Scrapheap Challenge is a British television show where teams of contestants build a working machine that can perform a specific task, using materials available in a 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 US show was also produced by RDF Media, and was originally shown on The Learning Channel. Repeats have aired on another Discovery network, the Science Channel.
Format
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 car, a bridging machine, a car-crusher, and a machine to fling a 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, where NASA engineers had only a short period of time to construct a carbon dioxide filter out of parts available on the space capsule. The show also drew its inspiration from the 1980s TV series The Great Egg Race.
History and results
The UK pilot show was presented by Sally Gray with the first full series presented by Robert Llewellyn, joined in series 2–4 by producer Cathy Rogers, and in series 5–10 by Lisa Rogers (no relation). For series 11, both hosts were replaced by former Scrapheap contestant and judge Dick Strawbridge.
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 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, and series 4 had The Mulewrights brought in at the last minute when The Barley Pickers were unable to travel due to the foot-and-mouth crisis. Both US teams made it to the final round.
Series 1 (1998)The series was tied 3–3
Series 2 (1999)Winners: Megalomaniacs
Series 3 (2000)Winners: Brothers in Arms; Champion of Champions: Megalomaniacs
Series 4 (2001)Winners: Cat-alysts; Champion of Champions: Cat-alysts
Series 5 (2002)Winners: Barley Pickers; Champion of Champions: Cat-alysts
Series 6 (2003)Winners: The Destroyers; Champion of Champions: Cat-alysts
Series 7 (2004)Winners: Anoraks; Champion of Champions: Anoraks
Series 8 (2005)Winners: Powerlifters; Champion of Champions: Powerlifters
Series 9 (2007)Winners: Woof Justice; Champion of Champions: Woof Justice
Series 10 (2008)Winners: Rusty Regiment; Champion of Champions: Woof Justice
Series 11 (2009/10)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.
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.
Spin-offs
Full Metal Challenge
A spin-off from 2003 that had teams from around the world. Teams had a fixed budget and a month to build a vehicle to compete in a varied set of trials, such as auto "bowling", a race through a flooded course, a "car coaster", car "sumo" and other tests.