TV

Challenge Anneka is coming back – and the host looks incredible

Remember the close-ups of Anneka's bottom?

It’s been the week of the comeback –  over the past few days we’ve reported how Dynasty, The Bill and boy-band Bros are all returning to the public eye.

Now we can add another iconic name to that list – game show Challenge Anneka is returning to our TV screens after a 22-year absence (give or take a couple of Christmas specials).

The star of the show, Anneka Rice, now 58, appeared on This Morning to discuss the one-off episode, in which she’ll revisit some of the show’s earlier projects.

And fans were clearly thrilled – as well as being stunned by how little Anneka has changed in all that time.

“@AnnekaRice literally hasn’t aged a day! Absolutely stunning,” tweeted one fan.

Another was equally surprised by the star’s appearance, saying: “Omg Challenge Anneka revisited, she hasn’t changed!”

And another viewer added: “So excited to hear that @AnnekaRice and #ChallengeAnneka is returning for a one off special. Let’s hope it leads to a new series.”

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We get where they’re coming from. Challenge Anneka’s inspired format – basically, a cameraman chased the presenter around as she tried to complete a charitable task in super-quick time – made for unmissable TV.

But after seven series, the show came to an end in October 1995.

It moved to ITV for a couple of Christmas specials in the mid-Noughties, but that’s the last we heard of it – until now.

Welsh star Anneka told Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford that she’s proud of what the show achieved.

Said the mother-of-three: “It makes my heart swell that… we did over 60 projects, and most of them still have this amazing legacy.

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“And it’s such an interesting social history arc in how we view disability and all these different issues we tackled, and how our attitudes have changed now.”

We can’t wait to have her back on our screens.


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor

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