Lord Alan Sugar has said there is “not a mask in sight” in the new season of The Apprentice, which was filmed under strict Covid guidelines.
The boardroom reality show is set to return to screens this week after a two-year hiatus, featuring 16 ambitious entrepreneurs vying for Lord Sugar’s mentorship and £250,000 investment.
This will be the first series of the show since the coronavirus pandemic hit and while candidates were not required to be double vaccinated - as the series was filmed during the initial national rollout - the crew relied on “constant testing”.
Lord Sugar has described the rigorous Covid protocols in place to keep the candidates and board members safe as “harrowing”.
He said: “I haven't got Covid, but I’ve got a broken septum in my nose.”
Lord Sugar said at his count he has conducted 79 coronavirus tests during filming of the hit BBC show.
However, in spite of this he insisted that the presence of the coronavirus will be largely absent from screens.
He said: “You will not see one mask throughout the whole of the 12 episodes.
“It was a very very difficult thing to do - this shows you how great and resourceful people can be under problems, which is what we British are good at doing.”
Lord Sugar will be joined in the boardroom once again by Baroness Karren Brady as well as former winner Tim Campbell, who will step in for Claude Littner after he pulled out due to a cycling accident.
Baroness Brady described the Covid-safe approach as a “mammoth task” and praised the crew’s efforts.
She said: “That was the priority of the production team and everybody that was involved - constant testing and we maintained social distancing where we could.”
Lord Sugar joked: “Even when we weren't filming, Tim and I kept our distance anyway so we weren't that close at any point, other than in the boardroom.”
He continued: “We just took it in our stride and in a funny way, some great things came out of it so we've got a lot of good stuff to look forward to.
“It is a great series and we're absolutely delighted to be back.
“You can look forward to a few fireworks from me and some wonderful contributions from Karren and Tim.”
*The Apprentice returns this Thursday, January 6 at 9pm on BBC One, followed by You’re Fired on BBC Two. Watch live and on-demand on BBC iPlayer
