Stars compete in festive Apprentice for Children in Need

The Celebrity Apprentice returns with festive flair on BBC One and iPlayer this Christmas, ahead of its landmark 20th series in 2026.

Lord Sugar teams up with Pudsey for the first time ever in a festive BBC Children in Need special, bringing viewers two one-hour episodes set in the snowy wonderland of Lapland—where the challenges are tougher and the stakes higher.

Produced by Naked (a Fremantle label), 12 celebrity candidates will journey to reindeer-filled Lapland to tackle their biggest business task yet: crafting a magical festive biscuit. They’ll pitch their creations to major UK retailers, who—making show history—will stock the biscuits nationwide, with a portion of profits supporting BBC Children in Need.

Brimming with seasonal spirit and star power, this heartwarming special invites viewers to join the mission by purchasing the real-life biscuits, helping raise funds for a worthy cause while enjoying a sweet festive treat.

Under the watchful eyes of Lord Sugar’s trusted advisors—Baroness Brady and Mike Soutar, stepping in for Tim Campbell—the celebrity candidates will do everything they can to earn a place on Lord Sugar’s festive ‘nice list’. But for those who miss the mark, the dreaded boardroom awaits. Will they rise to the challenge, or will the heat of competition melt their Christmas spirit? The full celebrity line-up heading to Lapland will be revealed soon.

As part of the special episodes, the candidates visited the BBC Children in Need-funded Chickenshed Theatre Trust to present their adverts and share samples of their festive biscuits. The children offered candid, no-nonsense feedback. Chickenshed, supported by BBC Children in Need, empowers disabled children and those with additional needs through inclusive activities that build confidence, foster learning, and create meaningful opportunities.

Paul Broadbent, Director of Programmes at Naked, adds: “We are delighted to announce The Celebrity Apprentice: Christmas Specials. Not only will the two special episodes be immensely entertaining, but the biscuits made and sold in the lead up to the show airing will be raising vital funds for BBC Children in Need – it’s a win win. The Apprentice has always been the ultimate test of business acumen and resilience. Now, with well-known faces stepping up to the challenge, we can’t wait to see how they fare under pressure.”

Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment Commissioning at the BBC says: “Viewers can look forward to the celebrity candidates facing the ultimate festive challenge of creating their own biscuits in aid of BBC Children in Need with plenty of seasonal surprises along the way too before they face Lord Sugar in the boardroom who will decide who has been naughty and who has been nice!”

Tommy Nagra, Director of Content at BBC Children in Need says: “This is the first time we have partnered with The Celebrity Apprentice. The spirit of Christmas embodies kindness, generosity and giving, so it’s especially exciting that – for the first time ever- the product created during the show will be available in stores, with proceeds going directly to BBC Children in Need. Right now, we’re only able to fund one in six organisations that ask us for support, so every pound raised will help us reach children across the UK who are most in need, during these most challenging of times for young people.”

The Celebrity Apprentice: Christmas Specials will air later this year on BBC One and iPlayer.