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Award-winning stand-up comedian Dara O Briain is to take over as host of The Apprentice – You're Fired when it returns to ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Two later in the year.

Already very popular with ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Two viewers as the host of Mock The Week, Dara regularly appears on Live At The Apollo (³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ One), QI (³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ One), Three Men In A Boat (³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Two) and ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4's Just A Minute. He also released his first book last year – currently No. 9 in the Sunday Times best-seller list – to excellent reviews.

Dara said: " I'm delighted to be stepping into the chair for this. As a comedian, I've spent my entire career asking people: 'What do you do for a living?'. It can't be too much of a stretch to include the words ' ... now that you know you're not getting this job' at the end of the question".

Janice Hadlow, Controller, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Two, said: "I'm thrilled to have Dara on board. His unique style of quick-witted banter is ideally suited to the job of probing the latest casualty of Lord Sugar's infamous firing finger."

Mark Linsey, Controller, Entertainment Commissioning, said: "Dara is such a witty and clever man – perfect attributes for the host of The Apprentice – You're Fired.

"He's absolutely the right man for the job and I'm delighted he's said yes!"

The Apprentice – You're Fired is a talkbackThames production for ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Two and was commissioned by Janice Hadlow, Controller, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Two, and Mark Linsey, Controller, Entertainment Commissioning.

Executive editor for the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ is Jo Wallace. The series producer for talkbackThames is Sally Dixon and the executive producer is Michele Kurland.

KT