Gary Lineker's appearance has been cut from a BBC Christmas special.

The former Match of the Day host was one of a string of famous faces drafted in to help the contestants on Celebrity Apprentice. The star was filmed selling gingerbread biscuits for Children in Need on the upcoming festive special.

Gary - who filmed his appearance in March, two months before he stepped back from Match of the Day - will now no longer be featured due to time constaints.

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Gary left the BBC after presenting his final Match of the Day in May. He had been expected to continue fronting coverage of the men's FA Cup and World Cup, but came under fire after sharing a social media post about Zionism that included an illustration of a rat, historically used as an antisemitic insult.

Lineker said he did not see the image, and "would never consciously repost anything antisemitic". He added: "However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action."

Lord Alan Sugar previously admitted he was impressed with the big names the teams had brought in to help.

He said: "I was very impressed that they managed to call these people in, they are top names.

“The main thing is that these celebrities, and I have a lot of respect for them, is they give up three days of their busy time for this great cause, it’s the money that’s raised for Children in Need.”

His helper, Baroness Karren Brady, also praised the celebrities for giving up their time to help.

She said: “There are so many people that are coming to help us, and they’re coming because they love the show, they love the charity, and clearly they have a connection with the celebrities.

“So Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Robbie Williams. Piers Morgan – I don’t think we should forget that one. And Rylan Clark and Gary Lineker.”

The upcoming Celebrity Apprentice special will see the cast travel to Lapland in Finland to create festive treats before finding buyers to stock them to raise money for the charity, and it has become the "first time ever" the star-studded teams' creations have gone on sale to the public.

Jake Wood, AJ Odudu, Angela Scanlon, Charlie Hedges, Eddie Kadi, JB Gill, Kadeena Cox, Matt Morsia, Rob Rinder, Sarah Hadland, Shazia Mirza and Tom Skinner - who shot to fame after taking part in the civilian version of the show - will star in the two Christmas specials.

Kalpna Patel-Knight, the head of entertainment commissioning at the BBC, previously said: "The celebrity candidates will be giving viewers a tasty treat or two this Christmas that viewers can literally sink their teeth into, all while supporting the incredible work of BBC Children in Need. Are viewers going to be Team Gary the Penguin or Team Jolly McTrouble? Let the festive boardroom battle begin!"