LOS ANGELELS (LALATE) – Clay Aiken Celebrity Apprentice 2012 debut is set for February 12, NBC confirms to news. Clay Aiken has been hired for Celebrity Apprentice 2012, the network confirmed today. Of course, since fall 2011, pictures, cast candid’s, and details about the taping had already leaked online. Aiken returns to reality TV programming with other current and former reality TV stars including Aubrey O’Day and Teresa Giudice.

In a news statement today, producers of Celebrity Apprentice 2012 applaud the cast as one of the best. “We’ve never seen such a smart and funny group as this year’s lineup of celebrities,” said executive producer Mark Burnett. “‘Celebrity Apprentice’ is better than ever, and it’s all for a great purpose – raising millions for charity.”

NBC tells news that it is seeking for follow on the success of last year. “Last season, “Celebrity Apprentice” raised a record amount for the contestants’ charities, donating over $3.1 million to charity.”

Aiken returns to reality TV seven years after his American Idol appearance. In its news statement today, NBC notes Aiken’s charitable work, previously detailed on LALATE. NBC notes Aiken has devoted “significant amount of his time to such charities as his own foundation, National Inclusion Project and acting as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.” (For Aiken fans, below is LALATE’s “eLATED for Clay Aiken” from 2008.)

Who else is joining Clay to face the Donald? “The men are Arsenio Hall, Adam Carolla, Lou Ferrigno, Penn Jillette, Dee Snider, George Takei, IndyCar legend Michael Andretti, and Paul Teutul, Sr. And the women will be Cheryl Tiegs, Debbie Gibson, Tia Carrere, Victoria Gotti, Lisa Lampanelli, Dayana Mendoza, Aubrey O’Day, Patricia Velásquez, and Teresa Giudice. The show debuts Sunday, February 12 at 9pm EST/PST.

So can Clay Aiken win this season? Find out this spring on NBC.