Challenge Anneka made a successful return to UK TV this weekend as Channel 5 rebooted the heartwarming '80s/1990s show which saw Anneka Rice and her team travel the country lending a hand to communities in need.
Speaking about the Challenge Anneka reboot ahead of its March 18 airing, 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!"
Fans were over the moon to see the return of Dave and all the elements which made Challenge Anneka so special, and branded the new series 'perfect' Saturday night telly.
Read more: Welsh-born '80s TV icon Anneka Rice's partner, career and recycling those jumpsuits
One viewer wrote on Twitter: "How great is the new series of #ChallengeAnneka? All the elements that made the original such a great show are there and how amazing is the lovely @AnnekaRice ! Finally something to look forward to watch on a Saturday night! Well done @channel5_tv for bringjng back this fab show!"
Another was chuffed to see the all-important buggy back: "Super to see this back. Well done all involved. #ChallengeAnneka. The buggy is back."
A viewer called Giles tweeted: "The theme tune! The hedgehogs! The buggy! The truck! And Dave the soundman! This is what we needed! Welcome back @AnnekaRice and #ChallengeAnneka!"
There was loads of praise for the show and it even treated nostalgia addicts to the Treasure Hunt theme, another Anneka show from the 1980s. Another fan tweeted: "Absolutely fantastic return of #ChallengeAnneka , so glad it's kept its original charm and not been "modernised". Genuine proper Saturday night TV!!"
"Oh this is just perfect Saturday evening TV. At last something lovely and nostalgic," a fifth wrote.
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 once more.
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.
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