Born:
October 04, 1958
in
Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan
Best Known For:
That jumpsuit.
Early-life:
Born Anne Rice, in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, on October 4, 1958. She began her career in the media during her teens when she worked as a PA at the BBC World Service. At 19, she moved to Hong Kong to work for English language station, TVB Pearl. Three years later, she came back to the UK and landed a job as a secretary in the children's department at the BBC. In 1981, she appeared in TV series Frankie Howerd Strikes Again and Strangers, credited as Annie Rice. She changed her name to Anneka when applying for an Equity card.
Career:
In 1983, Rice got her big break as the 'skyrunner' on Channel 4 game show Treasure Hunt. She quit in 1988, and a year later fronted Challenge Anneka for the BBC, which ran until 1995. In the mid-1990s, she turned her back on TV to concentrate on family life and spent five years studying art. When she returned to the small screen in 2001, it was behind the camera for an American version of the Challenge programme. Two years later she fronted Dinner Doctors. Rice later featured in The Vagina Monologues, presented ITV cookery show Sunday Feast and co-hosted The Flowerpot Gang.
Quote:
'Am I looking forward to jumping out of a helicopter again? You bet.'
Trivia:
Away from TV, Rice has written books on skiing and scuba-diving, and is an avid painter.