Celebrity Apprentice confirms line-up for first ever full series – including Emmerdale star and and Radio 2 legend

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The BBC has revealed the contestants for the first season of The Celebrity Apprentice. Among the twelve celebrities hoping to impress Lord Sugar with their business skills are Emmerdale actor Danny Miller and Radio 2 presenter Richie Anderson.

This year’s contestants are a diverse group, featuring stars from popular shows like The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent. They include Alexandra Burke, winner of The X Factor, Jordan Banjo from the Britain’s Got Talent winning dance group Diversity, as well as UK garage music icon DJ Spoony, TV presenter Gethin Jones, and former Gladiator Sheli McCoy.

Also competing are journalist Kay Burley, actress and social media star Maddie Grace Jepson, podcaster and content creator Max Balegde, comedian and writer Laura Smyth, and television personality Toni Laites.

The reality show has featured celebrity guests before, but this is the first time a whole series will be dedicated to famous contestants. They’ll compete over six episodes for the chance to win £100,000 for their favorite charity.

The famous boardroom is moving to a skyscraper in London’s City area for the new series. But don’t expect any changes in Lord Sugar’s tough approach – he’s promised to be just as strict with the candidates as always.

This is a first for us, and it’ll be really fun to watch these twelve celebrities tackle some tough business challenges over the next six weeks, he explained.

Just because someone is famous doesn’t mean things will be simple for them, particularly when a significant £100,000 donation to their favorite charity is on the line.

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Kalpna Patel-Knight, who commissions entertainment programs for the BBC, explained that the new series amplifies what viewers already enjoy about the show while significantly increasing the stakes.

Let me tell you, this season’s celebrities are coming in with a lot of hype, but all that means nothing once they step into the boardroom. What really matters is how they lead, how well they work with others, and whether they have a good head for business. It’s going to be a real test, and honestly, only the ones who can actually deliver results are going to survive. It’s all about proving yourself, not just relying on your name!

“It’s bold, unpredictable and hugely entertaining – and viewers are in for a brilliant ride.”

We don’t have confirmed air dates for The Celebrity Apprentice yet, but we’re following the news closely and will share updates as soon as they’re available.

I’m so excited! I just heard that the first complete season of The Celebrity Apprentice is finally coming to BBC One and iPlayer sometime in 2026. I can’t wait to see it!

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Authors

Patrick CremonaSenior Film Writer

Patrick Cremona writes about films for TopMob, covering new releases in theaters and on streaming services. He’s been with the site since October 2019, and during that time has interviewed many famous actors and reviewed a wide variety of movies.

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2026-04-19 13:43