Scrapheap Challenge: Difference between revisions

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| genre = [[Game show]]

| creator = Eve Kay<ref name="Culture Vultures">{{cite book|editor-first = Munira|editor-last = Mirza|title = Culture Vultures: Is UK arts policy damaging the arts|publisher = [[Policy Exchange]] |___location = London| year = 2006|isbn = 0-9551909-0-8|page = 72|url = http://www.policyexchange.org.uk/publications/category/item/culture-vultures-is-uk-arts-policy-damaging-the-arts|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130525083942/http://www.policyexchange.org.uk/images/publications/culture%20vultures%20-%20jan%2006.pdf|archive-date = 25 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> <br/> [[Cathy Rogers]]

| presenter = [[Sally Gray (television presenter)|Sally Gray]] <small>(Pilot)</small><br/>[[Robert Llewellyn]] <small>(Series 1–10)</small><br/>[[Dick Strawbridge]] <small>(Series 11)</small>

| starring = [[Cathy Rogers]] <small>(Series 2–4)</small><br/>[[Lisa Rogers]] <small>(Series 5–10)</small>

| composer = Simon Lacey<br/>[[Graham Reilly]]

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| runtime = 60 minutes <small>(inc. adverts)</small>

| company = [[RDF Television]]

| distributor = [[Banijay]]<ref>https://www.banijayrights.com/programmes/7360</ref>

| network = [[Channel 4]]

| first_aired = {{start date|df=y|1998|04|12}}

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}}

'''''Scrapheap Challenge''''' iswas a British [[television show]] where teams of contestants build a working machine that can doperform a specific task, using materials available in a [[Wrecking yard|scrapyard]]. The series features teams of four or five members who are given ten hours (based around [[sunset]]) to build vehicles or machines to complete a specific task, such as a [[trebuchet]], or complete a racecourse whilst acting as a [[gyroscope]]. The programme ran for eleven series and was originally shown on [[Channel 4]]. The format was exported to the United States, where it was known as '''''Junkyard Wars'''''. The USAmerican show was also produced by RDF Media, and was originally shown on [[TLC (TV channel)|The Learning Channel]]. Repeats have aired on another Discovery network, the [[Science (TV channel)|Science Channel]].

==Format==

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A typical episode featured a competition between two 4-person teams, each consisting of three regular members (with one designated the captain), plus an expert in the field related to the particular challenge. The judge for each episode is typically a specialist in (non-scrap) versions of the machine being constructed.

The challenges are many and varied, usually involving teams constructing a machine to achieve a particular objective. The final showdown usually consisted of either head-to-head races or individually run timed events. Examples of challenges included making a [[jet engine|jet]] [[automobile|car]], a [[Armoured vehicle-launched bridge|bridging machine]], a car-crusher, and a machine to fling a [[Mini|British Leyland Mini]] as far as possible.

Assistant producer Eve Kay had the idea for the show after watching a scene in the movie ''[[Apollo 13 (film)|Apollo 13]]'', where [[NASA]] engineers had only a short period of time to construct a carbon dioxide filter out of parts available on the space capsule.<ref name="Culture Vultures"/> The show also drew its inspiration from the 1980s TV series ''[[The Great Egg Race]]''.

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Series 1 was titled ''Scrapheap'', and pitted the same two teams against each other each week. From series 2, the show was renamed ''Scrapheap Challenge'' and featured a [[Single-elimination tournament|knockout tournament]] between teams drawn from the general public. From series 3, a champion of champions contest was initiated.

Series 3 and 4 included a single US team in the field. Series 3 had The Nerds,<ref>[{{cite web |url=http://www.the-nerds.org/ |title=The New England Rubbish Deconstruction Society; The NERDS] }}</ref> and series 4 had ''The Mulewrights'' brought in at the last minute when The Barley Pickers were unable to travel due to the Foot[[2001 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth Mouthoutbreak|foot-and-mouth Crisiscrisis]]. Both US teams made it to the final round.

* '''Series 1''' (1998){{spaced ndash}}The series was tied 3–3

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* '''Series 11''' (2009/10){{spaced ndash}}Winners: The Wheel Nuts; Champion of Champions: N/A

Series 9 was shown in two- halves. The first eight episodes aired between 15 April and 3 June, the remaining episodes were between 4 November and 23 December 2007.<ref>[{{Cite web|url=http://www.garfirth.com/ |title=Steve G's Scrapheap- and airingEngineering|website=www.garfirth.com|accessdate=27 datesMarch page]2023}}</ref>

Series 11 saw Dick Strawbridge (formerly a competitor from series 1–3) return as an expert and judge, replacing Robert Llewellyn. The show was now produced by RDF Bristol and Executive producer Jane Lomas and series producer [[John Macnish]] had to deliver the new series on a fraction of the budget of previous series. As well as a change in presenters the format of the series was altered dramatically with teams of 'scrappers' from across the UK competing against Dick Strawbridge's home team known as 'Dick's Diamonds'. At the end of each episode a battle to determine the week's champion scrappers took place in a public venue in front of crowds of cheering fans. Series 11 of the UK show had its world premiere in Australia on [[ABC2]], with episode 1 airing on 1 July 2009.<ref>[http{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/abc2/200907/programs/ZX0031A001D1072009T183000.htm|title=Scrapheap ABC2Challenge schedule- WedChariot 1Jousting July- 2009ABC2 'ScrapheapTelevision Challenge{{spacedGuide|website=www.abc.net.au|accessdate=27 March ndash2023}} Chariot Jousting']</ref>

==Spin-offs==

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==Transmissions==

{{col-startbegin}}

{{col-2}}

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| '''10''' || 27 April 2008 || 13 July 2008 || 12

|-

| rowspan="2"| '''11''' || 30 August 2009 || 25 October 2009 || rowspan="2"| 1320

|-

| 6 June 2010 || 27 June 2010

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* '''Season 5''' (2003){{spaced ndash}}Winners: Jet Doctors

Former [[North Dakota]] Governor [[Ed Schafer]] wasand onefuture [[Kentucky]] Congressman [[Thomas Massie]] were two of many notable people appearingto appear on the show. Schafer was on during the fifth season as a member of the High Flyers which lost to the Jet Doctors in the Fifth Series finale. The first season was filmed in the UK; it included a competition between the grand winner of UK series 3, Megalomaniacs and the US season 1 champions the Long Brothers (who won).

The first season of the show was nominated for an Emmy award.

The show was reformatted as '''''Junkyard Mega-Wars''''' to consist of two regular captains, who each select three people to help in the challenge. The show was presented by [[Rossi Morreale]] and [[Bobbi Sue Luther]].

* '''Season 1''' (2002){{spaced ndash}}Captains: Bowser and Crash

* '''Season 2''' (2004){{spaced ndash}}Captains: [[Chris Hackett (artist)|Chris Hackett]] and (retired) [[Dick Strawbridge]]

== See also ==

*[[List of Scrapheap Challenge episodes]]

==References==

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*{{UKGameshow|Scrapheap_Challenge}}

[[Category:Scrapheap Challenge| ]]

[[Category:1998 British television series debuts]]

[[Category:2010 British television series endings]]

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[[Category:2000s British game shows]]

[[Category:2010s British game shows]]

[[Category:British game shows]]

[[Category:Channel 4 game shows]]

[[Category:Engineering competitions]]

[[Category:British English-language television shows]]

[[Category:Television series by Banijay]]