The Apprentice Confirms First Full Celebrity Series – Meet the 12 Candidates
The BBC has officially announced the lineup for the inaugural full series of The Celebrity Apprentice, confirming which 12 famous personalities will compete for Lord Alan Sugar's approval. This follows two successful Christmas 2025 specials that saw 12 all-star contestants travel to Lapland to develop gingerbread biscuits, with former JLS star JB Gill's team emerging victorious after their Gary the Penguin design secured a staggering 452,000 orders.
A Diverse Roster of Competitors
The confirmed celebrity participants include a beloved Emmerdale actor, British pop royalty, and one of the broadcaster's own Gladiators. Lord Sugar hinted at the unique nature of this series, stating: "We've not done anything like this before, and it'll be entertaining to see these 12 celebrities being put through six weeks of some brilliant business challenges. But just because they're celebrities, it doesn't mean they're going to get an easy ride, especially when there's £100,000 at stake for their chosen charity."
Meet the Celebrity Contestants
The full list of competitors features:
- Alexandra Burke – The musician and Hallelujah cover artist, who won The X Factor 18 years ago, brings her experience from Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity SAS.
- Danny Miller – The Emmerdale actor, known for his role as Aaron Dingle, previously won I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2021.
- Gethin Jones – The Welsh television presenter, famous for hosting Blue Peter and Morning Live, has competed on Strictly and Celebrity MasterChef.
- Jordan Banjo – A member of dance troupe Diversity, who found fame on Britain's Got Talent, and has recently ventured into boxing.
- Kay Burley – The veteran TV presenter, with a 36-year tenure at Sky News, has appeared on Dancing On Ice and Celebrity Hunted.
- Maddie Grace Jepson – A social media personality and actress with over 2.1 million TikTok followers, known for her viral "helicopter arm swing" and role in Channel 4's Big Mood.
- Max Balegde – A British TikTok star who finished fourth on I'm A Celeb last year, bringing his chaotic energy to the boardroom.
- Sheli McCoy – The Scottish athlete and weightlifter, known as Sabre from the BBC's Gladiators, holds six world records in weightlifting.
- DJ Spoony – The BBC Radio 2 presenter, who appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2006, is recovering from a "brain bleed" in 2024.
- Richie Anderson – A former professional footballer turned presenter, with experience on Strictly and Celebrity MasterChef.
- Laura Smyth – A comedian and writer, who transitioned from teaching to comedy after COVID lockdowns and appeared on Live at the Apollo.
- Toni Laites – The winner of the twelfth series of Love Island in 2025, who overcame visa issues to live in the UK.
What to Expect
This marks the first time The Celebrity Apprentice will air as a full series, expanding beyond the holiday specials. The show will feature six weeks of intense business challenges, with celebrities competing not only for Lord Sugar's approval but also for a £100,000 prize for their chosen charities. The diverse backgrounds of the contestants—from entertainment and sports to social media and journalism—promise a dynamic and unpredictable competition.
The series is set to air on BBC One and iPlayer later this year, offering viewers a fresh take on the classic Apprentice format with a star-studded cast. With such a varied group of personalities, the boardroom confrontations and task performances are anticipated to be both entertaining and fiercely competitive.
