The Apprentice UK Series 18 is long since aired and finished: it premiered on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on February 1, 2024, ran through April 18, 2024, and ended with fitness entrepreneur Rachel Woolford winning Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment over runner-up Phil Turner. The show has continued well past that point — Series 19 (2025) and Series 20 (2026) have both since aired — so this page now covers the real, verified music behind the format rather than a “coming soon” preview.
Quick Facts
| Show | The Apprentice (UK) |
| Series 18 Premiere | February 1, 2024, BBC One / BBC iPlayer |
| Series 18 Winner | Rachel Woolford (over runner-up Phil Turner) |
| Hosts/Aides | Lord Alan Sugar, Baroness Karren Brady, Tim Campbell MBE |
| Theme Music | “Dance of the Knights” from Sergei Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet (used since Series 1 in 2005), performed by the London Symphony Orchestra under André Previn |
| Incidental Music Composer | Dru Masters, a BAFTA-winning British TV composer, wrote the show’s original incidental score |
| Since Then | Series 19 aired Jan 30-Apr 17, 2025 (winner: Dean Franklin); Series 20 aired Jan 29-Apr 16, 2026 (winner: Karishma Vijay, runner-up Pascha Myhill) |
Who composed The Apprentice UK’s music?
The Apprentice is a business-reality format, not a scripted drama, so it doesn’t have an original theme “composed” for it in the traditional sense — it uses a classical needle-drop. The dramatic, brooding theme that opens every episode is the “Dance of the Knights” movement from Sergei Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet, in the recording by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by André Previn. It has been the show’s theme since the very first UK series in 2005 and is instantly recognizable (it’s also famously used by Sunderland A.F.C. as their players walk onto the pitch, and was once used in a Chanel Egoiste TV advert).
Beyond that borrowed theme, the show does have real original incidental music: British composer Dru Masters, known for scoring some of the UK’s most successful drama and factual programming, wrote the underscore heard throughout episodes (stings during boardroom confrontations, task sequences, and so on). His work was compiled on the album “The Apprentice (Original Soundtrack),” released in 2007 under exclusive licence to BBC Worldwide, and it remains the credited incidental music for the format.
Where to Stream
Episodes of The Apprentice UK are available on BBC iPlayer. Dru Masters’ “The Apprentice (Original Soundtrack)” is available on Apple Music, and recordings of Prokofiev’s “Dance of the Knights” (the theme itself) are widely available on Spotify and Apple Music from numerous orchestras.
Has the show continued since Series 18?
Yes. Series 19 premiered January 30, 2025 and concluded April 17, 2025, with Lord Sugar choosing Dean Franklin as his business partner. Series 20 premiered January 29, 2026 and concluded April 16, 2026 — the largest cast since Series 10, with 20 candidates — ending with Karishma Vijay winning over runner-up Pascha Myhill. Karren Brady and Tim Campbell have remained as Lord Sugar’s aides throughout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did The Apprentice UK Series 18 premiere on February 1, 2024?
Yes, it premiered as scheduled on BBC One and BBC iPlayer and ran through April 18, 2024, with Rachel Woolford winning.
What is The Apprentice UK’s theme song?
“Dance of the Knights” from Sergei Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra under André Previn. It has been used since the show’s first series in 2005.
Does the show have an original composer, or is it all classical music?
Both. The opening theme is the Prokofiev needle-drop, but British composer Dru Masters wrote original incidental music heard throughout episodes, released as an official soundtrack album in 2007.
Is The Apprentice UK still airing new series?
Yes. Series 19 aired in 2025 and Series 20 aired January-April 2026, with Karishma Vijay winning Series 20 over runner-up Pascha Myhill.
Who won The Apprentice UK Series 18?
Rachel Woolford, who received Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment for her fitness business, beating runner-up Phil Turner.
Related reading: browse the TV soundtrack hub and our streaming guides for more reality and drama coverage.