Nova’s Wippa to compete in Nine’s Celebrity Apprentice next year

Co-host of Nova’s breakfast program in Sydney, Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli will feature in a revitalised edition of Celebrity Apprentice Australia next year.

He, along with TV fixture and fitness trainer Michelle Bridges, and Olympic gymnast Olivia Vivian, are the first tranche of personalities to be announced by Nine at its Upfronts event this afternoon.

Wippa said the opportunity to participate was exciting, because he might finally reach celebrity status.

“I’m doing Celebrity Apprentice to support my chosen charity The Cooper Rice-Brading Foundation which funds research to find a cure for sarcoma, which is very important to me. Also, I was thrilled to find out there’s an apprenticeship to become a celebrity because I’ve been working towards that for 10 years on The Fitzy & Wippa Show and it still hasn’t happened. Fingers crossed I graduate,” he said in a statement to Radio Today. 

Pictured: ‘Wippa’ (right) with Nova co-host Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald

Celebrity Apprentice Australia on Nine next year will be hosted by British businessman, and host of 15 seasons of the franchise in the UK, Lord Alan Sugar.

Previous iterations of the local Celebrity Apprentice were hosted by Australian businessman Mark Bouris. It first ran in 2011 and finished up in 2015 after four seasons. Previous winners include Julia Morris, Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson, Stephanie Rice and Sophie Monk.

Nine said the 2021 edition of the show would be the biggest shake-up the series has ever seen, predicting “sparks will fly and egos are sure to be bruised as Lord Sugar clashes with the celebrities in the boardroom”.

“In each episode, two teams of celebrities will take on an epic task, using their business savvy, creativity and charm – while reaching into their little black book of contacts – to win cash for their chosen charities,” publicity for the show said.

The show will be produced by Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia for Nine.

Radio Today understands Celebrity Apprentice Australia is scheduled to begin its run after Lego Masters, hosted by Hamish Blake.