The apprentice returns for its milestone 20th anniversary series on Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
That’s how you see The apprentice 2026 anywhere with a VPN – including free options in the UK and the best way to stream abroad.
This season, 20 contestants compete for a £250,000 investment and a 50/50 business partnership with Lord Sugar.
For the first time, the boardroom moves to Hong Kong for the opening episode, and to celebrate the 20th series, the number of candidates has increased to 20, the most since 2014.
Lord Sugar will be joined by his long-time aides Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell MBE. Tom Allen has left the companion show, now called The Apprentice: Unfinished Business and hosted by Angela Scanlon.
Keep reading to find out how you look The apprentice 2026 online anywhere including UK dates and where to catch episodes for free.
How to watch The Apprentice season 20 for free
How to watch The Apprentice Season 20 anywhere
For those away from home who want to see The apprenticeyou won’t be able to stream the show as usual due to regional restrictions. Fortunately, there is an easy solution.
Downloading a VPN allows you to stream geo-blocked services online, no matter where you are. It’s a simple piece of software that changes your IP address, meaning you can access on-demand content or live TV just as if you were at home. Our favorite is NordVPN.
Use one of those best VPNs to see The apprentice season 20 anywhere from:
How to watch The Apprentice online for FREE in the UK
As mentioned above, The apprentice season 20 will be broadcast on BBC One every Thursday night at 21:00 GMT for 12 weeks.
BBC iPlayer will also give you access with on-demand streaming available as soon as the program goes live on the linear channel.
Outside the UK? Access BBC iPlayer with NordVPN.
Can I watch The Apprentice Season 20 online in the US, Canada and Australia?
Unfortunately, we don’t know when The apprentice season 20 arrives in the US, Canada and Australia. If that changes, we will update you on this page.
UK watching abroad? Anyone from the UK traveling abroad and wanting to watch can stream as normal using a VPN.
What you need to know about The Apprentice Season 20
The Apprentice season 20 trailer
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The participants in The Apprentice Season 20
To mark series 20, the cast is increasing to 20 candidates, the highest number since 2014. The line-up includes entrepreneurs from a wide range of industries.
Examples cited by the BBC include a former RAF gunner who runs a pet cremation business and a mortgage broker who cites Kim Kardashian as his business role model.
The named candidates include:
- Andrea Cooper
- Levi Hague
- Dan Miller
- Karishma Vijay
- Lawrence Rosenberg
- Nikki Jetha
- Tanmay Hingorani
- Georgina Newton
- Marcus Donkoh
- Pascha Myhill
- Carrington Saunders
- Conor Galvin
- Harry Clough
- Kieran McCartney
- Megan Ruiter
- Priyesh Bathia
- Rajan Gill
- Rothna Akhtar
- Roxanne Hamedi
- Vanessa Tetteh-Squire
The Apprentice Season 20 FAQ
What is the prize for the winner? The winner receives a £250,000 investment and a 50/50 business partnership with Lord Sugar.
Who are Lord Sugar’s helpers in this series? Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell MBE both return as Lord Sugar’s “eyes and ears”.
Where is the series filmed? Filming took place in 2025 across locations including Hong Kong, London, Isle of Wight and Egypt (Red Sea).
Do I need a TV license to watch BBC iPlayer? Yes. You must have a valid UK TV license to watch live on any channel or use BBC iPlayer.
How many episodes are there in series 20? There are 12 episodes that air weekly on Thursdays.
Is there a companion show after the main episode? Yes. The Apprentice: Unfinished Business airs at 10.05pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer hosted by Angela Scanlon.
Will there be a Celebrity Apprentice in 2026? Yes. A full-length Celebrity Apprentice series has been confirmed for later in 2026, following festive specials which aired in December 2025.
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