed to equally fitting setting for distraught contestants.
Google reviews are also strong for La Cabana 2, with a solid 4.9 out of 5 rating and one customer complimenting the ‘friendly staff’.
Where was the cruise ship in episode one?
In the first episode of this year’s series, the candidates were asked to come up with a marketing campaign for a new cruise liner.
The contestants embarked on their first task on a luxury cruise ship from Portsmouth International Port.
The Apprentice contestants were set a challenge on a luxury cruise liner. (Picture: BBC/Naked)
While travelling on Virgin Voyages’ cruise ship the Scarlet Lady, the boy’s team came up with possibly one of the worst brand logos to date, with the finished product being compared to ‘a turd’.
The Apprentice continues tonight on BBC One at 9pm.
MORE : The Apprentice 2022: Series has biggest launch show in years as millions of viewers tune in
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