Former The Apprentice star Thomas Skinner has spoken of the powerful emotions he felt upon returning to Lord Sugar's famous boardroom for a pair of festive charity specials. The businessman, who became a household name during the 2019 series, broke down in tears during filming, overwhelmed by how the show transformed his life.
A Life-Changing Experience Revisited
Skinner was one of 16 candidates in the 2019 process and, despite not securing Lord Sugar's investment, he successfully launched several business ventures afterwards. In the first of two Celebrity Apprentice specials for Children in Need, he became visibly emotional upon re-entering the iconic setting.
"It was a real honour," Skinner said. "I loved doing Apprentice the first time and it was such a great experience. It changed my life so much... It just brought back such emotions being in the boardroom of how it changed my life." He admitted he never expected to have such a strong reaction, reflecting on how little he had before his 2019 appearance, prior to having children and building his businesses.
Celebrity Teams Clash for a Good Cause
This year's special features 12 celebrity contestants split into two teams. The first team includes Radio 1 DJ Charlie Hedges, comedian Eddie Kadi, EastEnders star Jake Wood, Paralympian Kadeena Cox, and presenter Rob Rinder. The second team comprises presenter Angela Scanlon, JLS star JB Gill, Gladiator Matt, actress Sarah Hadland, Skinner himself, and comedian Shazia Mirza.
While the goal is raising money for Children in Need, the competitive spirit was fierce. The teams clashed over ideas for creating the best festive bake. For the first time, the Christmas biscuits they develop will be available to buy in stores, with proceeds going to the charity.
"I was a bit scared of Lord Sugar," admitted Angela Scanlon, noting the tense boardroom atmosphere remained despite the charitable aim. Kadeena Cox found the dynamic hilarious, stating, "having such big personalities with big ideas... made it fun. There was a bit of head-butting, but eventually I think we came out with a good product."
Overcoming Recent Challenges
Skinner's return to television follows a challenging period. In September, he participated in Strictly Come Dancing but was the first celebrity eliminated. His time on the show was also marred by viewer backlash after he confessed to having cheated on his wife, Sinead, in 2022.
Reflecting on his Apprentice return, Skinner remained humble about his business background. "No, listen, I'm a market trader. I sell things at the back of my van," he said. "I'll just go to work, but it was just great to be with these guys. I respect these guys because they're all legends."
The Celebrity Apprentice specials will air on BBC One and iPlayer on Monday 29th December and Tuesday 30th December at 9pm.
