CHALLENGE ANNEKA 'AXED' BY CHANNEL 5, FINAL EPISODE KEPT ON THE SHELF

Channel 5 controller Ben Frow has confirmed that Challenge Anneka will not be returning for another series, but did not provide an update as to whether the final episode in the last series would ever air.

The original order by Channel 5 was four episodes, however only three were broadcast. The final episode has been kept on the shelf for two years after the show was pulled from the schedules due to low ratings.

In the episode yet to air, Anneka and the Challenge team come to the aid of Luton Sea and Royal Marine Cadets to design a medal for outstanding achievement and refurbish their training facilities, including overnight accommodation, training boats and equipment.

When the series was pulled from schedules after two episodes last Spring, a Channel 5 spokesperson said: "We want to preserve the series to ensure that each episode gets the best audience possible."

The third episode was broadcast two months later, branded as a 'Dementia Special' and saw Anneka challenged by Age UK Wirral to create a giant memory village for people suffering with dementia, building shops, a cafe and a village green, and throwing an opening party.

Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, Channel 5's Ben Frow said: "...we realised two weeks before we put it out, it's a make up show and they did home renovation shows since then. And the world changed so much what Annika was doing which was innovative 30 years ago it was [different to] now, and we won't go there again."

Previous episodes of Challenge Anneka are available to stream on 5.