THE line-up for this year’s Celebrity Apprentice has had an impressive upgrade thanks to the inclusion of two Hollywood heavyweights and a singing superstar.
Multi-award-winning actors Olivia Colman, and Benedict Cumberbatch will sprinkle their considerable star power on the BBC special, I can reveal.
Robbie Williams will feature too.
The A-Listers are among a host of extra celebrities who have been roped in by the show’s candidates for one of Lord Sugar’s tasks.
The Apprentices have been asked to delve into their contact books to lean on their starriest pal — and they more than deliver.
Other famous names brought in by the 12 competitors to help on the task are TV stars Gary Lineker, Rylan Clark and Dermot O’Leary plus musicians Craig David and Tom Grennan.
A source said: “Lord Sugar’s celebrity Apprentices were already an impressive bunch but the extra names featuring in one surprise task have considerably upped the ante.
“Benedict and Olivia are both huge names and of course are beloved by fans so everyone was very excited when the candidates mentioned they would be calling on the duo for help.
“The starpower is off the scale.”
Earlier this month I revealed the full line-up of candidates taking part in the celeb special.
They include Rob Rinder, ex EastEnder Jake Wood, JLS singer JB Gill and TV host Angela Scanlon, as well as Gladiators star Legend — real name Matt Morsia — and stand-up favourite Shazia Mirza.
The series will air later this year as part of the show’s 20th anniversary.
The Apprentice biggest moments
THE Apprentice has been a fan favourite ever since it burst onto the box in 2005.
Here we take a look at five of the biggest moments over the years on the hit BBC One show.
Tim Campbell – Former London Underground transport manager Tim Campbell won the first series of the reality show in 2005. He is now one of Lord Sugar’s aides on the show.
Sarah Lynn and James White – For the first and only time in the show’s history, both finalists were crowned winners in 2017.
Amy Anzel – Season 16’s fired candidate Amy Anzel was BANNED from the final celebration show, after a tit-for-tat exchange over Lord Sugar’s mocking tweets.
Michelle Dewberry – Telecoms consultant Michelle Dewberry won the second series of the show in 2006. However, after winning a six-figure job with Lord Sugar she lasted just four months before she sensationally quit.
Selena Waterman-Smith – We’re used to tensions running high in the boardroom, but in 2015 a disagreement between two candidates spilled over – for the first time – into a physical bust-up. Events manager Selina Waterman-Smith was given a verbal warning by show bosses for her role in an off-camera scrap with Charleine Wain.
TRAITOR HARRY IN LEAP OF FAITH
HE proved a successful Traitor, winning the BBC competition series last year, but now Harry Clark is keen to show he’s also faithful.
He is one of the seven famous faces jetting to the Alps to take part in a 185-mile trek from Austria to Switzerland as Pilgrimage returns to BBC Two and iPlayer.
Also taking part are The Wanted singer Jay McGuinness, comic actress Helen Lederer, comedian Daliso Chaponda, TV presenter Jeff Brazier, Paralympian Stef Reid and journalist Nelufar Hedayat.
Harry said: “I’ve always had faith – I’m so excited to go on this Pilgrimage, meet the other pilgrims and find out about what they believe in and why.”
The three-parter will follow the seven pilgrims from the picturesque Austrian village of Inzing, as they travel for 12 days through the mountainous region, passing the snow line, to their final destination in Switzerland, Einsiedeln Abbey.
Helen, the oldest of the group, wasn’t put off by the length of the journey.
She said: “The concept of a pilgrimage is probably one of endurance, challenge, pain, anxiety and difficulties, so obviously I was drawn to it. It’s an opportunity that probably won’t present itself to me again.”
Pilgrimage: The Road Through The Alps will air soon.
LIVELY SPAT PUT TO TEST
A new documentary is set to examine Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s legal saga[/caption]
BLAKE LIVELY and Justin Baldoni’s legal saga has gone under the microscope in a new documentary.
The 90-minute special, He Said, She Said: Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni debuted on Channel 5 last night, and looked into the legal complaint raised against the US actor and director by the Gossip Girls’ actress.
She alleged he had engaged in sexual misconduct on the set of their new film, It Ends With Us, then hired a PR firm to start an online smear campaign to keep her quiet.
Baldoni, below, in the film with Lively, denies the claims and launched a £300m countersuit for defamation.
A 60-minute version of the documentary will be on Discovery+ from March 31.
OLYMPIC diver Tom Daley will open up about his 16-year sporting career in a new Warner Bros documentary.
Tom Daley: 1.6 Seconds – the time between platform exit and pool entry in 10m diving – will feature family films and interviews with Tom. It will premiere on Discovery+ this year.
OUTNUMBERED star Claire Skinner will lead the cast of new Channel 5 drama, The Trial.
The series, also featuring Downton Abbey’s Ben Miles and Derry Girls’ Saoirse-Monica Jackson, sees a couple thrust into a legal battle when their teen daughter, Teah, commits a crime.
