The Lapland-set show maintains the same competitive format, with Lord Sugar’s boardroom the final destination

The Celebrity Apprentice is returning to the BBC as a pair of festive specials for Children in Need.

The 2 x 60’ special episodes – also marking the 20th anniversary of The Apprentice next year – are set in Lapland, where the 12 candidates have to create a Christmassy gingerbread biscuit which they will then pitch to UK retailers. The winning biscuits will be sold in UK stores, with a percentage of the profits going to the BBC charity.

Alan Sugar’s advisors Karren Brady and Mike Soutar (series regular Tim Campbell was unable to make the filming schedule), will, as per the usual format, scrutinise the team’s performances and feed their findings back to Lord Sugar.

The Celebrity Apprentice: Christmas Specials were commissioned by Kalpna Patel-Knight, head of entertainment at the BBC. The series is a co-production with Fremantle label Naked and MGM Alternative UK for BBC One.

Paul Broadbent and Naomi Banat are the executive producers; Francesca Maudslay is consultant executive producer and Rachael Hankinson is production executive. For MGM Alternative UK, Dom Bird is executive producer; Sarah Clay is commissioning editor for the BBC. It is produced and distributed pursuant to a licence from Amazon MGM Studios Distribution.

Broadbent, director of Programmes at Naked, said: “We are delighted to announce The Celebrity Apprentice: Christmas Specials. Not only will the two special episodes be immensely entertaining, but the biscuits made and sold in the lead up to the show airing will be raising vital funds for BBC Children in Need – it’s a win win.

“The Apprentice has always been the ultimate test of business acumen and resilience. Now, with well-known faces stepping up to the challenge, we can’t wait to see how they fare under pressure.”