Nick Hewer, the former stalwart of The Apprentice, has been absent from the boardroom for more than 10 years, leaving fans wondering about his current whereabouts.
As The Apprentice gears up for its 19th season premiere on Thursday, January 30, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, Lord Sugar is once again on the prowl for his next business protégé.
Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell MBE will be assisting him in choosing who will receive his guidance and a £250,000 investment.
However, it was Nick Hewer, a long-time colleague and friend, who previously served as Lord Sugar’s trusted advisor in the show’s earlier seasons.
In 2014, Hewer revealed that he left The Apprentice because his “stamina is not up to those long weeks” required to monitor the candidates’ tasks, prompting him to relinquish his pivotal role.
Now, with the business reality series returning for its 19th season, many are eager to catch up on what the 80-year-old has been doing since his departure.
Where is original The Apprentice star Nick Hewer now?
In his final years on The Apprentice, Hewer took the reins as host of Channel 4’s legendary game show Countdown in 2012, succeeding Jeff Stelling.
He stayed at the forefront of the show until stepping down in 2021 and currently engages in motivational speaking, sharing insights on achieving business success and recounting his experiences in the TV industry.
Nick Hewer, known for his role on The Apprentice, has been busy with charity work as an ambassador for Street Child, which helps vulnerable children globally.
In 2023, the UK government pledged to match donations to Street Child’s Christmas Appeal up to £500,000, prompting Hewer to visit Sierra Leone and a primary school there.
He remarked at the time: “Education can unlock children’s full potential and lift communities out of poverty, yet millions of children around the world are denied this basic right.
“This Christmas, people in the UK have the opportunity to make a difference through Street Child, an inspiring charity working to provide education for marginalised children in the poorest countries.”
Fast forward to 2025, and Hewer continues to support charitable causes and business initiatives.
He recently visited Franklins Solicitors in Milton Keynes to back its Franklins £50 Challenge, participating in the social media launch video.
The challenge involves teams from Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire using £50 seed funding from Franklins to raise as much money as possible for their chosen charity.
Hewer expressed his enthusiasm for the campaign, stating: “I am delighted to lend my support again this year as it is such a brilliant initiative to spur people on to fundraise and ignite entrepreneurial thinking and flair.”
He and his partner, Catherine McAllister, once resided in a sprawling 12-acre woodland property in Preston Deanery, complete with a tennis court, heated swimming pool, and formal gardens.
The property was put on the market last year, and it is now thought that they live in Northamptonshire.
The Apprentice season 19 premieres on Thursday, January 30, at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.