TPA panels help Challenge Anneka

21 Aug

Introduction

Temporary Roadways by TPA have featured in the return of the popular 1990s TV series Challenge Anneka.

Thirty years after she last donned her legendary jumpsuit, Anneka Rice packed up the big blue truck, jumped into her famous buggy, and called on the goodwill of the nation to help three communities in need, in a series of challenges that made the originals look like a piece of cake.

TPA’s heavy-duty aluminium Trax panels, plastic heavy-duty Multitrak and light-duty/pedestrian Zappmat panels were there to provide a temporary but firm base for the film crew and vehicles.

The project

Three episodes utilised panels from TPA. Projects included a giant food hub, kitchen and café built for a whole community in Stockton-on-Tees. A new home for dozens of abandoned dogs in Kent, a new outdoor centre for vulnerable teens and an entire memory village for dementia sufferers in Luton.  

Challenge

The show, by Twofour Broadcast for Channel 5, was working to a budget, and there was a particularly short timescale – 48 hours - to supply the first episode in Stockton-on-Tees. Then there was only about a week in between each location. Anneka’s team had only three days to complete each project, but the TPA panels were required for between 6 and 11 days.

Solution

TPA’s operations team pulled out all the stops to help Challenge Anneka. Hire controllers Lauren Walker and Sarah Higgins, with some super-efficient planning and logistics, were able to re-arrange two-man crews and wagons and get the temporary roadways out to the first location in Stockton within the timescale.