In a "stark warning" that even the biggest shows are not immune from the coronavirus crisis, the BBC has had to axe The Apprentice 2020.
It will be the first year the hit show, starring business magnate Lord Alan Sugar, won't be screened since 2005.
The corporation says the series' producers couldn't make it work amid the pandemic, reports The Mirror. Filming with social distancing in place, in a bid to keep cast and crew safe, would have proven too difficult.
It has been reported TV executives were "desperate" for the show to go on but have "run out of time".
The Apprentice is often filmed around six months in advance to it airing on TV.
An insider told The Sun: "The Apprentice is one of the BBC’s biggest and most popular shows so they were desperate not to have to axe it. But they could wait no longer and they’ve run of time."
The source also questioned the "knock-on effect" it could have on other shows such as Strictly.
"It’s a stark warning to the industry that even the biggest shows are not immune," they added.
A BBC spokesperson confirmed the news to the paper, saying: "Sadly we have decided to postpone The Apprentice for 2020.
"Production safety and the wellbeing of everyone involved in the show is our number one priority.
“While this is understandably disappointing news, viewers will still be able to get their weekly fix of memorable tasks, favourite candidates and boardroom bust-ups alongside brand new insights from Karren, Claude, Lord Sugar and many more from the past 15 years in a special highlights series airing on BBC1.”
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