Business tycoon Lord Alan Sugar has cast doubt over the continuation of his hit show The Apprentice, admitting he’s uncertain about its future and his capacity to host it.
The 77-year-old TV star remained non-committal when asked about the show’s renewal for another season. With age creeping up on him, Alan is contemplating his ability to fulfil the demanding role of the show’s frontman.
As fans eagerly anticipate the 19th series of The Apprentice, speculation swirls around whether Lord Sugar might retire after two decades of steering the show.
In a recent PR interview ahead of the much-anticipated new series, Lord Sugar confessed his indecision, stating: “I honestly don’t know. I have to see how I feel. I mean, I’m getting older, I’m nearly 78-years-old.”
He further commented on his tenure, saying: “So it really depends; so long as I’ve got my health and strength… I’ve always said I will carry on as long as the wants me to. It’s also a consideration that it’s not my call, it’s the ‘s call”, reports .
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Baroness Karren Brady, Lord Alan Sugar and Tim Campbell MBE (Image: BBC/Naked/Ray Burmiston/Rufina Breskin)
Despite the uncertainty, Lord Sugar did reveal that preparations for the landmark 20th season are already underway. He hinted at grand plans, emphasising: “We are already working on ideas for that. It’s got to be a very special occasion, hasn’t it? There needs to be a lot of promotion and excitement around it, it’s what it deserves.”
He continued: “We’ve got a great team of people that think up ideas and all that stuff. And again, it’s all down to the candidates, which we have not chosen yet, of course. I want a really good set of candidates for the 20th.”
As anticipation builds for the premiere of the 19th series on One in the UK on January 30, fans are eagerly waiting to see what surprises the beloved programme will unveil. This time around, the show promises new twists diverging from its traditional format.
The 19th series has faced a number of major shake ups (Image: BBC/Naked/Ray Burmiston/Rufina Breskin)
This upcoming series has seen quite the shakeup by its creators, with several pivotal adjustments being made. Historically, contestants were divided by gender into male and female teams early in the season.
However, for the first time, this upcoming run will not feature the classic battle of the sexes as a central theme. Previously, the decision to pit female participants against their male counterparts was aimed at helping viewers quickly form connections with the show’s personalitiesand it became a longstanding component of the format.
Alan has no idea when his reign will end (Image: BBC/Naked/Ray Burmiston/Rufina Breskin)
Yet, in a dynamic shift from tradition, the programme’s masterminds are shaking things up, presenting an innovative structure that is sure to intrigue loyal aficionados of the series.
Alan Sugar provided insight into the reasons behind these revisions in an interview where he revealed: “We’ve split them into sexes in the past purely to help the audience get to know the candidates quickly, it just felt like an easy thing to do. But this year we decided to mix it up from the outset.
“I think it’s quite a refreshing addition to the first episode and it’s interesting to see how they handle being a mixed team because it’s not what they necessarily expected from the start.”
The Apprentice returns to One on January 30th.