Tim Hughes takes a trip back to the 80s and 90s with a tribute to the spirit of TV action woman Anneka Rice

ONCE there was a woman called Anneka Rice – who captured the nation’s hearts and sense of excitement, by charging round the country in a helicopter in a tight jumpsuit, in search of a challenge.

The athletic blonde action woman was a fixture on our TV screens, first in the show Treasure Hunt and then the self-explanatory Saturday night hit Challenge Anneka between the late 80s and mid 90s, in which she undertook everything from building a children’s play area to restoring a white horse hill figure in Dorset.

And it is that image of the go-getting Anneka that has inspired a new show, in which Sophie Winter comes to terms with her own personal demons.

Don’t Panic! It’s Challenge Anneka, sees Sophie donning a luminescent shell suit, bum bag and sparkly positive attitude to channel the spirit of the woman for whom no challenge was too big, in a continuing effort to overcome her own challenge: the anxiety she has lived with for 15 years.

This one-woman show, made with input from Anneka Rice, presents a frank, funny and open exploration of a topic that often remains taboo.

Theatre company On the Button has been working with Anxiety UK to raise awareness about the mental health disorder that affects one in six people every year.

As well as using her own experiences, Sophie has drawn inspiration from interviews with other people suffering from anxiety.

These interviews will be released as a podcast to further raise awareness of the disorder.

After its current run, the show will tour secondary schools in the autumn, running workshops exploring mental health for students in Year 9 and above.

Sophie says: “Anxiety affects me in different ways, but in particular taking public transport can be a nightmare. It can lead to epic, exhausting treks across London that then add to my anxiety.

“I’ve had anxiety for the past 15 years, which still seems like quite a big thing to say.

“It’s amazing how many people I’ve spoken to have said ‘Wow! I had no idea!’

“And I guess that’s the point about making the show.

“Partly it’s to encourage people to talk more about their anxiety, and partly to help people understand it better.

“I wanted to make sure that the show was fun and accessible for everyone, and I suddenly thought of Challenge Anneka.

“I absolutely loved the programme when I was a kid, and I thought that Anneka was incredible at staying calm in situations that were super stressful,” she smiles.

“So as well as making the show more fun, channelling Anneka makes it easier to talk about my anxiety.”

* The show comes to Wallingford Corn Exchange on July 30. Tickets are £12.50 from cornexchange.org.uk 01491 825000