Discover The Celebrity Apprentice 2026 Cast: Gladiators to Radio 2 Icons
The BBC has greenlit a full-length series of The Celebrity Apprentice for 2026. Filming is already under way. The cast was revealed on 19 April by Filmogaz.com.
Background
The format debuted as a two-part special at Christmas 2025. JLS star JB Gill led his team to victory. Their prize money went to Children in Need.
Format and prize
The new run will span six episodes. Contestants will face weekly business tasks set by Lord Sugar. The overall winner will secure a £100,000 donation for their chosen charity.
Cast revealed
Twelve public figures from music, television, sport and social media make up the line-up. They include broadcasters, reality winners and stage performers.
- Richie Anderson – Aged 38, known for BBC Radio 2 travel reports. He previously competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2022 and has worked on the BBC Eurovision team.
- Max Balegde – A 27-year-old TikTok creator with around 3.7 million followers and 400 million likes. He appeared on the Australian I’m A Celebrity in 2025 and now works as a presenter.
- Jordan Banjo – A founding member of Diversity and an experienced TV presenter. The 33-year-old has also branched into amateur boxing recently.
- Alexandra Burke – A singer and West End performer. The 37-year-old won The X Factor in 2008 and reached the Strictly final in 2017.
- Kay Burley – A veteran broadcaster who spent 36 years at Sky News. The 65-year-old covered several general elections and left Sky in February 2025.
- Maddie Grace Jepson – A 26-year-old social star with about 1.9 million TikTok followers and 170 million likes. She trained at Guildhall and has recent West End credits.
- Gethin Jones – A former Blue Peter presenter now prominent on BBC Sport and Morning Live. The 48-year-old will serve as Wales’s Chef de Mission at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
- Toni Laites – Age 25, the winner of Love Island series 12. She moved to the UK after the show and had her visa approved in October.
- Sheli McCoy (Sabre) – A 37-year-old Scottish weightlifter and Gladiators star. She holds three Scottish Olympic weightlifting records and co-owns a Dundee fitness facility.
- Danny Miller – A 35-year-old soap actor best known for Emmerdale. He won I’m A Celebrity in 2021.
- Laura Smyth – A 44-year-old comedian and former teacher. She won Funny Women in 2019 and has performed on Live at the Apollo.
- DJ Spoony – Johnathan St John Joseph, aged 55, rose to prominence with Dreem Teem. He now presents on Radio 2 and received a British Empire Medal in 2023.
What to expect
Lord Sugar has warned that celebrity status will not guarantee success. Expect tough commercial challenges and intense boardroom scenes. A broadcast date is yet to be confirmed.
Fans seeking more context can Discover Celebrity Apprentice 2026 storylines, from Gladiators competitors to Radio 2 icons in the cast. Follow Filmogaz.com for updates as the series approaches transmission.
