Strictly stars clash in heated debate on Celebrity Apprentice Christmas special | Devon Live

Karren Brady has spilled the beans about the dramas involving Strictly Come Dancing stars while filming The Apprentice's Christmas special for Children in Need

Several BBC stars will showcase their entrepreneurial skills in the forthcoming Celebrity Apprentice Christmas special - though not every famous participant managed to maintain seasonal harmony. The Apprentice's Karren Brady has disclosed that Strictly Come Dancing veterans Rob Rinder and AJ Odudu experienced friction during filming of the task.

The festive episode features 12 celebrities divided into two groups as they create their own gingerbread men range for Children in Need. AJ and Rob were placed on the same team alongside comedian Eddie Kadi, Paralympic athlete Kadeena Cox and EastEnders actor Jake Wood.

Yet Karren confirmed there was "tension" between the duo.

"It didn't start very well," she explained. "Rob Rinder was made project manager, and rather than use the time that they had in the meeting to decide their strategy, decide what they were going to do, what theme they were going to have, they all decided to say what was important about Christmas to them, which of course is lovely, but it didn't really help them when it came to organising themselves!"

She continued: "That's where the tension started between him and AJ Odudu. I think they all cared a lot about doing the job well, not just for themselves, but because what they understood it meant to Children in Need," reports the Mirror.

"And Rob, of course, is what you'd expect: smart, passionate, organised, absolutely determined to get the best out of everyone. And him and AJ sort of clashed because they had different views."

She acknowledged it was "chaotic at times" but praised Rob as "a good project manager". Meanwhile, Kadeena disclosed there had been "a bit of head butting" within their team.

"We had big personalities with big ideas and came up with good ideas eventually and a good product," she explained. "Our team was like a diamond in the rough. Bang it together and eventually you get a great product!"

They'll be going head-to-head against JLS member JB Gill, broadcaster Angela Scanlon, The Apprentice alumnus Tom Skinner, actress Sarah Hadland, Gladiators' Matt Morsia, radio presenter Charlie Hedges and stand-up comedian Shazia Mirza. Several contestants have previously appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, with AJ taking part in 2021 and Rob featuring in 2016.

The celebrity contestants will present their festive biscuit creations to Lord Alan Sugar, Karren Brady and Mike Soutar in the boardroom. It emerged earlier this week that Thomas Skinner became emotional upon returning to the boardroom.

"When I was there it just made me think back to when I was first sitting in the boardroom back in 2019," he said.

"Like I didn't really have anything back then, before I had kids and before I built my businesses up really properly."

The Celebrity Apprentice Christmas Specials air on BBC One and iPlayer at 9pm on 29 and 30 December.