President-elect Donald Trump to stay on as Apprentice exec producer

Trump has been the face of The Apprentice since 2004 (Getty)
Trump has been the face of The Apprentice since 2004 (Getty)

President-elect Donald Trump is planning to stay on as executive producer of NBC's Celebrity Apprentice.

The reality TV show, returning to US screens on January 2 after a two-year hiatus, will have Arnold Schwarzenegger as the new host.

Mr Trump was launched into the public eye when the original Apprentice first aired in 2004. He continued as face of the show up until July 2015.

Billed as 'The Ultimate Job Interview', the show features 16 to 18 business people who compete over the course of a season, with usually one contestant eliminated per episode.

Trump corporation spokeswoman Hope Hicks confirmed the news, noting that the president-elect has a "big stake" in the programme.

The controversial billionaire continues to break White House tradition, as it will be the first time a President has sat on the payroll of a current television show.

It's another example of the potential conflicts of interest raised by Trump's foray from private businessman and TV star to commander-in-chief.

His place on The Apprentice has faced even more controversy after past contestants have accused the President-elect of sexual assault.

 Multiple women came forward with claims that former host made inappropriate passes at them while filming, a subject that came to light after a 2005 Billy Bush recording went public in which Mr Trump boasted about groping women sexually.

Newshub.