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
Craig Stevens (actor) French Line" (1953) and "Duel on the Mississippi" (1955). Stevens was in "The Revlon Mirror Theater", "The Lineup", "The Star and the Story", "The Eddie Cantor Comedy Theater", "Private Secretary", "The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse", "The Whistler", "The Millionaire", "Science Fiction Theatre", "Matinee Theatre", "Four Star Playhouse", "Chevron Hall of Stars", "The Ford Television Theatre", "Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre ", "", "Mr. Adams and Eve", "The Silent Service", "Lux Video Theatre", "Studio 57", "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "The Loretta Young Show", "Schlitz Playhouse", and "State Trooper". On October 29, 1954, Stevens guest-starred on the 1953–1955 ABC sitcom with a variety show