BBC Radio 2

For the first time, BBC will air the first ever full-length series of the show – six episodes filmed across six weeks – as the celebrities will face a range of weekly business challenges set by the business mogul

The Celebrity Apprentice line-up has been confirmed, with TV presenter Gethin Jones, singer Alexandra Burke and Love Island star Toni Laites all set to face Lord Sugar.

For the first time ever, BBC will air the first ever full-length series of the show – six episodes filmed across six weeks – as the celebrities face a range of weekly business challenges set by the business mogul.

Competing for the chance to win a £100,000 donation to a charity of their choice, they will each be hoping to prove their business acumen and ultimately be crowned The Celebrity Apprentice winner.

There will be another change to this star-studded series – the boardroom will relocate to a London City skyscraper, providing a distinctive new setting for Lord Sugar’s final deliberations.

The full line up includes Alexandra Burke, actor Danny Miller, presenter Gethin Jones, dancer and presenter Jordan Banjo, journalist Kay Burley, actress and online personality Maddie Grace Jepson, presenter, podcaster and content creator Max Balegde, Gladiator Sheli McCoy, UK garage legend DJ Spoony, TV and BBC Radio 2 presenter Richie Anderson, comedian and writer Laura Smyth and television personality Toni Laites.

Lord Sugar said: “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.”

Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment Commissioning at the BBC says: “This brand-new full-length series of The Celebrity Apprentice takes everything audiences love about the format and turns the pressure right up. This year’s celebrities arrive with strong reputations – but in the boardroom, status counts for nothing.

“They’ll be tested on leadership, teamwork and commercial instinct, and only those who can truly deliver will make it through. It’s bold, unpredictable and hugely entertaining – and viewers are in for a brilliant ride.”

Broadcast details for The Celebrity Apprentice will be confirmed in due course. The announcement comes after Karishma Vijay was crowned the winner of the BBC business show last week after an all-female final, which saw her battle it out for Lord Sugar’s coveted investment against Pascha Myhill.

Karishma, from Surrey, recounted the moment Lord Sugar told her she had won and would be receiving his £250,000 investment, and said: “I was so blown away, so shocked – but I kept it very cool. Then, I got in my car and I was screaming. It was just insane – I can’t believe I’ve gone and done it after not having watched the show, I feel like that’s so cheeky.”

Explaining his decision on the hit BBC show, Lord Sugar said: “As always, it was close competition in the final after two outstanding pitches by two brilliant young businesswomen. But Karishma really impressed me throughout the process and has proven why she deserves my investment. She’s a proper grafter and she’s got that entrepreneurial spirit that I always look for. The cosmetics industry is one I know a lot about, and I know our partnership will pave the way for a bright future.”

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BBC bosses are poised to offer Sara Cox the Radio 2 Breakfast Show job after Scott Mills’s sacking, insiders told The Sun. 

Sources said veteran broadcaster Sara, 51, was seen as the “heir apparent” for the role — which is widely regarded as the best job in radio. 

Mills, who had hosted the show since January 2025, was dismissed last month. 

It came after new information about a police investigation over alleged sex offences with a boy aged under 16 in 2018 came to light at the BBC. OJ Borg and Gary Davies have filled in since Mills left the station. 

Insiders said they expected Sara, who joined the BBC in 1999 as a Radio 1 DJ, to be offered the job this summer. 

A source said: “Sara is the heir apparent for the Breakfast Show job. 

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“Since Scott left, she has been the name which has been discussed as the best candidate and everyone at Radio 2 is saying she will be offered it. 

“Sara has made a huge success of her drivetime slot and is hugely popular at the station, plus she’s hosted the Breakfast Show as a stand-in before. 

“The BBC won’t be rushing this through as they want the dust to settle. But Sara is the one in line and, as far as her colleagues are concerned, she is the best person for the job.” 

Sara, who began a TV career in the 90s, featured on Radio 2 as a cover host for various shows in 2012 while still working for Radio 1.

The mum-of-three landed her first permanent Radio 2 show, hosting Sounds of the 80s on Saturday nights, the following year. 

She went on to replace Simon Mayo as the drivetime presenter in 2019 and stood in on the Breakfast Show in 2025. 

That year, she was chosen to complete a Children in Need challenge and raised over £11.5million after walking and running 135 miles in five days. 

She said of working for Radio 2: “It’s sort of my dream job.” 

SCOTT SPOTTED

By Emily-Jane Heap 

SCOTT Mills is seen for the first time since being sacked by the BBC. 

The star, who was axed as Radio 2 Breakfast Show host, was out walking walked his dog with his husband Sam Vaughan. 

Mills, 53, confirmed he was quizzed by police in 2018 following an allegation of a historical sexual offence against a boy under 16. 

The case was dropped due to a lack of evidence. 

But Mills was sacked last month after new information came to light, the BBC said. 

He was allowed to keep his job for almost a decade despite the BBC being made aware in 2017 of an ongoing probe. 

Sources claim that the current senior management took swift action after finding out for the first time that Mills’ accuser was under 16

The BBC was unaware of the full extent of the police investigation into Scott Mills including the accuser’s age, sources claim. The presenter – who today broke his silence to thank his former listeners – was interviewed by police in 2018 under caution after being accused of serious sexual offences against a boy under the age of 16. Mills and his agent spoke to some senior BBC figures about the claims at the time. Mills was never charged with any crime because of a lack of evidence.

At the time, Director general Tony Hall was not aware of the “full picture” including the accuser’s age., although it’s unclear if other managers did. However after learning about the age in the last week, the newer management took swift action.

It comes as the BBC admitted yesterday they had known about the police investigation in 2017 but were “doing more work to understand the detail of what was known by the BBC at this time.”

Insiders say it was also difficult for the BBC to have made their own inquiries into the investigation, and that they were “limited” in what the police would tell them. Last night Mills issued a statement via his lawyers in which he thanked well-wishers.

He said: “I wish to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who have reached out to me with kindness, my former colleagues, and my beloved listeners, who I greatly miss.”

He also opened up about the police investigation. He said: “The recent announcement that I am no longer contracted to the BBC has led to the publication of rumour and speculation. In response to this the Metropolitan Police has made a statement, which I confirm relates to me. An allegation was made against me in 2016 of a historic sexual offence which was the subject of a police investigation in which I fully cooperated and responded to in 2018. As the police have stated, a file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which determined that the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges.

“Since the investigation related to an allegation that dates back nearly 30 years and the police investigation was closed 7 years ago, I hope that the public and the media will understand and respect my wish not to make any further public comment on this matter. The BBC had hours earlier issued their own statement, confirming our story yesterday that it “acted decisively” after receiving “new information” in the weeks prior to his sacking.

A BBC spokesperson said: “Scott Mills had a long career across the BBC, he was hugely popular and we know the news this week has come as a shock and surprise to many. We also recognise there’s been much speculation in the media and online since Monday. We hope people understand that there is a limit to what we can say because we have to be mindful of the rights of those involved. What we can confirm is that in recent weeks, we obtained new information relating to Scott and we spoke directly with him. As a result, the BBC acted decisively in line with our culture and values, and terminated his contracts on Friday March 27.”

The BBC added that iit “made a significant commitment to improve its culture, processes and standards”, and added that it set out “behavioural expectations for everyone who works with or for the BBC” and was “clear action would be taken” if they were not met last year, following an independent culture review.

Mills last hosted Radio 2’s Breakfast Show on Tuesday March 24 and signed off with “see you tomorrow”, before being replaced by Gary Davies. In an email sent to staff on Monday, Lorna Clarke, the BBC’s director of music, acknowledged the news was “sudden and unexpected, and therefore must come as a shock”. It has also been announced that children’s cancer charity Neuroblastoma UK has decided to “part ways” with Mills, who had been a patron since 2021.

A statement from the charity said: “Following his dismissal from the BBC, Neuroblastoma UK have taken the decision to part ways with Scott Mills and he is no longer a patron of our charity.” We have gone to Mills’ team for comment.