TV veteran’s no-nonsense style ruffles production staff working on reboot of Anneka Rice’s show

For television viewers who followed her career from the Eighties onwards, Anneka Rice will always be the woman who gets things done.

But it appears that her no-nonsense style has ruffled the feathers of younger production staff working on the reboot of her popular show, Challenge Anneka.

Sources on the set claim that Ms Rice is ‘terse and abrasive’ in her approach to work and has prompted upset among the millennial employees working behind the scenes.

However, other TV insiders have described them as ‘snowflakes’ who are not used to be told what to do in a high-pressure environment.

Sources at the broadcaster say that bosses were made aware that there was upset towards the star, but Ms Rice says she was not reprimanded over the issue.

In the new series, Ms Rice will be seen throwing herself at the mercy of big brands and local volunteers to meet the deadline

One source said: ‘It’s difficult when someone was so used to working in the television industry a long time ago, then they are back doing the same job more than 30 years later.

‘But the way she operated did not suit some of the youngsters who probably need to learn that the world of telly can be very stressful and things.

‘Times really have changed and things are really different, young people don’t always want to take instructions and they think they know best. It is a challenge for television veterans because they just tend to put their heads down and get things done.

‘Anneka wanted her show to be the very best it can be, who can blame her? But that didn’t suit her much younger colleagues.’

Challenge Anneka, based on the BBC1 original which ran between 1989 and 1995, will return to screens next Saturday.

Despite the lapse in time, the new series will see the presenter pull up to secret locations in her famous blue lorry to be hit with surprise challenges that will help everyday heroes and those in communities who desperately need help.

Up against the clock, Ms Rice will be seen throwing herself at the mercy of big brands and local volunteers to meet the deadline. She will still have her mobile phone, buggy and her loyal sidekick ‘Dave the Soundman’, who appeared in the original series, on hand to help.

Speaking about its return, the former BBC star said: ‘There will always be a room for challenge on television because it’s about kindness, it’s about community, it’s about the power of the collective. As humans we are totally hardwired to be altruistic.’

Challenge Anneka ran for seven series between 1989 and 1995 and made the presenter a household name

Channel 5 didn’t respond to an opportunity to comment.

A spokesman for Ms Rice said that he was not informed of any issues with the star’s behaviour.