ITV is said to be developing its own entrepreneurial reality series in the vein of The Apprentice.

The BBC business show, which sees Lord Sugar put a group of candidates through their paces in order to secure a big-money investment, will not air as usual this year due to production delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

According to The Sun, ITV has come up with a similar format called Easy Millions which could be filmed this summer and air in the autumn when The Apprentice would normally be broadcast.

"ITV has spotted a big gap in the telly market and is full steam ahead," a source told the newspaper. "They want people to apply if they fancy themselves to be the sort of person who might have applied for The Apprentice and now haven't got an outlet to show themselves off.

"All being well, they'll have a decent lineup, get it filmed and be ready for the autumn or later in the year."

ITV has yet to confirm any details of the new show, although a casting call seeks applicants who have "got what it takes to run the next million-pound business".