Lord Sugar says he may leave The Apprentice after series 20

Lord Alan Sugar has revealed he may quit The Apprentice in four years’ time.

The businessman has starred on the BBC show since it launched in 2005 but admits his time on the programme might be coming to an end.

He said: “I said last year that I wanted to do 20 years. We would have been doing series 16 this year and I was happy to do four more. But of course it is the BBC who will decide if they wish to do it.

“I fully understand they are in charge but if they wanted to do it, I think 20 years is a nice round figure.”

Lord Sugar would have been fronting series 16 of The Apprentice in October but it has been pushed back until next year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Instead, the BBC is airing a special highlights series looking back at memorable moments from the show’s history.

Lord Sugar said it was a “clever idea” to dig into the show’s archives and he has enjoyed taking a trip down memory lane.

Asked why he still enjoys his work on The Apprentice, Lord Sugar said: “What motivates me is going back to my old days of starting a business from scratch.

“I love that idea of keeping my hand in and proving it can be done. It’s enjoyable, as simple as that.”

Baroness Karren Brady stars as Lord Sugar’s aide on The Apprentice and said she is excited to return to the boardroom if the show comes back as planned next year.

She said: “I have been doing the Apprentice for 12/13 years and it has been a long time. It has been weird not doing it this year, as it is very much a fixture in my life. I have missed it and all the things that go with it. I am raring to go for next year.”

Episode one of The Apprentice Best Bits is set to air Thursday October 1 at 9pm on BBC One.