Challenge Anneka
Encyclopedia
Challenge Anneka is a British
television programme, produced by the independent production company Mentorn for the BBC
, which aired on Friday, later Saturday evenings on BBC One
between 8 September 1989 and 15 October 1995. It was announced in 2006 that the series is returning, but this time on ITV
. The first of the two specials was shown on Boxing Day 2006. The second transmitted in June 2007.
, one of the first big hits for Channel 4
. It was produced by Tom Gutteridge of Mentorn, who also produced the US version with Erin Brockovich
.
The format of Challenge Anneka involved Rice being given a task to accomplish within a certain period of time, usually two or three days. She was supposed to have no knowledge of what the task of each particular episode would be before it began, and would have to organise its accomplishment by persuading companies and people to contribute their time and resources for free. The task would usually be in aid of a charitable cause, for example building a play area for children within the local community, or something similar.
The format was tested in 1987's Children in Need
.
Rice would be based during the 'challenges' in a large blue truck, and for her frequent trips to persuade companies and people to take part she initially employed the use of a Volkswagen
based beach buggy, and then went on to use a kit built Dakar 4x4
vehicle in the 1990s. For series 6 and 7, she had a dog called Pedro. She was also distinguished by her frequent use of her mobile phone
to organise the projects, years before they became common everyday objects for people in Britain.
Another trademark aspect of the series would be the frequent on-screen presence of Rice's soundman, Dave Chapman, part of the camera team who followed her around as she attempted to accomplish the challenges and who often found himself having to lend a helping hand.
Most of the popularity of the series came from the tension of whether Rice and her teams of volunteers would accomplish their tasks before the deadlines set. Sometimes they would fail, but usually on such occasions those who had agreed to help out would carry on the following day to complete the work.
The format was sold to many European countries, where the Anneka role was played by a number of male and female characters. In the late 90's, the show was produced by Mentorn in the United States as Challenge America (ABC), hosted by Erin Brockovich
.
, which is cut into a hill side at Osmington in Weymouth “What they did was a bit of a do-it-yourself
garden landscaping when really they should have used a proper civil engineer.” In another case, a hastily built children's playground had to be closed and renovated after it was found to be dangerous. However, of the 61 projects undertaken, many, like the Romanian orphanage renovated in just 10 days, survived for many years.
, on Boxing Day
and featured the team helping World Vision
to rebuild a maternity clinic, a cricket pavilion and a children's play centre in Sri Lanka after the 2004 Tsunami
disaster.
There were plans for two more UK specials in 2007 - Anneka walked on stage, along with television crew, during a McFly concert in Cambridge
, and asked the band if they would record a single for charity - this formed part of the Challenge Anneka challenge recording an album to raise money for Children's Hospices around the UK, broadcast on 6 June 2007 on ITV
. The album, Over the Rainbow
was released on June 4, 2007. The two specials gained 3.34m (26 December 2006) and 2.8m (6 June 2007) viewers on ITV.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television programme, produced by the independent production company Mentorn for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, which aired on Friday, later Saturday evenings on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
between 8 September 1989 and 15 October 1995. It was announced in 2006 that the series is returning, but this time on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
. The first of the two specials was shown on Boxing Day 2006. The second transmitted in June 2007.
Format
The series was devised as a vehicle for Anneka Rice, who had already proven herself capable of racing around the country up against the clock in Treasure HuntTreasure Hunt (UK game show)
Treasure Hunt was a popular UK game show, based on the format of the French show La Chasse au Trésor, created by Jacques Antoine. It appeared on Channel 4 between 28 December 1982 and 18 May 1989 and was revived by BBC Two between 16 December 2002 and 2 August 2003.-The game:A team of two...
, one of the first big hits for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
. It was produced by Tom Gutteridge of Mentorn, who also produced the US version with Erin Brockovich
Erin Brockovich
Erin Brockovich-Ellis is an American legal clerk and environmental activist who, despite the lack of a formal law school education, or any legal education, was instrumental in constructing a case against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company of California in 1993...
.
The format of Challenge Anneka involved Rice being given a task to accomplish within a certain period of time, usually two or three days. She was supposed to have no knowledge of what the task of each particular episode would be before it began, and would have to organise its accomplishment by persuading companies and people to contribute their time and resources for free. The task would usually be in aid of a charitable cause, for example building a play area for children within the local community, or something similar.
The format was tested in 1987's Children in Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
.
Rice would be based during the 'challenges' in a large blue truck, and for her frequent trips to persuade companies and people to take part she initially employed the use of a Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
based beach buggy, and then went on to use a kit built Dakar 4x4
Dakar 4x4
The Dakar 4x4 is a kit car - the successor of the Rotrax - though unlike many is based on a Range Rover chassis rather than the more usual sports car style. Originally developed by Barry Chantler of Dakar Cars in Dartford, Kent, they are now manufactured and built to order by...
vehicle in the 1990s. For series 6 and 7, she had a dog called Pedro. She was also distinguished by her frequent use of her mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
to organise the projects, years before they became common everyday objects for people in Britain.
Another trademark aspect of the series would be the frequent on-screen presence of Rice's soundman, Dave Chapman, part of the camera team who followed her around as she attempted to accomplish the challenges and who often found himself having to lend a helping hand.
Most of the popularity of the series came from the tension of whether Rice and her teams of volunteers would accomplish their tasks before the deadlines set. Sometimes they would fail, but usually on such occasions those who had agreed to help out would carry on the following day to complete the work.
The format was sold to many European countries, where the Anneka role was played by a number of male and female characters. In the late 90's, the show was produced by Mentorn in the United States as Challenge America (ABC), hosted by Erin Brockovich
Erin Brockovich
Erin Brockovich-Ellis is an American legal clerk and environmental activist who, despite the lack of a formal law school education, or any legal education, was instrumental in constructing a case against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company of California in 1993...
.
Problems following challenges
Due to the rushed nature of the tasks, a few of the projects undertaken by the show needed subsequent repair. A Dorset historian and author, said of the treatment she gave to the historic White Horse landmarkOsmington White Horse
The Osmington White Horse is a hill figure sculpted in 1808 into the limestone Osmington hill just north of Weymouth called the South Dorset Downs, within the parish of Osmington....
, which is cut into a hill side at Osmington in Weymouth “What they did was a bit of a do-it-yourself
Do it yourself
Do it yourself is a term used to describe building, modifying, or repairing of something without the aid of experts or professionals...
garden landscaping when really they should have used a proper civil engineer.” In another case, a hastily built children's playground had to be closed and renovated after it was found to be dangerous. However, of the 61 projects undertaken, many, like the Romanian orphanage renovated in just 10 days, survived for many years.
ITV Revival
Challenge Anneka returned in 2006 with a 'one-off' special on ITVITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
, on Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
and featured the team helping World Vision
World Vision
World Vision, founded in the USA in 1950, is an evangelical relief and development organization whose stated goal is "to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of...
to rebuild a maternity clinic, a cricket pavilion and a children's play centre in Sri Lanka after the 2004 Tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
disaster.
There were plans for two more UK specials in 2007 - Anneka walked on stage, along with television crew, during a McFly concert in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, and asked the band if they would record a single for charity - this formed part of the Challenge Anneka challenge recording an album to raise money for Children's Hospices around the UK, broadcast on 6 June 2007 on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
. The album, Over the Rainbow
Over the Rainbow (2007 album)
Over the Rainbow - Show Tunes in Aid of the Association of Children's Hospices is a charity album of show tunes, recorded by various artists and released in 2007. It is in aid of...
was released on June 4, 2007. The two specials gained 3.34m (26 December 2006) and 2.8m (6 June 2007) viewers on ITV.
Original series
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Specials
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