"the producers want viewers to see more of the fiery boardroom debates"
The 20th series of The Apprentice has already seen candidate blunders and clashes but viewers may have noticed the absence of one long-running feature.
Usually, task winners are treated to high-end experiences, with helicopter rides, spa trips and car track days being among the treats in previous years.
The rewards became a staple of the BBC show’s post-task ritual.
However, producers have scrapped the rewards.
Instead, episodes now spend more time in the boardroom and afterwards, winning teams are shown on the way back to the house.
A source told The Sun on Sunday: “The Apprentice is known for laying on lavish gifts for the winning team.
“Fans love to see them get to celebrate their victory by enjoying themselves.
“However, the producers want viewers to see more of the fiery boardroom debates this year.”
The move shifts the show’s focus further towards confrontation and decision-making.
Despite the change, the overall prize remains the same. The eventual winner will still receive a £250,000 investment in their business and enter a 50/50 partnership with Lord Sugar.
The decision comes as the BBC continues to face mounting financial pressure. The broadcaster lost more than £1 billion in 2025 after licence fee evasion reached record levels.
One in eight households refused to pay the licence fee, according to figures released by the corporation. The decline has accelerated concerns over long-term funding.
Around 3.6 million households said they do not need a licence. That is an increase of 300,000 compared with the previous year.
A report by the Commons Public Accounts Committee said this could represent a £617 million loss if those households were converted into paying viewers.
The committee also warned the BBC’s duty to “serve all audiences” is under strain. It said younger viewers are increasingly choosing alternative media platforms.
The report added that the corporation’s “digital first strategy could risk alienating non-digital audiences”, intensifying scrutiny of how resources are allocated.
These figures could increase further as it was announced that from April 1, 2026, the licence fee will increase to £180.
Meanwhile, The Apprentice has already drawn criticism from viewers, with some labelling the candidates the “worst in the BBC show’s history”.
Mishaps have already included one team losing their driver during the first task and an incomplete book in task two.
Task two saw the teams create a children’s book but viewers called the candidates a “shambles” and complaints that “there’s not a single person you can root for!”
Barber shop owner Marcus Donkoh was the latest candidate fired by Lord Sugar.
Task three will see the candidates get busy in the kitchen as they look to turn their ingredients into a profit.
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