- Challenge Anneka
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Challenge Anneka Format Reality TV Created by Anneka Rice
Malcolm HeyworthStarring Anneka Rice Country of origin United Kingdom No. of series 7 No. of episodes 60 (inc. 6 specials) Production Producer(s) Mentorn (BBC One);
ITV Productions (ITV)Running time 60 minutes Broadcast Original channel BBC One
(27 November 1987 - 15 October 1995);
ITV (ITV1/STV/UTV)
(26 December 2006 & 6 June 2007)Picture format 4:3 (1987, 1989 - 1995);
16:9 (2006 - 2007)Original run 27 November 1987 – 6 June 2007 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.
Contents
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 Hunt, 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.
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 landmark, 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.” [1] 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 ITV, 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.
Transmissions
Original series
Series Start date End date Episodes Pilot 27 November 1987 1 1 8 September 1989 10 November 1989 10 2 10 November 1990 12 January 1991 10 3 14 September 1991 16 November 1991 10 4 18 September 1992 27 November 1992 8 5 4 September 1993 16 October 1993 7 6 3 September 1994 15 October 1994 7 7 27 August 1995 15 October 1995 8 Specials
Date Entitle 3 January 1992 Special Report 19 August 1992 Malawi Appeal Special 11 September 1992 Best Of... Special 27 August 1993 ??? Special 26 December 2006 Tsunami Appeal Special 6 June 2007 McFly Special See also
References
- ^ Daily Mail (3 September 2009) Historic White Horse landmark 'ruined by Anneka Rice quick-fix' 20 years ago to be restored. Accessed 2009-11-05.
External links
Categories:- 1980s British television series
- 1990s British television series
- 2000s British television series
- 1989 British television programme debuts
- 2007 British television programme endings
- BBC television game shows
- British reality television series
- ITV television programmes
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