Young Apprentice will return to BBC1 on Thursday 1 November at 8pm.

The business reality series, which began as Junior Apprentice in May 2010, will feature a “great first task and characters” according to Lord Sugar, who will once again oversee the programme.

Karren Brady and Nick Hewer will reprise their roles as Lord Sugar's aides on the show that will search for the best under 18 business brain in the country, and offer an investment fund to the winner to help kick-start their entrepreneurial career.

The 2011 series was won by Zara Brownless, who received a £25,000 cash investment from Lord Sugar.

After the broadcast of series two, tabloid rumours emerged suggesting the third run of the programme would be the last because Lord Sugar was troubled that viewing figures were not matching the dizzy heights of the adult Apprentice. These claims were denied by Sugar.

Writing on Twitter, he said: "Sun article about ME wanting to stop Young Apprentice is total rubbish,

"If there are no more YA series it will be the BBC who decide not me."

Young Apprentice, and its predecessor Junior Apprentice, have consistently delivered viewing figures well above 4m for BBC1. At its peak, the adult version of the show, which has run for eight series on the BBC, can draw more than 8m viewers per episode in its later 9pm week night slot.