The energetic 1990s BBC One show, Challenge Anneka is making a comeback in 2023, this time on Channel 5, but with the same energy and, as Anneka Rice revealed recently, recycling the same jumpsuits from the original show.
The original series aired from September 1989 to October 1995 and was fronted by Anneka, who was one of TV's most regular and popular faces and, was actually born in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan. She grew up in Surrey, though and now the 64-year-old is back on our screens racing around the country helping good causes and communities.
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In this reboot Anneka and her team set about building a home for abandoned dogs in Kent, constructing a “memory village” for people with dementia in the Wirral, creating a huge food hub, kitchen and cafe for those in need in Stockton – huge projects, mind-blowing in scale, and the team have just three days to complete each one.
The star, who's appeared on another 1980s classic, Treasure Hunt, as well as Celebrity Mastermind, Wish You Were Here, and more, started her career on a BBC training course aged 17, and spent two years working for the World Service. On the personal front, she's been in a relationship with writer Simon Bell since 2005.
She was previously married to theatre boss Nick Allott, with whom she has two sons, Thomas and Joshua.
They split in 1992 after she had an affair with TV executive Tom Gutteridge. Anneka had a third son with Tom but they split six months after he was born in 1997.
Speaking about the Challenge Anneka reboot, the frontwoman said: "Everything is as it should be," when asked about the return of the truck, the buggy and Dave the soundman. Anneka added: "I decided to upcycle some of my old outfits as I have a wardrobe full of Lycra. So zips, stripes, flashes went on. The trouble is we ended up filming in the winter so all hopes of looking glamorous flew out of the window. Most of the time I look like a Teletubby, layer upon layer of thermals!"
For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here. Challenge Anneka airs Saturday nights on Channel 5.
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