- Alan Sugar was made a Labour peer after being appointed Enterprise Tsar
- Conservative Party said he should quit presenting The Apprentice as a result
- BBC said no but BBC Trust says next series should not clash with general election
Alan Sugar's new political role may force the rescheduling of the next series of The Apprentice if a general election is called in May.
Following the entrepreneur's appointment as Gordon Brown's enterprise tsar, the BBC Trust said running the programme at the same time as the country goes to the polls would compromise the broadcaster's impartiality.
After Gordon Brown made the controversial announcement which resulted in the straight-talking businessman being made Baron Sugar and a Labour peer, critics called on him to step done from his role at the BBC. Among those angry were shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt who made a formal complaint to the BBC Trust.
Speaking today, Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons said although the appointment of the peer did not breach BBC editorial guidelines, executives would need to give "due consideration" to showing the programme in its normal Spring slot next year.
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