The first season of “The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition” will see global candidates pitting their wits, strength and determination against each other in a series of physical and business challenges, which are set against the backdrop of iconic Singapore landmarks.
This unique take on one of the world’s most popular reality TV shows was created by ONE Championship, Asia’s largest global sports media property in history and produced in association with production partner Refinery Media and with the support of Singapore Tourism Board (STB).
Viewers can look forward to seeing familiar sights, such as the Singapore Zoo and Jewel Changi Airport, when the show premieres across Asia on 18 March 2021, with a global launch to follow in June 2021.
The collaboration between STB and ONE Championship™ on “The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition” comes naturally as the show reflects the essence of Singapore’s Passion Made Possible brand. The national brand encapsulates Singapore’s never-settling spirit of enterprise in making passions possible through grit and determination – the same spirit that the show’s 16 candidates will need in order to overcome both physical tasks and business challenges.
Two candidates hail from Singapore: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu martial artist and writer Alvin Ang and gymnastics programme director Joy Koh. They will compete alongside a group of international candidates in hopes of earning the coveted US$250,000 job offer to work under ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong in Singapore for one year.
Local and international viewers will join the candidates on a journey to see how they make their passions possible in Singapore. Through the show, STB will continue to build up Singapore’s image as a world-class leisure and business destination with a wide array of tourism offerings that visitors can safely enjoy when international travel resumes.
The show was filmed entirely in Singapore in accordance with health and safety protocols, demonstrating STB’s commitment to working with industry players to reimagine and elevate those protocols based on new national standards. The production team embodied the Passion Made Possible brand values, as it turned the show’s concept into reality despite the challenges of filming during the pandemic.
Mr Hua Fung Teh, Group President of ONE Championship, said: “The Singapore Government, through the Singapore Tourism Board, has been instrumental in helping us build a safe and viable environment to host productions and live global sports events during COVID-19. Through comprehensive support from STB, we were able to film an iconic reality television series. ‘The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition’ was made possible only by Singapore’s world-class infrastructure and unparalleled execution. The show depicts the country’s beauty and excellence, allowing our 16 candidates, World Champions, and guest CEOs to film ‘The Apprentice’ with strict and reliable health and safety protocols.”
Ms Lynette Pang, Assistant Chief Executive (Marketing Group), Singapore Tourism Board., said: “Our collaboration with ONE Championship allows us to present Singapore as an exciting leisure and business destination in a refreshing branded entertainment format. It also allows us to showcase our tourism industry’s innovation and resilience over this challenging period. More than just a backdrop, our city epitomises the spirit of what the show’s candidates can achieve with both passion and pride. We hope that viewers will be inspired by them and visit us to pursue their passions when the time comes.”
