The Apprentice 2026 star apologises as BBC says it was unaware of “abhorrent” social media posts

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A contestant who will be on the next season of The Apprentice has apologized for offensive things he posted online.

I was really disappointed to see some old social media posts from Levi Hague, a guy who used to be in the RAF and drives trucks. Apparently, he made some pretty awful comments – things that were discriminatory towards Muslims and really sexist towards women. It’s just disheartening to see that kind of stuff, honestly.

William Hague told The Sun on Sunday he felt “ashamed and embarrassed” about posts he made back in 2013.

He went on to say that he deeply apologizes to anyone he’s upset, and to the other people running for office, for the hurtful words and opinions expressed.

I’m fully responsible for those posts going live. They don’t represent who I am or what I believe now. I sincerely apologize for my mistake, and I’m sorry I didn’t flag this issue to the team sooner.

The BBC stated they had no knowledge of Hague’s remarks, and a spokesperson described his posts as “completely unacceptable.”

We had no idea this contestant had made such offensive statements, according to a recent announcement.

We’ve asked the production company to thoroughly review how we check social media, as the process didn’t work as expected this time.

Naked, the company that made the series, stated they thoroughly vetted all potential participants by using trusted companies to check their backgrounds and social media.

Honestly, I was pretty disappointed to hear that some offensive content slipped through their filters. They’ve said they’re looking into what happened with the checks, and will be revising the process to try and prevent this from happening again. It’s good they’re taking it seriously, and I’m hoping to see some improvements soon.

Levi shared some old social media posts that used language we find unacceptable. We’ve addressed this with him, and he has apologized, explaining that those posts don’t represent his current views.

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The new season of The Apprentice starts next Thursday, January 29th. Twenty hopeful entrepreneurs will compete for a £250,000 investment from Lord Alan Sugar for their business idea.

This week, the candidates will head to Hong Kong – a major global business center – for a task that will take place right in the heart of the city’s bustling commercial district. It’s the first time the show has filmed a task in this location.

Lord Sugar teased the show’s upcoming season, saying that even though it’s been on for a while, viewers can’t predict what will happen. He emphasized, ‘You really have no idea what’s coming.’

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The Apprentice returns on Thursday 29th January at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

Don’t miss The Apprentice! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app now for daily TV recommendations and exclusive content.

Authors

Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer

Katelyn Mensah writes about entertainment for TopMob, covering everything from popular TV shows and reality competitions to important documentaries. Before joining TopMob, she worked at The Tab, where she focused on reality TV and celebrity news. She has a journalism degree.

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2026-01-20 14:36