Treasure Hunt

Treasure Hunt was a classic gameshow series which ran from 1983-1989. Originally it featured bubbly blonde Anneka "Annie" Rice as the skyrunner. Annie would be flown around all over the British Isles in her helicopter (while wearing now-very naff looking jumpsuits) searching for little pink clues which would help point to where the treasure was hidden.

Kenneth Kendall was the show's host, who would present each episode from Channel 4's London based studio. Working with him in the beginning was Annette Lynton, the Adjudicator. After the 1984 season Annette was replaced with the much more lively and fun Wincey Willis, who filled the Ajudicator position for the rest of the series. The basic plot of the show was this: 2 constestants would remain in the studio with Kenneth and solve the cryptic clues. They had to guide the skyrunner around but could only talk to her, not see her or where she was.

In 1989 Anneka left Treasure Hunt (I believe the reason for this was because she became pregnant) and was replaced by tennis player/Wimbledon commentator Annabel Croft. However without Annie the show failed miserably and was cancelled after Annabel's first and only season as the sky runner.

Treasure Hunt was a great show that I have only fond memories off, even during the Annabel Croft season (I thought Annabel did fine, people were really unfair to her and she had some really hard shoes to fill too). The best episodes were the ones that were shot abroad like the one in Florida. There was always wonderful banter exchanged between Kenneth and the skyrunner (the banter was better when Annie was on, no doubt about that) and it was just great fun. I was only a child when Treasure Hunt was on, but I remember being insanely jealous of Anneka Rice and wanting to be her. :p

Treasure Hunt was at one time Channel 4's most watched show with whole families gathering around their TV sets every Thursday night at 8pm.

The format was both unique and brilliant with TV Totty Anneka Rice dispatched to some far flung region of the British Isles, over which 5 confusing (and I really do mean confusing) clues were scattered each one giving cryptic directions to the other, With Anneka and team travelling to the various locations over the BEAUTIFUL English countryside via helicopter.

The big anti-climax came in the form of the 'treasure' which more often than not was actually a useless piece of crap like a small toy or a hat or something as equally mundane.

In the studio two very anal contestants who could only hear Anneka, tried to de-cypher these clues with the aid of the many books in the studio library helped along by the humour free Kenneth Kendall and the bubbly mulleted weather girl Wincey Willis who plotted the course and adjudicated.

Cameraman Grahame was so obsessed with Anneka's rear end that fathers all over the land tuned in for that alone. Anneka would regularly give commentary back to the studio as to what she was seeing and doing, though all in the studio were usually too busy to care.

Funny moments always came when Anneka would reach the location of one of the clues, yet the clue holder would always be doing something else like jousting or boxing and Anneka who clearly couldn't give a toss, would have to wait until they had performed their show for her even though the clock was ticking.

Some of the clues were actually located in major built up areas which meant that the helicopter would have to land about two miles away leaving Anneka and her crew to either run the rest of the way or flag down poor un-suspecting motorists to bum a lift and a boom mike sticking out of a Montego is a pretty funny sight.

99% of the time the clock ran out before the treasure was reached thus denying our contestants the £1000 prize pot.

After Anneka joined the 'pudding club' she left the show to be replaced by much better looking ex tennis star Annabel Croft. Though with Anneka and her magic arse gone, the writing was already on the wall and the show ended after one season.

BBC2 recently tried to revive the show in a 'tea-time not quite home from work' slot in direct competition with Her Majesties favourite show Countdown but the audience just wasn't there.

I not only loved the show but I loved the theme music as well, but I dreaded the ending as it meant that it was 9pm and with school the next day that meant enforced bed time by my parents. Nevertheless, Treasure Hunt remains a fondly remembered part of my youth.

STOP THE CLOCK!!!!

Like all series, there were some better than others but overall, my wife and I both liked watching this show. It really did receive a lot of adverse publicity. It was as though the public were determined to get it off the air by any means possible but despite this Anneka Rice's personality was great and it lasted from 1983-1988 (with Anneka). They do say one man's meat is another man's poison and it certainly was true of Channel Four's Treasure Hunt. My favourite has got to be the one about West Yorkshire since it started in my home town of Todmorden at Stoodley Pike (pronounced Studley), a well known landmark on the hillside that can be seen from most parts of the town, which is quite a feat since the town is surrounded by the millstone grit of the Pennines. Another one that stands out was the one in Israel which I still have on video. I do wish they would include this series on DVD with the rash of other programmes now coming out on DVD.

I was serving on HMS BOXER when Anneka had to get the clue from our Captain (series five episode 4 aired on 5 Mar 1987).

We had run through the practice the day before with the producer acting as Anneka as they worked through the routine.

On the day Keith couldn't land on the flight deck of HMS Boxer (we conveniently had a 'keep-fit' class taking place) so had to land on the deck of (again conveniently placed) HMS Nottingham.

Anneka, Graham & Frank jump out of the helicopter and run up the side of Nottingham to the foc's'le where (conveniently !!) a 'light jackstay' was rigged up - Anneka was quickly fitted with a harness, hooked onto the 'traveller' and then hoisted up into the air and pulled across to the bows of HMS Boxer.

To get to the bridge and meet the Captain, Anneka had to climb a vertical ladder.

"Ooh - someone has got their hand on my bottom", said Anneka, as she was given a 'helping hand' up the ladder by the Chief Bosuns Mate. What she was unaware of though was that he had a strategically placed 'zap-sticker' (the ships crest) in his hand and it stuck nicely to her jump-suit).

I get seen briefly on the TV footage, taking a photo from the door to the bridge as Anneka approaches to get the clue from the Captain.

STOP THE CLOCK yelled Wincey...

During the 'commercial break' there was a half hour pause while the two ships 'Broke-away', our flight deck was cleared and Keith transferred Frank and Graham across to HMS Boxer.

When the clock was started again Anneka read out the clue & returned to the helicopter. As she did Graham did a fantastic zoom shot of the ships crest zap sticker on Anneka's backside.

That evening we were anchored in the Solent for a period watching a spectacular lightning storm further along the coast as stores were transferred to us from Portsmouth. Later that night we sailed off to Portugal & Madeira.