The next series of The Apprentice will return to 18 initial candidates, it has been confirmed.

The 17th edition of the business-based reality show will again see budding entrepreneurs bidding for a £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar, with an initial pool of 18 hopefuls - rather than 16 - for the first time in five years.

Karren Brady and Tim Campbell return as Sugar's advisors, with Claude Littner - absent from last year's series due to an illness - being well enough to feature in two episodes this time around.

The first episode of the new run will see the candidates travel to Antigua for a challenge that will see them create and sell excursions to tourists.

Future tasks will involve the teams creating cartoons, entering the male beauty market and selling street food.

The new series is expected to start on BBC One in January.