Dundee’s Mike Soutar joins Lord Sugar in festive special of The Celebrity Apprentice
- Andrew Batchelor
- Oct 15
- 2 min read
Dundee’s own Mike Soutar is set to make a return to BBC screens this Christmas as he joins Lord Sugar and Baroness Karren Brady for The Celebrity Apprentice: Christmas Specials.
The festive two-part edition will see celebrities take on a snow-filled business challenge in Lapland, all in aid of BBC Children in Need.
Mike will be stepping in for Tim Campbell, who was unable to attend filming, serving as one of Lord Sugar’s trusted advisers.
Known to Apprentice fans as one of the toughest interviewers in the show’s infamous final stages, Mike has earned a reputation for cutting through the waffle and getting straight to the facts.
His no-nonsense approach and sharp business acumen have made him one of the most respected figures in the series’ long history.
Born and raised in Dundee, Mike began his media career at the city’s DC Thomson, the publishing giant behind The Beano and The Sunday Post. His early experience there sparked a lifelong passion for journalism and creativity.
He later went on to become one of the UK’s most successful magazine executives, co-founding ShortList magazine and leading high-profile roles at FHM and Elle.
In this festive edition, Mike will swap London’s boardroom for Lapland’s winter wonderland, where 12 celebrity contestants will face a unique challenge – creating and pitching their own Christmas biscuits to major UK retailers.
The winning products will hit supermarket shelves in time for Christmas, with a share of profits going to BBC Children in Need.
The specials promise plenty of laughs, competition and holiday spirit, with Mike helping Lord Sugar decide which celebrity candidates deserve to make it onto his Christmas “nice list”.
Filmed in a stunning snowy setting, it’s expected to bring a light-hearted yet competitive twist to the popular format.
The episodes will also mark the countdown to the landmark 20th series of The Apprentice, set to air in 2026.
For Mike, who continues to be a proud ambassador for Dundee and a supporter of creative talent, the return is another milestone in a remarkable career that began right here in the City of Discovery.
The Celebrity Apprentice: Christmas Specials will air later this year on BBC One and iPlayer.
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