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Next year's series of The Apprentice may be moved if it coincides with a general election.
The BBC Trust has said that the programme could be rescheduled because of Sir Alan Sugar's new role as government tsar, saying that it posed a 'greater than normal risk to the impartiality, integrity and independence of the BBC'.
The ruling was made after a complaint from the shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt, who claimed that Sugar's appointment as a Labour peer conflicted with his BBC work.
The Trust found that there had been no breach of the corporation's editorial guidelines, however, it said that the BBC must be sensitive about the scheduling of the series.
BBC Trust chairman, Michael Lyons, said: "The committee notes that there is now less than a year before the next general election and that this increases the sensitivity caused by Lord Sugar's dual role.
"Scheduling decisions are a matter for the executive. But the trust is clear that when scheduling next year's transmission of The Apprentice and The Junior Apprentice the executive must give due consideration to the implications of showing the programmes in the months immediately before a general election."
The next general election must be called before 3 June next year - this could mean that the next series of The Apprentice isn't screened until the second half of next year.
Do you agree that The Apprentice shouldn't be screened until after the election? Should the BBC replace Sir Alan with someone else on the show? Let us know what you think...
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isn't their a rule that if you work at the BBC you can't be politicaly biased
Posted by: tammyjane on Wed Jul 22 06:05PM | Report abusesir alan is great, leave him and the show alone i love it and it has no influence on what party i choose to elect into government , whatever next will people moan about
Posted by: bevsmith04 on Wed Jul 22 07:22PM | Report abuseThe programme would not be the same without Sir Alan. What difference does it make if it isn't shown until later in the year. More time to look forward to it. Its a great show.
Posted by: marjsenior on Wed Jul 22 08:41PM | Report abusenooooooooooooooooooooooooooo nooooo noo. we want alan bak.
Posted by: m_bilal_jutt on Wed Jul 22 10:21PM | Report abuseWhat a load of tosh to put it politely! Firstly Sir Alan is the apprentice there is no one to replace him and secondly whenever the programmed is aired will not effect the way i vote. I am sick and tired of people making everything political it's a tv show for goodness sake.....get a life people!!!!
Posted by: jambread01 on Thu Jul 23 01:16AM | Report abuseI do agree totally that comment of" jambread01"....put politics on the side.
Posted by: zsptrigo on Thu Jul 23 01:45AM | Report abuseI don't think there's rule which says you can't have a political opinion or support a political party if you work for the BBC. However, I do agree that the programme should be televised after the next General Election. I like the show and I like Alan Sugar on it - as the host, he does not influence my views on politics.
Posted by: pmbutt on Thu Jul 23 03:09PM | Report abuseIt's nonsense. The BBC has admitted, via its former political correspondent (I think it was Andrew Marr), that it has a left-liberal bias anyway.
Posted by: markrose260 on Thu Jul 23 04:57PM | Report abuseWe love Sir Alan and his show, please don't touch it now, leave it as it is. Thanks
Posted by: nykw55 on Thu Jul 23 05:05PM | Report abuseI always look forward to the apprentice and think they should leave it where it is =)
Posted by: beckysjones on Thu Jul 23 06:24PM | Report abuse