In a heartwarming and emotional moment on Monday night's BBC One, former Apprentice candidate Thomas Skinner was moved to tears upon his reunion with Lord Alan Sugar in the iconic boardroom. The 34-year-old, who first found fame on the regular series in 2019, is among the star-studded line-up for the new two-part Celebrity Apprentice special in aid of Children in Need.
A Cheeky Welcome and Emotional Response
Lord Sugar wasted no time in teasing his former candidate, opening with a playful dig. "Now Tom, since when did you get celebrity status?" he asked, to which a giggling Thomas replied, "I don't know. I don't know." The peer continued, "And now he's in the Celebrity Apprentice. A bit of a wheeler dealer. He sells Christmas cards on New Year's Day."
The light-hearted banter, however, triggered a powerful emotional reaction from Skinner. As he wiped a tear from his eye, a shocked Karren Brady gasped, "Are you crying?!" Thomas, clearly overwhelmed, confessed, "I don't get upset, but I done this show six years ago, and this show changed my life. And I'm back here!"
The Challenge and Behind-the-Scenes Tensions
The famous contestants, including Rob Rinder, AJ Odudu, and Angela Scanlon, were whisked away to Lapland, Finland, for a festive task. They were split into two teams—Jolly McTrouble and Gary the Penguin—and charged with designing a festive biscuit, recording a radio jingle, and filming a television advert. Viewers must wait until Wednesday's episode to discover which team impressed Lord Sugar and his aides.
Not all was harmonious behind the scenes. In a recent interview, TV presenter Angela Scanlon, 42, claimed her team's initial delight at having Thomas as their "golden goose" turned to disappointment. She brutally admitted his direction of their TV advert was "sub-standard."
A Life-Changing Experience
Reflecting on his return, Thomas later told the Daily Mail that the experience "brought back such emotions." He admitted he never expected to cry, but being back in the boardroom made him reflect on how the show transformed his life before he had children and built his businesses. "This experience all those years ago put me on the map," he said, emphasising the honour of returning for such a great cause.
Lord Sugar, ever the businessman, couldn't resist a final warning amidst the emotion, telling Thomas, "It's exciting for me because you're the only candidate I might end up firing twice." To which the hopeful candidate replied, "I hope not. I hope not. Fingers crossed!"
Celebrity Apprentice continues on Tuesday on BBC One and iPlayer.
