The Apprentice Season 20 Free Streams: How to watch online from anywhere

The Apprentice returns for its milestone 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 U.K. and the best way to stream abroad.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

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 opening episode, and to celebrate the 20th series, the number of candidates has increased to 20, the most since 2014.

Lord Sugar is joined by his long-time aides, Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell MBE. Tom Allen has left the companion show, which is now called The Apprentice: Unfinished Business and 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 catch episodes for free.

VPN allows you to stream geo-blocked services online, no matter where you are. It’s a simple bit of software that changes your IP address, meaning that you can access on-demand content or live TV just as if you were at home. Our favorite is NordVPN.

Use one of the best VPNs to watch The Apprentice season 20 from anywhere:

BBC iPlayer will also provide you access with on-demand streaming available as soon as the programme goes live on the linear channel.

Outside the UK? Access BBC iPlayer with NordVPN.

using a VPN.

Watch On

The Apprentice Season 20 contestants

To mark Series 20, the cast increases to 20 candidates, the highest number since 2014. The line-up includes entrepreneurs from a wide range of industries.

Examples the BBC is leaning into include a former RAF gunner running a pet cremation business, and a mortgage broker who cites Kim Kardashian as her business role model.

Named candidates listed include:

Andrea Cooper
Levi Hague
Dan Miller
Karishma Vijay
Lawrence Rosenberg
Nikki Jetha
Tanmay Hingorani
Georgina Newton
Marcus Donkoh
Pascha Myhill
Carrington Saunders
Conor Galvin
Harry Clough
Kieran McCartney
Megan Ruiter
Priyesh Bathia
Rajan Gill
Rothna Akhtar
Roxanne Hamedi
Vanessa Tetteh-Squire

The Apprentice Season 20 FAQ’s

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 aides this series? Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell MBE both return as Lord Sugar’s “eyes and ears”.

Where was the series filmed? Filming took place in 2025 across locations including Hong Kong, London, the Isle of Wight, and Egypt (Red Sea).

Do I need a TV Licence to watch on BBC iPlayer? Yes. You must have a valid UK TV Licence to watch live on any channel or use BBC iPlayer.

How many episodes are in Series 20? There are 12 episodes, airing 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, hosted by Angela Scanlon.

Will there be a Celebrity Apprentice in 2026? Yes. A full-length Celebrity Apprentice series has been confirmed for later in 2026, following festive specials that aired in December 2025.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.