TV3 reality show Celebrity Apprentice has been officially axed until late 2011 after the station failed to agree a contract with the producers.

The popular reality series will not hit Irish screens until late 2011 at the earliest.

Producer Larry Bass said the show has now been put on ice due to scheduling difficulties.

"We couldn't find a time that suited everyone, and that didn't clash with the current filming of The Apprentice. So filming this summer is no longer an option and we are in a fix with it, and it is going to be at least the end of 2011 before we see it."

TV3 officially launched the series last January despite having no sponsors or air date at the time. At one point, the station had hoped to get Bertie Ahern involved, but were unable to interest the former taoiseach sufficiently.

One source said the setback is a "major blow" for the station. "TV3 has hyped this show up to the point people were speculating about who was going to be on it. After the success of last year's Apprentice it was set to be their big show for the summer. Now they are left a little bit red-faced over it all."

Bass said part of the reason for the delay was finding a time in which the "celebrities" could all participate together.

"We need to film in times when the celebrities and producers aren't busy, so that would be the winter holidays or the summer holidays which can be tricky."

TV3 executives last month held a crisis meeting over the show, but they failed to agree on a contract with Bass's production company, Shinawil. It was thought a shorter, 15-day version of the show could be filmed after this summer's main Apprentice, but this has also been ruled out.