Celebrity Apprentice full line-up as Thomas Skinner, AJ Odudu and Rob Rinder join cast
What a line-up!The Celebrity Apprentice is returning for its Christmas Special, and the line-up is one of the festive show’s best yet!
On Wednesday (November 5), the BBC revealed the hit show will be coming back this festive season with 12 celebrities taking part. However, a launch date has yet to be confirmed.
“12 celebrities take on the task of making and selling a new festive biscuit, with a percentage of the profits going to BBC Children in Need. Who will secure a spot on Lord Sugar’s ‘nice list’?” the BBC shared on its official Instagram account.
Celebrity Apprentice Christmas Special line-up
So, who has signed themselves up for the challenge?
Split into two teams, one will consist of Big Brother host and Strictly favourite AJ Odudu, BBC Radio 1 presenter Charlie Hedges, comedian Eddie Kadi, EastEnders’ Jake Woods, Paralympian Kadeena Cox and Good Morning Britain’s Rob Rinder.
The other team will include more Strictly stars – TV presenter Angela Scanlon, JLS singer JB Gill, actress Sarah Hadland and ex-Apprentice candidate Tom Skinner, who competed on this year’s Strictly. Comedian Shazia Mirza and Gladiators star Matt Morsia – aka Legend – complete the second team.
The two-part special will watch the famous faces head to Lapland and create their own gingerbread biscuits.
As well as developing the recipe, the teams must also create a marketing strategy for their new product — including designing an advert and composing a catchy jingle. They will then pitch their ideas to major retailers in the hope of securing valuable sales.
AJ Odudu’s team produces Jolly McTrouble, a vanilla and Christmas pudding-flavoured biscuit. It will be inspired by the mischievous character of Santa’s naughty brother. Meanwhile, Angela Scanlon’s team comes up with Gary the Penguin. It is a gingerbread biscuit featuring bold flavours of bubblegum and white pepper.
Lord Alan Sugar welcomes the celebrity contestants into the boardroom, joined by his trusted aides, Baroness Karren Brady and Mike Soutar, who keep a close eye on proceedings. The specially-created biscuits will be available to purchase in Asda, Tesco, Boots and other major retailers, with all proceeds going to support children and young people across the UK.
‘The celebs thought they were in for an easy ride’
Commenting on the new initiative, Lord Sugar said: “It’s the first ever time on The Celebrity Apprentice that the public can buy products that were created by the celebrity candidates. It’s added some real pressure to the process.
“I think the celebs thought they were in for an easy ride, but they were wrong! Raising money for BBC Children in Need is serious business, so the candidates really need to deliver if they want to avoid ending up on my naughty list.”
However, despite a star-studded list of names taking part, the reaction to the line-up has been mixed.
‘I won’t be watching’
“I only know one of them,” one user wrote.
“The abysmal Thomas Skinner on this year’s The Celebrity Apprentice Christmas special! Get him gone,” another person shared.
“Three I recognise and one is a fired normal Apprentice candidate. Not exactly a celebrity special,” a third said.
“Saw [Thomas] Skinner and said: ‘No I won’t be watching,'” a fourth remarked.
‘Can’t wait to see this!’
Meanwhile, many are buzzing about the episodes.
“Tom Skinner and Lord Sugar’s reunion is gonna be fun,” one person insisted.
“Can’t wait to see this,” another declared.
“I love that @iamtomskinner is now famous enough in his own right to return to the boardroom on #CelebrityApprentice #BOSH,” a third said.
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