Lord Sugar's 'Heated Exchange' Edited Out of Apprentice Premiere
The BBC has made a notable edit to the premiere of the 20th series of The Apprentice, cutting a 'heated exchange' involving Lord Alan Sugar. The business mogul revealed this omission during a recent Q&A session, hinting at behind-the-scenes drama that viewers will not see when the show returns.
Hong Kong Scavenger Hunt Sparks Disappointment
The series kicks off with a classic task set in Hong Kong, where candidates must hunt for local specialities like shrimp paste and golden paper pineapples. Lord Sugar, 78, expressed his frustration, stating that despite thorough preparation—including dummy runs to ensure items were 'gettable'—one team found only two items, while the other managed just three, and incorrectly at that.
'I was a bit disappointed. I think it must have shown,' Lord Sugar said. 'To spend all that time and money on sending everybody to Hong Kong and one of the teams only found two of them. The other team found three and even then, they got it wrong. It was quite shocking, really.'
Behind the Scenes: The Cut Confrontation
While the broadcast shows a 'mild disapproval' from Lord Sugar, he confirmed that a more intense moment was left on the cutting room floor. 'There was actually a little bit more of a heated exchange when I told them how disappointed I was,' he revealed, adding intrigue to the premiere's editing decisions.
Expanded Cast and New Challenges
Marking two decades on air, this series features an increased cast of 20 candidates, up from previous years. They will face diverse challenges, including:
- Creating a children's book for live TV sales
- Hosting a corporate away day in El Gouna, Egypt
The lineup includes a barbershop owner, a Kim Kardashian-inspired mortgage broker, and a loungewear businessowner who has already apologised for filming her nails while driving. Another contestant, Levi Hodgetts-Hague, has also apologised after past racist and sexist comments resurfaced.
Changes to the Spin-Off Show
In another update, Tom Allen's You're Fired has ended, replaced by Angela Scanlon's Unfinished Business on BBC Two. This new show will function as a 'visualised podcast', featuring interviews with recently eliminated contestants, similar to the format of Uncloaked.
Series Premiere Details
The Apprentice returns on BBC One and iPlayer on Thursday, January 29 at 9pm. With Lord Sugar teasing that 'just because we've done this for a while, doesn't mean you know what's going to happen next,' viewers can anticipate a mix of chaos, ineptitude, and potential surprises in this milestone series.
