Lord Alan Sugar will make two series of 'The Apprentice' next year.
Lord Alan Sugar
The 74-year-old business mogul has just finished working on the 16th series of the show - which was postponed from last year due to the coronavirus pandemic - and BBC bosses are so pleased to have it back, they've already offered the Amstrad founder a new deal, which will see him film back-to-back series in 2021.
The 16th series was filmed entirely in the UK because of restrictions, but producers hope things will have relaxed further for the next set of candidates.
A source told The Sun newspaper's TV Biz column: “BBC bosses like what they’ve seen on the upcoming series and want two more.
“'The Apprentice' was a big miss in the schedules last year, which they think will be reflected in the ratings.
"So they want to strike while the iron’s hot and tie Lord Sugar down for two more series in quick succession, which they hope will have more of an international feel now lockdown restrictions are gradually lifting.”
Lord Sugar admitted earlier this year he wants to make 20 series of the competition, but "fully understands" if the BBC don't agree.
He said: “I said last year that I wanted to do 20 years. We would have been doing series 16 this year and I was happy to do four more.
“But of course, it is the BBC who will decide if they wish to do it.
“I fully understand they are in charge but if they wanted to do it, I think 20 years is a nice round figure.”
'The Apprentice' will return to BBC One early next year, with a new face alongside Alan as his assistant Claude Littner was unable to film after undergoing surgery.
Instead, Tim Campbell - the first ever winner of the BBC business show, who landed a £100,000-a-year job with Amstrad in 2005 - will work alongside Alan and his other assistant, Baroness Karren Brady.
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