Sir Alan 'will continue with Apprentice'

Sir Alan Sugar has said that he will continue on The Apprentice after the BBC decided that his role will not be compromised by his recent government appointment.

Culture select committee chairman John Whittingdale and shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt had suggested that Sir Alan could not continue with the programme if he was to be closely identified with the government.

However, the BBC's editorial policy chief David Jordan said that The Apprentice is a "factual entertainment programme" in which government policy will not be discussed.

The broadcaster has now officially said that the appointment of Sir Alan as 'enterprise tsar' and his promised peerage will not compromise the BBC's impartiality.

Sir Alan is said to be "glad" about the decision.