The BBC has confirmed that this year's edition of The Apprentice has been dropped due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The long-running business reality show, which normally airs in the late autumn, was due to begin filming in March - just as the UK entered shutdown, bringing production to a halt.

Although the TV industry is now starting to get back on its feet, the nature of the show - in addition to Lord Sugar's age of 73 making him high risk - means that the decision has been taken to not film a series this year.

"Sadly we have decided to postpone The Apprentice for 2020," a BBC spokesperson told The Sun. "Production safety and the wellbeing of everyone involved in the show is our number one priority.

"While this is understandably disappointing news, viewers will still be able to get their weekly fix of memorable tasks, favourite candidates and boardroom bust ups alongside brand new insights from Karren, Claude, Lord Sugar and many more from the past 15 years in a special highlights series airing on BBC1.

The BBC has yet to confirm whether the postponement of this year's series - the 16th - means that two editions will now air in 2021, with Sugar having previously admitted that he would like to stay with the show until its 20th series.

Meanwhile, ITV is said to be capitalising on the absence of The Apprentice this year with its own similar show called Easy Millions.