BBC opts for more 'Apprentice'

BBC One has agreed a deal for two more series of The Apprentice from production company Talkback Thames.

Currently in its third series, the show pulled in 5.8 million viewers this week. It is believed that entrepreneur Sir Alan Sugar will stay with the series for its next two outings.

Over in the US, NBC's version of the show, featuring Donald Trump, has been dropped from its autumn schedule, although the network will not say whether the show has been cancelled.

The US series has lost nearly two-thirds of its audience since its first and most successful run in the spring of 2004.

NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly said that Trump was still keen to participate in the show, but that it would wait until the other major networks have unveiled their new programming line ups before a final decision was made.