REAR’SLOOKING ATYOU,ANNEKA
14 15 16 17 30 facts about Challenge Anneka
She was one of the 80s most famous faces – even though the former Rear of the Year winner was usually pictured from behind. Now, as she prepares for a TV comeback in Strictly, we reflect on her hugely successful show Challenge Anneka, which launched 30 years ago this month Foundation’s annual party in Battersea and turn it into a sports centre for the challenge to create a charity CD album Cornwall, in series three. It took four Park, London. Greycraigs Outdoor Centre. of musicals songs for children’s hospices days to build and, once complete, She helped out in Scotland for On another international and arrange a kids’ charity concert, Anneka staged a party for locals. The two weeks running when in the adventure in 1992, Anneka was with the help of McFly. footbridge crossing is known locally as following episode, she was sent to Fife sent to Malawi, where she worked to A classic comedy moment Anneka’s Bridge. to build a pool for orphaned seals at supply a medical centre and drill a well came when Anneka was As well as being a big hit in the Middlebank animal sanctuary. for fresh water. trying to secure some planks and the UK, the format was sold One of the most notable She recently confirmed that asked for “P.L.Y. wood”, wondering around the world. In the US, Challenge episodes saw Anneka head during filming of an episode what the P.L.Y. stood for. She had to America was presented by the real-life to Romania. The world had been in Croatia during the Yugoslav wars, be told it was plywood before the Erin Brockovich, the charismatic shocked by the terrible state of there were Serb snipers “trained penny dropped. campaigning lawyer portrayed in Romanian orphanages, exposed on us”. She added: the film of her name by Julia following the fall of dictator “We were under Roberts. Nicolae Ceausescu, with kids EU protection and Starting from 1995, neglected and abused. Her team we all wrote letters Anneka took a break of renovated an orphanage and home, thinking 12 years from TV work to raise the volunteers established a we wouldn’t make her family. She is a mother long-term plan to it out.” of three, with sons Thomas support the facility. and Joshua with first They returned husband Nick Allott, and to Romania Sam with Treasure Hunt many years later TV producer Tom with a plan to Gutteridge. Her current transfer an A&E partner is writer Simon unit from Scotland Bell. Anneka also studied art at the for local people. Chelsea College of Art and is a In series successful artist, chronicling and selling four, Anneka her work on Instagram. was dispatched to The star recently said she the Isle of was proud of all 64 projects Cumbrae in the she undertook for Challenge Firth of Clyde to Anneka, having sourced millions of renovate the derelict pounds worth of support for the shell of an old building good causes.