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Fans of The Apprentice can rest easy as Lord Alan Sugar has hinted he has no plans to stop filming the popular BBC show.
The businessman, 74, has just wrapped filming on the 16th series of the show, which tests the brains of hungry hopefuls as they compete to become his business partner.
The new series of the programme will air next year, however it looks like he has no plans to slow down, as his spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Lord Sugar would be prepared to make it 20 years of The Apprentice!’
Success: Fans of The Apprentice can rest easy as Lord Alan Sugar has hinted he has no plans to stop filming the popular BBC show
The Apprentice first aired in 2005 so it is likely that the entrepreneur can see the programme running until 2025.
While recent reports suggested the next two series would be filmed back-to-back, MailOnline understands that Lord Sugar is still waiting for confirmation from the BBC regarding the next installment of the show.
They said: ‘Series 16 will be broadcast early in 2022. Lord Sugar is waiting to hear from the BBC about more series. It is the BBC’s decision, however, Lord Sugar would be prepared to make it 20 years of The Apprentice.’
Last year’s show was replaced by a compilation of highlights from series past, however viewers can look forward to a brand new series in the coming months.
Show: The businessman, 74, has just wrapped filming on the 16th series of the show, which tests the brains of hungry hopefuls as they compete to become his business partner (pictured with Karren Brady and Claude Littner)
It comes after the businessman received criticism after jetting from the UK to Australia during the pandemic to film the sixth series of Celebrity Apprentice.
Lord Sugar revealed he was quarantining on the 21st floor of The Sheraton in Sydney for two weeks after arriving Down Under.
‘Nice view from the 21st floor,’ he wrote in a now-deleted Tweet, alongside an accompanying video of his view.
While Channel Nine confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that Lord Sugar’s travel and accommodation were all within the guidelines for exemptions which are outside the current international arrival caps, it didn’t stop some critics from sharing their opinion on social media.
Backlash: It comes after the businessman received criticism after jetting from the UK to Australia during the pandemic to film the sixth series of Celebrity Apprentice
‘How are you allowed in when 10’s of thousands of Aussies are still waiting to be allowed home?’ one wrote.
‘Lucky you – been separated from my daughter and grandsons for almost 2 years and yet here you are bragging that you are there. It’s amazing what having money can get you!’ a second added.
‘Really!? Nice view hey? Do you know how many Australian citizens can’t see their family because of flight caps and restrictions and you’re up there rubbing it in our faces!’ a third chimed in.
However, others were quick to defend the media mogul, praising him for coming over and boosting the Australian economy by working on the popular series.
‘When you’re bringing money and possibly jobs to a country, they open doors to you, Lord Sugar is there on business I would expect and not a holiday,’ one fan wrote.
‘Nice view from the 21st floor,’ Lord Sugar wrote in a now-deleted Tweet, alongside an accompanying video of his view
‘It’s called business, when you’re helping the economy of a country, they welcome you,’ a second chimed in.
‘Why do others hate it when others are successful and doing well,’ another said.
Australian borders are currently closed to those who are not Australian citizens, permanent residents or immediately family members.
However, there are caps on the number of passengers coming into Australia from overseas to ease pressure on quarantine facilities, which has meant some citizens have been stranded overseas.
Under fire: While many were supportive of his travel, others were left less than impressed that he was able to travel to locked-down Sydney while so many are unable to do so themselves
Defence: Others were quick to defend the media mogul, praising him for coming over and boosting the Australian economy by working on the popular series
Like with other reality shows filmed Down Under, Lord Alan Sugar is on a special visa – meaning he isn’t taking a hotel quarantine spot from an Australian.
A spokesperson for Nine told Daily Mail Australia: ‘Lord Sugar is back in Australia to film Celebrity Apprentice.
‘His travel and accommodation is all within the guidelines for exemptions which are outside the caps.
‘The exemptions and quarantine are in accordance with all government protocols and requirements including any payments that are associated with this.’
Visa: Like with other reality shows filmed Down Under, Lord Alan Sugar is on a special visa – meaning he isn’t taking a hotel quarantine spot from an Australian
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