'Apprentice' may be delayed until 2011

The sixth series of The Apprentice may be delayed until 2011, say tabloid reports.

Sir Alan Sugar's BBC One reality series was expected to air in the summer after being pushed back in the schedules to avoid a clash with the upcoming general election.

The move came after the BBC was criticised for political partiality by allowing Sugar to continue with the show following his appointment to the House of Lords as an enterprise tsar.

However, according to The Sun, the show's air date may be postponed again if the election result leaves a hung parliament with none of the main parties holding an outright majority.

"The Apprentice lasts for three months so it will prove very hard to find a slot for it this year if there is a hung Parliament," said a source.

It is not known whether new spinoff show Junior Apprentice will also be affected by the alterations.