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All Seasons

Season 1

  • SPECIAL 0x1 Children in Need Challenge

    • November 27, 1987
    • BBC One

    As a special event to mark this year's Children in Need appeal, the BBC challenges Anneka Rice to make the impossible possible. Anneka discovers what her daunting task is when the Challenge Envelope is opened. She will then have only 12 hours to complete the event.

  • S01E01 The Playbuses

    • September 8, 1989
    • BBC One

    Anneka's first challenge is to convert double decker buses into playbuses in 3 days for the National Playbus Association.

  • S01E02 The Playground

    • September 15, 1989
    • BBC One

    A rubbish tip in Northern Ireland was converted to a children's playground for the Ballynahinch community

  • S01E03 The White Horse

    • September 22, 1989
    • BBC One

    The ancient chalk horse above Weymouth was renovated with the help of local scouts and mountain climbing enthusiasts. The challenge was not completed in time but the work was finished by local volunteers the following week.

  • S01E04 The Football Field

    • September 29, 1989
    • BBC One

    A football pitch was re-turfed and new changing rooms were installed for the youngsters of Norbury Athletic Football Club, a group of youth teams in Stockport.

  • S01E05 Ray Cooney Farce for Calibre Cassette Library for the Blind

    • October 6, 1989
    • BBC One

    In 2 days, playwright Ray Cooney wrote and directed a new farce for the "Calibre" cassette library for the blind.

  • S01E06 Walled Garden

    • October 13, 1989
    • BBC One

    With the help of Alan Titchmarsh, and in aid of the Country Houses Association, a huge neglected Victorian walled garden in Royal Berkshire was transformed back to its original state.

  • S01E07 Kent Railway Restoration

    • October 20, 1989
    • BBC One

    At the request of the local community and volunteers of the Kent and East Sussex Railway, the local station at Northiam in Kent and the lines leading to it were renovated to allow steam trains to come to the town.

  • S01E08 Recycled Joke Book

    • October 27, 1989
    • BBC One

    In 36 hours, a joke book printed on recycled paper was put together in aid of Friends of the Earth. 10,000 copies were produced.

  • S01E09 Disabled Skiing Trip

    • November 3, 1989
    • BBC One

    Twenty disabled young people were taken to Switzerland where they skied for the first time in their lives.

  • S01E10 Series 1 Highlights

    • November 10, 1989
    • BBC One

    During the past ten weeks Anneka has tackled a variety of daunting tasks, from building a railway line in a weekend to producing a radio play in an afternoon. Tonight Anneka looks back at the successes and the failures of the series - at those times when the impossible became possible.

Season 2

  • S02E01 Children's Parties in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

    • November 10, 1990
    • BBC One

    Anneka Rice returns to face new challenges set by viewers, relying simply on her giant Challenger and public goodwill. This week she has to get into the party spirit with 11,000 children. The problem is, she has to be in four countries at the same time!

  • S02E02 Seal Sanctuary

    • November 17, 1990
    • BBC One

    To undertake this week's challenge, Anneka Rice is going to need 4,500 gallons of water, 18 tons of concrete, a set of Scottish bagpipes and a plateful of herrings!

  • S02E03 Buxton Riding Centre for Disbaled

    • November 24, 1990
    • BBC One

    An old disused stables at a farm near Buxton were converted into a riding centre for the disabled.

  • S02E04 Scilly Isles Jetty

    • December 1, 1990
    • BBC One

    A low water quay was built on the island of Bryher in the Scilly Isles.

  • S02E05 Barge

    • December 8, 1990
    • BBC One

    In 1990 Anneka took on the challenge of renovating an old barge on the Thames and attempting to turn it into a floating education centre unit for the community of Richmond.

  • S02E06 Lighthouse

    • December 15, 1990
    • BBC One

    The Happisburgh Lighthouse in Norfolk was painted from top to bottom after Trinity House passed responsibility for its upkeep to the local village.

  • S02E07 Romanian Orphanage

    • December 22, 1990
    • BBC One

    Anneka Rice faces her most daunting challenge ever - to restore a Romanian orphanage into a home for 600 children in just one week. This specially extended edition of Challenge Anneka reveals what happened, and how through sleepless days and nights her team reached their goal.

  • S02E08 Pantomime

    • December 29, 1990
    • BBC One

    Two sisters, a ballroom, and magic shoes are on Anneka Rice's shopping list as she races against the clock.

  • S02E09 Reminiscence Centre

    • January 5, 1991
    • BBC One

    In 2 days an unused ward at Rochford Hospital in Essex was converted into a reminiscence centre for elderly patients.

  • S02E10 Homeless Hostel

    • January 12, 1991
    • BBC One

    The conversion of a chapel in Telford into a hostel for homeless teenagers was completed in just 24 hours.

Season 3

  • S03E01 USPCA Kennels

    • September 14, 1991
    • BBC One

    Anneka has a massive home improvement job on behalf of Northern Ireland's stray dogs.

  • S03E02 Road

    • September 21, 1991
    • BBC One

    Anneka Rice 's challenge tonight is to organise a street party. She'll need 1,000 tons of stone and 600 tons of tarmac!

  • S03E03 Paralympics Commercial

    • September 28, 1991
    • BBC One

    Anneka's challenge tonight involves an orchestra, a choir and a sports stadium.

  • S03E04 Gloucester Theatre

    • October 5, 1991
    • BBC One

    Anneka Rice enlists the help of an undertaker, a town crier, a blacksmith and dozens of scaffolders to help with this week's challenge.

  • S03E05 Mitcham Church

    • October 12, 1991
    • BBC One

    Less than three days to prepare a full-blown white wedding and renovate the 13th-century church? This week, on behalf of an extremely trusting young couple, a breathless Anneka has to rustle up dresses, organise a reception complete with cake, flowers and guests, and superintend painters and scaffolders. Then there's the honeymoon to fix. Bride and bridegroom could be forgiven a few pre-wedding jitters.

  • S03E06 Monkey World

    • October 19, 1991
    • BBC One

    Anneka Rice gets up to monkey business in Spain as she races against the clock with hundreds of volunteers to complete this week's challenge

  • S03E07 Birmingham Children's Hospital

    • October 26, 1991
    • BBC One

    Last July, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh gave Anneka Rice a special challenge to mark his 70th birthday. Will she get the royal seal of approval?

  • S03E08 Children's Holiday Camp

    • November 2, 1991
    • BBC One

    Some fireworks, a septic tank and a giant lawnmower are just some of the things Anneka Rice needs for this week's challenge.

  • S03E09 Childline Calendar

    • November 9, 1991
    • BBC One

    This week's challenge is to organise a photography exhibition in just 73 hours. Childline, the free national helpline for children in trouble, want to produce their 1992 calendar, Children at Play. Anneka must collect photos of children from all over Britain, take some herself, and then narrow the selection down to a few dozen pictures.

  • S03E10 Footbridge

    • November 16, 1991
    • BBC One

    In just under 4 days, a footbridge of steel and wood was built over the River Camel in Wadebridge, Cornwall. Its completion culminated in a huge party for the whole town which had been reunited by the footbridge.

  • S03E99 Unknown

    • BBC One

Season 4

  • SPECIAL 0x2 Return to Siret

    • January 3, 1992
    • BBC One

    A year ago, millions of viewers saw Anneka Rice and a team of volunteers rise to the challenge of transforming the lives of hundreds of children living in a huge, decaying orphanage in Siret, northern Romania. In five days, hot and cold running water was installed, lights were rewired, walls painted and bedding replaced. Recently, Anneka returned to Siret to see for herself what successes and setbacks the children have faced during the past year.

  • SPECIAL 0x3 Best of Challenge Anneka Series 1–3

    • September 11, 1992
    • BBC One

    A nostalgic review of the last three years of the series with Anneka Rice recalling some of the highlights - including the group of disabled people who learned to ski in two days - and some of the disasters - such as when the entire camera crew fell out of the back of the buggy. She also looks back to one of her most memorable tasks: in 1990 she was challenged to restore an orphanage in Romania. Within a week she had to transform it into a proper home for 600 children. Tonight she finds out how the children's lives have been changed since the team visited.

  • S04E01 Heeley City Farm

    • September 18, 1992
    • BBC One

    The return of the series which sets out to make the impossible possible. Armed with a giant Challenger truck, the famous buggy and lots of public goodwill, Anneka Rice sets out to use the power of television to tackle another Herculean task. This week she ends up in the mud - and a lot worse - as she takes an army of volunteers down on the farm in Sheffield.

  • S04E02 Tommy's Tape

    • September 25, 1992
    • BBC One

    Anneka has to create an album of nursery rhymes in just two days. To help her she enlists a host of celebrities including Right Said Fred, Philip Schofield, Paul Nicholas, Joanna Lumley, George Martin, Beverley Craven, Julia Fordham, Sonia, Jean Boht, Jason Connery and the stars of Birds of a Feather Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson.

  • S04E03 Ilfracombe Library

    • October 2, 1992
    • BBC One

    This week it's a moving experience for the team as it tries to shift Ilfracombe's public library all the way over to the other side of town. The challenge needs two teams of builders to succeed, one to dismantle the old library and another to receive it at its new site. Once there, it will prove a valuable asset to the community, who need a venue for everything from playgroups to sports and social activities. But with only 56 hours to complete the task, will it prove a library too far?

  • S04E04 Albrighton Angling Centre

    • October 9, 1992
    • BBC One

    Anneka Rice needs to get hold of archaeologists and 200,000 gallons of water to go fishing in Shropshire.

  • S04E05 Mencap Nursery

    • October 16, 1992
    • BBC One

    This week Anneka Rice has to produce 25,000 charity Christmas cards in time for the opening of the new Mencap nursery in Leeds - but then she finds that the nursery has yet to be built.

  • S04E06 Red Sea Diving

    • October 23, 1992
    • BBC One

    his week Anneka Rice is set a very fishy task when she finds she has to go diving in the depths of the Red Sea with a group of disabled people. But first they must learn to dive - in just a few hours.

  • S04E07 Greycraigs Outdoor Centre

    • November 6, 1992
    • BBC One

    This week, on the island of Cumbrae off the Ayrshire coast, Anneka Rice finds she needs 1,000 cyclists, a demolition squad and some help from Glasgow Rangers.

  • S04E08 Malawi Medical Centre

    • November 27, 1992
    • BBC One

    The last challenge of the series is one of Anneka Rice's most daunting: she has to equip a new medical centre serving up to 100,000 people in the Luwani refugee camp in Malawi, southern Africa. The refugees have fled Mozambique because of war and drought, and arrive in the camps exhausted and destitute. She has just 24 hours to fill an empty plane with emergency relief aid.

Season 5

  • SPECIAL 0x4 Live Croatia Appeal & Series 1–4 Compilation

    • August 27, 1993
    • BBC One

    Celebrating five of years of her entertainment series, Anneka Rice presents a live edition in which she goes back to check out the results of some of her toughest tasks. Armed with her giant Challenger truck, her famous blue buggy and tons of public goodwill, Anneka has been set a variety of problems and has completed more than 40 challenges: from building children's playgrounds in Birmingham and Belfast to equipping a hospital in Malawi. For many, Challenge Anneka was just the beginning. Anneka also launched the Croatia appeal live from the BT Tower appealing for materials to rebuild a school in Pakrac and the goods to be taken on convoy to Croatia. Simon Bates delivered the challenge to Anneka on behalf of the British Red Cross.

  • S05E01 Boathouse

    • September 4, 1993
    • BBC One

    Anneka Rice returns with another season of the show that makes the impossible possible. Armed with her giant challenger truck and the famous buggy, she uses the power of television to create something of lasting benefit. In the first programme, the Exmoor Calvert Trust in Devon challenges Anneka to turn a derelict barn into a boathouse for use by disabled people.

  • S05E02 Soup Kitchen

    • September 11, 1993
    • BBC One

    This week Anneka needs a new kitchen and thousands of steak pies as she tackles a challenge to help London's homeless.

  • S05E03 Maze

    • September 18, 1993
    • BBC One

    This week, Anneka Rice hits weather problems when she tackles a challenge to build a giant maze in Worcester.

  • S05E04 NCH Commercial

    • September 25, 1993
    • BBC One

    This week, Anneka Rice attempts to make a video about the work of the National Children's Home charity, to be shown at the gala premiere of the film Super Mario Bros.

  • S05E05 Disabled Bungalows

    • October 2, 1993
    • BBC One

    Anneka's challenge this week is to stage a housewarming party for two hospital patients with spinal injuries. But first she has to build their homes.

  • S05E06 Fashion Range for The Rainbows Trust

    • October 9, 1993
    • BBC One

    Anneka has less than three days to launch a new fashion collection in this week's challenge, set by the Cope Children's Trust Rainbow Appeal. Will she make it?

  • S05E07 Croatia

    • October 16, 1993
    • BBC One

    The last programme in the series. Anneka faces one of her most daunting and dangerous challenges. She travels to the village of Pakrac in Croatia, which has been completely destroyed in the war. Her task is to renovate a primary school in just five days, taking with her a convoy of 30 lorries full of emergency food, hygiene and baby supplies. Can she do it in time for the new school term?

Season 6

  • S06E01 Wormwood Scrubs Riding School

    • September 3, 1994
    • BBC One

    This is the first of a new series of challenges in which Anneka Rice sets out to" make the impossible possible" with the aid of enthusiastic and energetic volunteers. When she calls up an international building company with a plea for help they find it hard to refuse - even when she explains that there are only three days in which to complete a task that would normally take three months. She needs their assistance in building an indoor riding school for the disabled and disadvantaged children who belong to the Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre.

  • S06E02 Burnham-on-Sea

    • September 10, 1994
    • BBC One

    The town of Burnham-on-Sea has a Marine Rescue boat on standby but because there is no boat house on the shore the boat is stored miles inland in the Somerset countryside. Anneka's challenge this week is to build a new lifeboat station, but she only has 72 hours to complete the job. Will she sail through the task before her or be left high and dry?

  • S06E03 Patti Pavilion

    • September 17, 1994
    • BBC One

    This week Anneka is in Swansea with Pedro the dog and they have to stage a concert in the new arts centre. But before they can begin to think about putting on a production, they have to rebuild the theatre.

  • S06E04 Playboats

    • September 24, 1994
    • BBC One

    This week's task is to convert two fishing boats into playspaces. To achieve her goal she has to find one of the largest cranes in the country, hampered by fog and a fire on board.

  • S06E05 Recipe Book

    • October 1, 1994
    • BBC One

    This week Anneka attempts to publish a cookery book within 48 hours, and become a master chef for a celebrity lunch to launch the book. But before she can put the book together she has to gather 100 celebrity recipes and have them tested.

  • S06E06 YCTV Studio

    • October 8, 1994
    • BBC One

    This week Anneka Rice has to get Britain's newest TV channel, YCTV - Youth Cable Television - on air. It's the first studio to be created as part of a nationwide initiative to keep inner-city children off the streets and allow them to make TV rather than just watching it.

  • S06E07 Romanian Hospital

    • October 15, 1994
    • BBC One

    Last programme of the series in which Anneka Rice sets out to "make the impossible possible" with the aid of enthusiastic and energetic volunteers. Tonight, in one of her toughest and most dangerous challenges, she undertakes to move an entire hospital casualty unit from Dunfermline in Scotland and rebuild it 1,830 miles away in a remote town in central Romania. If she succeeds, the unit will become the first accident and emergency unit in a country where thousands die each year through lack of medical facilities, and she has just 11 days in which to complete the task.

Season 7

  • S07E01 Sheffield Circus

    • August 27, 1995
    • BBC One

    Infectiously enthusiastic Anneka Rice returns with a breathless series of eight taxing tasks to be completed against tight deadlines. This week, the Challenge Team, comprising Anneka, her mobile phone, her buggy, the truck, the back-up crew and Pedro the dog, arrives in Sheffield with a brief to convert an old church into a circus skills centre. One of the technicians' attempts to master the flying trapeze is just one of a host of challenges to accomplish before the show can go on.

  • S07E02 Royal Albert Hall Deaf Play

    • September 3, 1995
    • BBC One

    This week, Anneka Rice finds herself in the middle of the Royal Albert Hall with no audience, no show, and just 28 hours in which to find both on behalf of the Royal National Institute for Deaf People.

  • S07E03 The War Memorial

    • September 10, 1995
    • BBC One

    This week, Anneka Rice and the team have two days in which to move a war memorial from the top of a hill to the centre of town so that Bathgate in Lothian can celebrate VE Day.

  • S07E04 WRVS Book

    • September 17, 1995
    • BBC One

    This week, Anneka Rice and the team have 52 hours to publish a book listing 500 ways to make people feel better while they are in hospital.

  • S07E05 County Antrim Meeting Place

    • September 24, 1995
    • BBC One

    This week, the Challenge truck arrives just outside Ballycastle in County Antrim, where Anneka Rice and the team have just 74 hours to knock down a building and replace it with three new ones.

  • S07E06 UK Blood Transfusion Service

    • October 1, 1995
    • BBC One

    Anneka Rice's challenge this week is to get all the country's eligible donors to pledge to give blood. The target is 100,000 pints.

  • S07E07 Birmingham Homeless Mothers Hostel

    • October 8, 1995
    • BBC One

    Anneka Rice and her team battle through one of the hottest spells of the year to create ten homes in just two days for homeless people in Birmingham.

  • S07E08 Lion Sanctuary

    • October 15, 1995
    • BBC One

    in the last programme of the series, Anneka Rice rescues two African lions from Athens and has just 61 hours to create a new home for them in Kent.

Additional Specials

  • SPECIAL 0x5 The Sri Lankan Challenge

    • December 26, 2006
    • BBC One

    Nearly two years after the tsunami claimed more than 200,000 lives, World Vision called on Anneka and set her the challenge. The show, that airs on ITV1 on Boxing Day, marks the second year anniversary and the huge progress has been made in rebuilding lives, livelihoods and communities torn apart by the giant wave.

  • SPECIAL 0x6 The Race to Record an Album

    • June 6, 2007
    • BBC One

    Anneka’s back with another ambitious challenge - to produce and record an album of songs from the musicals, but she needs to first beg, bribe and bamboozle some of the UK’s highest-profile recording artists and performers to sing. If that wasn’t a daunting enough task, she also needs to throw a Gala concert to launch the album and all this in just five days! All her Herculean efforts will go towards helping forty UK children’s hospices, by raising money and awareness via the CD and Gala event. Children’s hospices are the unsung heroes, who provide vital care for terminally ill children and their families and siblings. They have been largely overlooked by the government and need to raise approximately 85% of all their costs to stay open each year- we’re talking millions! Last year, a staggering 20,000 children across the Click here to buy this CDcountry desperately needed hospice care, only 4,600 received it - a shocking state of affairs! The final and in many ways, the most important element of her challenge, is for Anneka to put together a choir made up of the children from the hospice’s around the country , who are ready, willing and able enough to sing on the CD and perform the title song at the Gala event with a celebrity soloist. For fully able children, used to performing in public in a choir, this would be a nerve rackingAssociation of Children's Hospices undertaking. Anneka will be with them every step of the way, every rehearsal, every forgotten line, every bout of stage fright!