The Apprentice: You're Fired | Preview (BBC One)

The Apprentice will return to our screens for its 18th series in February. Series 17 was a ratings smash with 8.7M tuning in for the opening episode.

The new series will return with 18 candidates and brand-new tasks, where we’ll see the hopeful business candidates battle it out for the opportunity of a lifetime for Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment and mentorship.

The series will kick off in style as candidates head straight to the Scottish Highlands, tasked with a corporate hospitality challenge where we’ll see the men’s and women’s teams compete to put on high end away days for corporate clients in the hope of impressing Lord Sugar.

Those who make it through the first boardroom will face a host of equally challenging tasks. From a virtual escape room, to creating children’s cereal. A hop over the channel to Jersey for the classic discount buying task, and further afield in Budapest for a tourism challenge. As well as a return to the popular TV shopping channel task.

With the stakes higher than ever and nowhere to hide in the boardroom, our aspiring titans of industry will once again have to prove they have what it takes and avoid riding out of the competition in the infamous loser’s cab.

Comedian, writer, and actor Tom Allen will return as host of The Apprentice: You’re Fired, which will air each week on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, straight after the main show. Casting a wry eye over each week’s events, Tom will be joined by a host of celebrity fans and business professionals to dissect and debate the candidates' progress through each task.

The Apprentice returns Thursday 1st February on BBC One.