Scrapheap Challenge 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 draws its inspiration from the 1980s TV series "The Great Egg Race". The UK show was originally presented by Robert Llewellyn, joined in series 2-4 by producer
Scrapheap Challenge Cathy Rogers, and in series 5-10 by Lisa Rogers (no relation). For series 11, both hosts were replaced with 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