Series synopsis
The Apprentice: You're Fired! is a British reality television series that premiered on BBC Three on February 22, 2006. It ended on April 17, 2025. It was created by Mark Burnett. It stars Rhod Gilbert, Jack Dee, Dara Ó Briain and Adrian Chiles.
The Apprentice: You're Fired!, sometimes named You're Fired!, The Apprentice: You're Hired! or You're Hired!, is a British television show made by the BBC and filmed at Riverside Studios as a spin-off from the reality TV hit The Apprentice. It was hosted by Adrian Chiles from 2006 to 2009, and Dara Ó Briain took over as host in 2010 after Chiles' move to ITV. The programme airs in a 30 minute slot after each episode of The Apprentice finishes. It was originally shown on BBC Three, but moved to B ...
Premise
The Apprentice: You're Fired!, sometimes named You're Fired!, The Apprentice: You're Hired! or You're Hired!, is a British television show made by the BBC and filmed at Riverside Studios as a spin-off from the reality TV hit The Apprentice. It was hosted by Adrian Chiles from 2006 to 2009, and Dara Ó Briain took over as host in 2010 after Chiles' move to ITV. The programme airs in a 30 minute slot after each episode of The Apprentice finishes. It was originally shown on BBC Three, but moved to BBC Two in 2007. Its format is similar to that of Big Brother's Little Brother and Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two. The final episode of each series is renamed "The Apprentice: You're Hired!" and involves interviews with the winner, the runner-up and Lord Sugar himself, and a reunion with all of the former candidates.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Rhod Gilbert as Self - Host
- Jack Dee as Self - Host
- Dara Ó Briain as Self - Host
- Adrian Chiles as Self - Host
Guest cast
Episodes
This series spans 18 seasons with 214 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 11 | February 22, 2006 | May 3, 2006 |
| Season 2 | 12 | March 28, 2007 | June 13, 2007 |
| Season 3 | 12 | March 26, 2008 | June 11, 2008 |
| Season 4 | 12 | March 25, 2009 | June 7, 2009 |
| Season 5 | 12 | October 6, 2010 | December 22, 2010 |
| Season 6 | 11 | May 10, 2011 | July 17, 2011 |
| Season 7 | 12 | March 21, 2012 | June 3, 2012 |
| Season 8 | 12 | May 7, 2013 | July 17, 2013 |
| Season 9 | 12 | October 14, 2014 | December 21, 2014 |
| Season 10 | 12 | October 14, 2015 | December 20, 2015 |
| Season 11 | 12 | October 4, 2016 | December 20, 2016 |
| Season 12 | 12 | October 4, 2017 | December 17, 2017 |
| Season 13 | 12 | October 3, 2018 | December 16, 2018 |
| Season 14 | 12 | October 2, 2019 | December 18, 2019 |
| Season 15 | 12 | January 6, 2022 | March 24, 2022 |
| Season 16 | 12 | January 5, 2023 | March 23, 2023 |
| Season 17 | 12 | February 1, 2024 | April 18, 2024 |
| Season 18 | 12 | January 30, 2025 | April 17, 2025 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Ben Stanberry Adrian Chiles and guests meet the first candidate to be fired from Season 2 of "The Apprentice UK". |
February 22, 2006 |
| 2 |
Nargis Ara Adrian Chiles and guests meet the second candidate to be fired from Season 2 of "The Apprentice UK". |
March 1, 2006 |
| 3 |
Karen Bremner Adrian Chiles and guests meet the third candidate to be fired from Season 2 of "The Apprentice UK". |
March 8, 2006 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Series 2, Episode 1 | March 28, 2007 |
| 2 | Series 2, Episode 2 | April 4, 2007 |
| 3 | Series 2, Episode 3 | April 11, 2007 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Series 3, Episode 1 | March 26, 2008 |
| 2 | Series 3, Episode 2 | April 2, 2008 |
| 3 | Series 3, Episode 3 | April 9, 2008 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Series 4, Episode 1 A task involving cleaning cars is a washout for someone whose dreams of becoming Sir Alan's apprentice are expunged at the first hurdle. Panellists including multimillionaire businesswoman Gill Fielding, comedian Rufus Hound and TV presenter Carol Vorderman endeavour to find out what went wrong, and cast their eyes over the rest who are left to fight it out for the top job. |
March 25, 2009 |
| 2 |
Series 4, Episode 2 Meet the one who bit off more than they could chew when the candidates had to cater for city clients. The panel includes Masterchef's Gregg Wallace and Sir Alan's aide Nick Hewer, who question the one who went from the frying pan into the fire and cast their eyes over the ones who are left to fight another day. |
April 1, 2009 |
| 3 |
Series 4, Episode 3 Meet the latest person to encounter problems in Sir Alan's boardroom. Bra millionaire Michelle Mone, DJ Trevor Nelson and journalist Carole Malone pick over the bones of what went wrong and reveal who they think will be in it for the long run. |
April 8, 2009 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 As the battle begins to become Lord Sugar's new apprentice, we meet the one who fell at the first hurdle when their sausages failed to sizzle. Masterchef's John Torode and comedienne Jenny Eclair endeavour to find out what went wrong and cast their eyes over the rest who are left to fight it out for the top job. |
October 6, 2010 |
| 2 |
Series 5, Episode 2 The programme meets the candidate who was left at the departure gate when it came to creating a holiday product. Shining a light on what went wrong is Lord Sugar's aide Karren Brady. |
October 13, 2010 |
| 3 |
Series 5, Episode 3 Companion discussion show to the Apprentice, presented by Dara O Briain. Meet the candidate who failed to impress in a task to turn flour into serious dough. Examining what went wrong are restaurateur Oliver Peyton and columnist Jane Moore. |
October 20, 2010 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Dara O Briain is joined by Innocent co-founder Richard Reed and journalist Kate Spicer to interview the first candidate to be fired from season 7 of "The Apprentice". |
May 10, 2011 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Dara O Briain is joined by Lord Sugar's aide Karren Brady and comedian Andy Parsons to interview the candidate who was fired as a result of the "Mobile Phone App" task. |
May 11, 2011 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 Dara O Briain is joined by comedian Sean Lock, interior designer Tara Bernerd and columist and broadcaster Jane Moore. Together they meet the candidate fired as a result of the "Discount Buying for the Savoy" task. |
May 18, 2011 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Week 1 - Blank Canvas Hear from the newly fired candidate just what crushed their quest to become Lord Sugar's next business partner as they fall at the first hurdle. Thea Green, the founder of nails inc, DJ and broadcaster Trevor Nelson and comedian Jo Caulfield make up the panel determined to get to the bottom of what went wrong. |
March 21, 2012 |
| 2 |
Week 2 - Household Gadget Hear from the candidate whose Apprentice dreams have gone down the drain in a task to design a bathroom or kitchen gadget. On this week's panel are columnist and author Grace Dent, the inventor of the Trunki ride-on suitcase - Rob Law, and comedian Hugh Dennis. |
March 28, 2012 |
| 3 |
Week 3 - Condiments Creating a new condiment is a recipe for disaster for one of this year's Apprentice business brains. Grilling them on what went wrong are Reggae, Reggae Sauce creator Levi Roots, Lord Sugar's fearsome inquisitor Claude Littner and comedienne Jenny Eclair. |
April 4, 2012 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 The companion programme to The Apprentice returns, with Dara O Briain chatting to the candidate who was the first to be ejected from the contest by Alan Sugar. Green & Black's co-founder Jo Fairley, comedienne Katherine Ryan and Radio 1 DJ Matt Edmondson are the panellists helping to determine where things went wrong. |
May 7, 2013 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Dara O Briain is joined by the latest candidate to be eliminated by Alan Sugar, having failed to impress in a task to create a flavoured beer. Comedian Ed Byrne, TV and radio presenter Sara Cox and BrewDog co-founder James Watt are the panellists trying to determine where it all went wrong. |
May 8, 2013 |
| 3 |
Flat-Pack Meet the candidate who went flat out to create a piece of flat pack furniture, only to end up flattened in the boardroom. Lord Sugar's aide Karren Brady, Wow! Stuff's Richard North and comedian Andy Parsons take apart what went wrong. |
May 15, 2013 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode 1 | October 14, 2014 |
| 2 | Episode 2 | October 15, 2014 |
| 3 | Episode 3 | October 22, 2014 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode 1 | October 14, 2015 |
| 2 | Episode 2 | October 15, 2015 |
| 3 | Episode 3 | October 21, 2015 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Collectables | October 4, 2016 |
| 2 | Advertising - Jeans | October 11, 2016 |
| 3 | Corporate Candy | October 18, 2016 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burgers | October 4, 2017 |
| 2 | Hotel Redesign | October 11, 2017 |
| 3 | Robots | October 18, 2017 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malta | October 3, 2018 |
| 2 | Comics | October 10, 2018 |
| 3 | Doughnuts | October 17, 2018 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | October 2, 2019 |
| 2 | Ice Lollies | October 9, 2019 |
| 3 | Toys | October 16, 2019 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Cruise Ship Presenter Tom Allen is joined by a panel of experts and celebrity fans to analyse this week's task and meet the first candidate to be sacked. |
January 6, 2022 |
| 2 | Toothbrush | January 13, 2022 |
| 3 | Non-Alcoholic Drinks | January 20, 2022 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Antigua Tourism The in-depth look at the Apprentice process returns, with host Tom Allen joined by a panel of experts and celebrity fans to analyse this week’s task and meet the first candidate to be fired. |
January 5, 2023 |
| 2 |
Bao Buns Tom Allen interviews the latest rejected candidate, who reveals what it is really like to be in the firing line. Plus, a panel of experts and celebrity fans discuss their views on what happened in this week's episode |
January 12, 2023 |
| 3 |
Cartoons Tom Allen interviews the latest rejected candidate, who reveals what it is really like to be in the firing line. Plus, a panel of experts and celebrity fans discuss their views on what happened in this week's episode |
January 19, 2023 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Highlands Corporate Away Day The Apprentice: You’re Fired! is back. Tom Allen meets the first sacked candidate and shares exclusive behind-the-scenes content as a panel of special guest fans take a wry look at the week’s task. |
February 1, 2024 |
| 2 |
Cheesecakes Tom Allen meets the second fired candidate and shares exclusive behind-the-scenes content as a panel of special guest fans take a wry look at the week’s task. |
February 8, 2024 |
| 3 |
Virtual Escape Rooms Tom Allen does not actually meet the third sacked candidate, because he was banned from appearing on the programme. Instead Tim shares exclusive behind-the-scenes content as a panel of special guest fans take a wry look at the week’s task. |
February 15, 2024 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Austria Tours Tom Allen meets the first fired candidate and shares exclusive behind-the-scenes content as Lord Sugar launches his search for a new business partner. |
January 30, 2025 |
| 2 |
Virtual Pop Star The candidates create a new virtual pop star and music video before pitching for sponsorship. Dodgy design and mediocre music leads to one candidate being declared a flop. |
February 6, 2025 |
| 3 |
Discount Buying Tom Allen meets the fired candidate and shares exclusive behind-the-scenes content as Lord Sugar continues his search for a new business partner who will win his £250,000 investment. This week's panel are Owain Wyn Evans, Lou Sanders and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey. |
February 13, 2025 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | BBC Three |
|---|---|
| First aired | February 22, 2006 |
| Last aired | April 17, 2025 |
| Runtime | 30 minutes |
| Status | Canceled |
| Schedule | Thursday at 22:00:00 |