Tensions boiled over on the set of the 2025 Celebrity special of The Apprentice – where star contestants faced off against each other in an attempt to win cash for charity

Celebrities taking part in a charity Christmas special of The Apprentice turned against each other in bitter scenes. The long-running BBC show is back for another star studded spin-off in 2025 – which will benefit Children In Need for the first time.

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Viewers will watch as presenter AJ Odudu, TV judge Rob Rinder, and EastEnders star Jake Wood will compete in a team alongside comedian Eddie Kadi, Radio 1 host Charlie Hedges, and athlete Kadeena Cox. A second team consisting of presenter Angela Scanlon, JLS star JB Gill, Gladiators hunk Matt Morsia, Bond star Sarah Hadland, comedian Shazia Mirza, and former Apprentice contestant Thomas Skinner will fight for the chance to wow Sir Lord Alan Sugar and win money for charity.

‌Eddie Kadi wearing a suit and posing in a snowy scene to promote The Apprentice celebrity special

Despite the kind premise of the show, it has been claimed that tensions erupted on the set of the show as the celebs involved battled to win first place. And one of the contestants even came away from the show being branded the “villain” of the special.

Opening up to The Sun, comedy star Eddie, 42, revealed: “Like a dagger through the heart, we turned on each other and it was everyone for themselves. I made it clear I was going to throw everyone under the bus. That’s what I did.”

He explained: “A villain was created, I was so out of control. The banter was insane. Matt was fighting his way through Lord Sugar, he barely survived what was going down.” While Sarah, who featured in the 2008 Bond film Quantum of Solace, revealed that her team were left deflated when Lord Sugar slammed them for underperforming.

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The festive special episodes are set to air on Monday and Tuesday night. After being divided into the two teams, the stars were flown to Lapland to market their own brand of gingerbread biscuits – with a cash prize to be donated to Children In Need.

Fans may be surprised to see Thomas Skinner back on the BBC so soon after his explosive exit from Strictly Come Dancing. The 34-year-old father-of-three – who first found fame as a contestant on The Apprentice in 2019 – was one of the stars selected to take part in the 23rd season of the long-running dance show.

‌Sarah Hadland wearing a red shirt and black skirt while posing in a snowy scene to promote The Apprentice Celebrity Special

He was partnered with professional dancer Amy Dowden – but he faced a difficult start to the show as a woman named Amy-Lucy O’Rourke stepped forward to declare she had engaged in an affair with the married reality star. After confessing he had been unfaithful, Thomas found a hostile audience as he skipped onto the Strictly ballroom floor.

And perhaps influenced by his personal life, viewers failed to support him – and he and Amy were the first couple to be eliminated in the 2025 season of the show. He went on to accuse the show of being rigged against him, and he didn’t even show up for the grand finale earlier this month which saw footballer Karen Carney crowned winner alongside professional dancer Carlos Gu.

Last week, reports emerged claiming that Thomas planned to sue the BBC for his exit. In an online post, he claimed that, following his exit, he was shown an “anonymous email claiming to be from a BBC exec with stats” that showed he had “received far more votes than it appeared”. He went on to suggest he had been warned the BBC had been “nervous” over the fact he had met with American Vice President JD Vance.

‌Amy Dowden and Thomas Skinner dancing on Strictly Come Dancing

A BBC spokesperson, however, dismissed the claim, arguing Strictly’s public vote was “independently overseen and verified to ensure complete accuracy”. And that: “Any claims to the contrary are entirely without foundation.”

They went on to reject the suggestion the BBC was at risk of being sued by the Apprentice star. Thomas had told fans he wanted to share the “truth” online, and urged: “I don’t want people thinking I am bitter when I ain’t.”

Thomas, a Pillow Company Owner, was a contestant on season 15 of The Apprentice – but he failed to reach the top table of the show. He was fired following the 9th task of the season alongside 42-year-old Risk Management Consultancy Owner, Marianne Rawlins. The season was ultimately won by Bakery Owner Carina Lepore, 36.