“The Challenge”

Rob / 26.09.2003

It seems TV companies are recruiting fit people for ‘Are you Tough Enough’ reality programmes every week, but the BBC production ‘The Challenge’ really stands out. This is the big one – the chance to turn your adventuring day dreams into reality, and in a true test, not a contrived challenge.

Here’s their challenge to you. “Ever watched elite athletes climbing the worlds’ highest mountains, racing rally cars through the desert or trekking to the North Pole and thought, “I could do that.” Well, now’s your chance to prove it!”

They want athletes who are prepared to have a go at the world’s great adventures, like ocean yacht racing, desert and arctic ultra runs, ascents of the world’s most famous mountains and more. They’ll obviously need exceptionally fit people, prepared to put themselves on the line, and express how they feel, very publicly. (We’re talking prime time coverage and probably world syndication here!)

But it’s even more interesting than that. All of the challenges are team events, where if one person fails, the whole team fails, and the idea is take top performers in one sport, and put them with a top team in another. So an adventure racer might join a crew on a Volvo Round-the-World yacht, or a climbing team including Everest summiteers. They’d train with them, and then tackle the challenge that’s the focus of the show.

They’ll be filmed throughout the whole process, so it will be about team work, adaptability, mental as well as physical toughness, and a true sense of adventure. The show will also be taking top performers in these other sports and putting them with adventure racing teams in some of the world’s big events (more than one). Now, won’t that be interesting. (How would Michael Schumacher manage an AR transition/pitstop if he had to sort his own equipment out in the middle of the night in a bog when he hadn’t slept for 36 hours?)

If you think you’ve got what it takes the BBC want to hear from you. There will only be a few athletes selected and they stress the need to be extremely fit, but the team work and adaptability that adventure racers have is exactly what they are looking for. Along with the right personality of course.

You’ll need a valid passport and to commit to challenges ranging from one to three weeks, plus training time in advance. (Some of the challenges are this year, but most are in 2004 – and they choose who does which!)

The first step if you want a go is to write or email them with a short biography and a few words saying why you think you are up to ‘The Challenge’.

Write to:
The Challenge, room 4454
BBC Whitecity
201 Wood Lane
London
W12 7TS

Or email: applicants.thechallenge@bbc.co.uk.