The Apprentice is reportedly set to suffer a series of cuts as 'the BBC axes big-budget treats for teams' as the broadcaster's licence fee payers plummet.
Advertisement
The Lord Sugar fronted series returned to screens last month, with a £250,000 investment up for grabs for the lucky winner, amongst other surprises along the way.
Previously, contestants have enjoyed treats such as spa trips and even helicopter rides as they win tasks - however none have been awarded yet.
In the past, Lord Sugar has been known to cancel prizes, and once revoked a trip to Goodwood and riding in vintage cars when a winning team ignored his instructions.
However, according to reports, there will be no prized on this years series, after producers opted in favour of more 'fiery debates.'
A source explained: 'The Apprentice is known for laying on lavish gifts for the winning team.'
Advertisement
The Apprentice is reportedly set to suffer a series of cuts as 'the BBC axes big-budget treats for teams' as the broadcaster's licence fee payers plummet
Previously, contestants have enjoyed treats such as spa trips and even helicopter rides as they win tasks - however none have been awarded yet
They added to The Sun: 'Fans love to see the get to celebrate their victory by enjoying themselves. However the producers want the viewers to see more of the fiery boardroom debates this year.'
The Daily Mail has contacted the BBC for comment.
It comes as the BBC also cut its evening current affairs programming in a bit to save money.
Advertisement
The BBC lost more than £1billion last year as a record one in eight households refused to pay the licence fee.
Some 3.6million households said they do not have a licence because they do not need one.
This is 300,000 more than the previous year, resulting in a potential loss of £617million if converted to paying households, according to a report by the Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
The report also said that BBC’s mission to ‘serve all audiences’ is at 'risk as younger audiences choose other media providers' while the corporation's 'digital first strategy could risk alienating non digital audiences'.
The Apprentice has already come underfire with viewers branding this year's cast the 'worst in the BBC show's history' after an 'absolutely shocking' episode on Thursday - and raged 'there's not a single person you can root for!'
Advertisement
A source said: 'The producers want the viewers to see more of the fiery boardroom debates this year'
The latest instalment of the programme saw the two teams create their own children's book and audio version for 4-6 year old kids, as well as pitch their idea to retailers in the industry.
Marcus Donkoh's team made a stinky story about a astronaut who needed to go to the toilet in space, while Andrea Cooper's team focused their novel on a zebra called Zebory.
As the episode went on, those watching were shocked by what was playing out on their screens, as neither of the teams could decide on how their stories were going to be written.
One wrote on X: 'This year's #Apprentice cohort is so bad, the programme is unwatchable. Absolute dross.'
Advertisement
'20 series in and by far the worst set of candidates, it’s actually painful to watch.'
'This must be the worst lineup on apprentice we’ve ever seen'; 'I usually really enjoy these series but this year is absolutely shocking'; 'This is an utter shambles right now #TheApprentice.'
Meanwhile others took to the platform to share how much they laughed after watching the instalment.
'Another hilarious episode'; 'This episode is funny'; 'This show is just too funny'; 'Sorry but this episode has been really funny.'
The Apprentice has already come underfire with viewers branding this year's cast the 'worst in the BBC show's history' after an 'absolutely shocking' episode on Thursday
Advertisement
On Thursday it was revealed that Marcus was the third entrepreneur to be fired by Lord Alan Sugar.
The barbershop owner from south London was the third person to be booted off the programme, following on from the double elimination on episode one.
Last week events manager Georgina Newton and mortgage broker Nikki Jetha waved goodbye to a 50/50 partnership with Lord Sugar himself and a £250,000 investment for their business plan.
But unfortunately Marcus' team lost on the latest episode and failed to get enough sales to win the competition.