The Apprentice - Isle of Wight episode airs on BBC One tonight

As reported by the County Press last month, cast and crew made their way to the Island for filming around ten months ago.

Television producers Fremantle first contacted Visit Isle of Wight in 2024, looking for a destination for one of the most popular regular series features - ‘discount buying’ - where the candidates must source nine items and make the best profit.

Visit Isle of Wight made suggestions of local items and offered film location settings, facing competition from two other locations under consideration by the producers of The Apprentice.

Previous series locations include Jersey, Brighton and Stratford-upon-Avon, where the two teams of candidates are each handed a list of items to source and purchase within a set period of time, reaching a dramatic climax where they must reach a set finish point.

A synopsis for the episode reads: "The candidates are off to the Isle of Wight to find nine items associated with the area, and the team that spends the least money on the correct items wins.

"Following a dismal performance on the same task in Hong Kong, it’s a chance for the candidates to redeem themselves.

"A mad dash to the finish ensures a tight race, and Lord Sugar bids farewell to another candidate."

While on the Island, the production company also worked with a number of Island businesses during filming, including the Royal Hotel, Ventnor.

Lord Sugar's aides Karren Brady and Tim Campbell both stayed at the hotel.

Matthew Brooks, director of marketing at The Royal Hotel told the County Press: "We were delighted to host Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell MBE of The Apprentice during filming on the Isle of Wight, and to provide the central production facility for the team, which was a new use for one of our meeting rooms!

"Securing the filming of one of the most popular TV shows on the Island was a big win by Visit Isle of Wight and we thoroughly enjoyed working with the team at Visit Isle of Wight on it.

"Certainly, the most difficult part has been keeping the role of the Island and of The Royal secret for nine months!”

Amy Summers, Head of Marketing and Sustainability at Visit Isle of Wight said: “From the initial call, we realised that this was an incredible opportunity to showcase the Isle of Wight in front of millions of people.

“It isn’t just the chance to show off how wonderful the Isle of Wight looks, but it also highlights local businesses and their products.

“The hardest part of the whole project was maintaining the secrecy – we’d like to thank the Isle of Wight businesses who worked with us and the production team from Fremantle to make this happen.”

The episode, part of season 20, is due to air on BBC One at 9pm.