Challenge Anneka

Challenge Anneka was a British reality show hosted by Anneka Rice. It first ran on BBC1 from September 1989 to October 1994, with a special airing in 1995. The programme was revived twice: ITV aired two specials in 2006 and 2007, and Channel 5 broadcast a four-part series in 2023.

The format was created by Hugh Wooldridge and Malcolm Heyworth as a vehicle for Rice, who had previously starred in *Treasure Hunt*. It was first piloted during the 1987 *Children in Need* broadcast. Chatsworth Television produced the pilot, while Mentorn Films handled the original BBC series. In each episode, Rice was given a task—usually for a charitable cause, like building a community play area—with no prior knowledge of it. She had two or three days to complete it by persuading companies and individuals to donate time and materials for free. She operated from a large blue truck and used various vehicles over the years: a yellow Suzuki SJ410 for the first three series, a Dakar 4x4 from series five onward, a Jeep buggy for the ITV specials, and both a beach and 4x4 buggy for the 2023 revival. A dog named Pedro accompanied her in series six (and possibly a special). The original run ended after six series, so no seventh series was produced. Rice’s frequent use of a mobile phone to organise projects was notable, years before such devices became common in Britain. Another trademark was the on-screen presence of her soundman, Dave Chapman, who often helped out. The tension of whether Rice and her volunteers would meet their deadlines drove much of the show’s popularity; sometimes they failed, but helpers usually continued the next day to finish.

The original series was typically filmed from April to August and aired from September to October, except for series two, which was shot from August to November 1990 and broadcast from November 1990 to January 1991 due to Rice having a baby. The ITV specials were filmed in November 2006 and April 2007, and the Channel 5 series was shot from September to November 2022. The format was sold to several European countries with different hosts. In the late 1990s, Mentorn produced a US version, *Challenge America* (ABC), hosted by Erin Brockovich.

The ITV revival began with a Boxing Day 2006 special, where the team helped World Vision rebuild a maternity clinic, cricket pavilion, and children’s play centre in Sri Lanka after the 2004 tsunami.