The apprentice returns for its landmark 20th anniversary series on Thursday 29 January 2026 at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Here’s how to watch The apprentice 2026 from anywhere with a VPN – including free options in the UK and the best way to stream abroad.
This season, 20 candidates are competing 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 inaugural episode, and to celebrate the 20th season, the number of candidates has increased to 20, the most since 2014.
Lord Sugar is joined by his former aides, Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell MBE. Tom Allen left the companion show, which is now called The Apprentice: Unfinished Business and is hosted by Angela Scanlon.
Keep reading to find out how to watch The apprentice 2026 online from anywhere, including UK dates and where you can watch episodes for free.
How to watch season 20 of The Apprentice for free
How to watch season 20 of The Apprentice from anywhere
For those who are far from home and want to see The apprenticeYou will not be able to stream the show normally due to regional restrictions. Luckily, there is an easy solution.
Downloading a VPN lets you stream geo-blocked services online, no matter where you are. It’s simple software that changes your IP address, meaning you can access on-demand content or live TV as if you were at home. Our favorite is NordVPN.
Use one of the best vpn look The apprentice season 20 from anywhere:
How to watch The Apprentice online for FREE in the UK
As mentioned above, The apprentice Season 20 will air on BBC One every Thursday night at 9pm GMT for 12 weeks.
BBC iPlayer will also give you access to on-demand streaming available as soon as the show airs 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 will arrive in the United States, Canada and Australia. If that changes, we will update it on this page.
UK viewer abroad? Anyone from the UK traveling abroad who wants to watch can stream as usual using a VPN.
What you need to know about season 20 of The Apprentice
The Apprentice Season 20 Trailer
Look
The Apprentice season 20 contestants
To mark Series 20, the cast is increasing to 20 candidates, the highest number since 2014. The list includes entrepreneurs from a wide range of industries.
Examples the BBC is leaning on include a former RAF gunner who runs a pet cremation business and a mortgage broker who cites Kim Kardashian as his role model in the business.
Named candidates listed include:
- Andrea Cooper
- Levi Beech
- Daniel Miller
- Karishma Vijay
- Laura Rosenberg
- Nikki Jetha
- Tanmay Hingorani
- Georgina Newton
- Marcos Donkoh
- Pascha Myhill
- Carrington Saunders
- Conor Galvin
- Harry Clough
- kieran mccartney
- Megan Ruiter
- Priyesh Bathia
- Rajan Gill
- Rothna Akhtar
- Roxanne Hamedi
- Vanessa Tetteh-Escudero
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 assistants in this series? Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell MBE return as Lord Sugar’s “eyes and ears”.
Where was the series filmed? Filming took place in 2025 in locations including Hong Kong, London, the Isle of Wight and Egypt (Red Sea).
Do I need a TV license to watch on 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, presented by Angela Scanlon.
Will there be a celebrity apprentice in 2026? Yes. A full series of Celebrity Apprentice has been confirmed for later in 2026, following the festive specials that aired in December 2025.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Access a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protect your online security and strengthen your online privacy when you are abroad. We do not support or tolerate illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Future Publishing does not endorse or approve the consumption of paid pirated content.
