The Apprentice Is Back! Meet the New Candidates in Series 20 Line‑Up
The Apprentice has returned to BBC One for its twentieth season, bringing a fresh group of ambitious entrepreneurs to the boardroom as they compete for the chance to secure a £250,000 investment and business mentorship from Lord Alan Sugar. The new series premiered on Thursday, 29 January 2026, with 20 candidates — the largest line‑up in over a decade — ready to tackle a range of business challenges and prove their commercial potential.
Lord Sugar is once again joined by his trusted aides Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell, who will help assess the competitors’ performance in tasks that test creativity, negotiation skills, leadership and commercial acumen. The first episode takes the candidates to Hong Kong for a sourcing challenge designed to push them out of their comfort zones early in the competition.
Among the new candidates featured this season are entrepreneurial hopefuls from a variety of professional and business backgrounds. One of the contestants highlighted in early reports is Vanessa Tetteh‑Squire, an entrepreneur and founder of a swimwear brand, who also works as a delivery manager and agile coach. She aims to develop both her fashion business and a social enterprise to help young people acquire entrepreneurial skills.
Also competing this season is Andrea Cooper, a letting agency owner from Barnsley. Cooper has entered the series with plans to develop a software system for managing short‑term accommodation, hoping that Lord Sugar’s investment and experience will help her scale the idea into a profitable business.
The diverse group of candidates reflects a wide range of industries and ambitions, from property and technology to consumer goods and services. Each contestant will face a series of weekly tasks, with the weakest performers facing Lord Sugar in the boardroom — where the familiar phrase “You’re fired” will once again echo as hopefuls are gradually eliminated.
The return of The Apprentice has been accompanied by renewed fan engagement, including debates around casting processes and contestant vetting, as some past candidates have sparked controversy over historical social media posts. The BBC has said it is reviewing its screening procedures to avoid similar issues in future series.
In addition to the main show, a new spin‑off titled The Apprentice: Unfinished Business will air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. Hosted by broadcaster Angela Scanlon, the programme will offer post‑episode analysis and interviews with fired candidates, giving viewers deeper insight into the drama and business decisions behind the scenes.
With fierce competition expected and a varied cast bringing different strengths to the boardroom table, the 2026 season of The Apprentice promises the usual blend of business strategy, interpersonal tension and tough eliminations as the candidates battle to impress Lord Sugar and win life‑changing support for their business dreams.
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