The new series of The Apprentice could reportedly make it to air this year after all, according to a report.

Earlier this year producers opened applications for contestants for the new series, after last year's edition was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The original plan was to film the show over multiple weeks between June and August - although Lord Sugar recently revealed that owing to ongoing social distancing restrictions, it would instead be filmed towards the end of the year and air in early 2022.

According to The Sun, however, producers are now in "the final stages of casting" and filming is "due to begin in July".

Many restrictions that would have made filming the show difficult have now been lifted by the UK government, although a plan to lift almost all remaining restrictions on June 21 now looks likely to be delayed by a month.

The show's regular trip abroad for a task is likely to be cancelled no matter when filming takes place, meanwhile, with the international picture likely to remain uncertain for some time to come.