Piers Morgan is set for a 2025 Celebrity Student revival as the show turns 20
The BBC’s popular business competition, The Apprentice will reportedly bring back its celebrities in late 2025 to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
It will be the first time since 2009 that celebrities have competed under the leadership of Lord Alan Sugar, 77, on the board.
Production insiders are said to be looking for big names, including Cheryl Tweedy and Piers Morgan, both of whom have taken part in The Apprentice. A TV source suggested that booking Morgan would produce “TV gold” given his long-running feud with Lord Sugar, which has dominated every iteration of the franchise.
Although few high-profile guests have been approached so far, it is reported that management plans to take their time to find the right line-up to increase the appeal of the game in its special 13th anniversary year. If confirmed, the celebrity show will likely hit the screens just before the broadcast of the 20th ‘citizen’ series of The Apprentice, keeping the brand momentum going.
The original version of The Apprentice launched in the UK on 15 February 2005, becoming an immediate ratings success. A pair of celebrity fundraisers followed soon after, with notable participants including Sir (now Lord) Alan Sugar’s late partner, Baroness Karren Brady, as well as Piers Morgan, Cheryl Tweedy, and Maureen Lipman.
Morgan also raised his profile by appearing on the American version, which was then hosted by Donald Trump. The program created a relationship between the former editor of the Daily Mirror and Trump, who would become President of the United States.
Meanwhile, series 19 of The Apprentice returns to BBC One on Thursday, 30 January, with 18 young people competing for Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment and mentoring. Their first job will see them selling Alpine holiday packages in the Austrian mountains, as they try to prove their business acumen. Throughout the series, they will tackle a variety of projects including creating a pop star, turning potatoes and tomatoes into profit, and designing Easter eggs—culminating in a powerful “Week of Discussions.”
Tom Allen, comedian, writer, and actor, resumes hosting duties on The Apprentice: You Reed, which airs on BBC Two immediately after the main show. The accompanying show invites celebrity guests and business experts to pick out each candidate’s moves and missteps, providing an in-depth insight into the series’ quest to find Britain’s next great entrepreneur.
