BON VOYAGE
What is Race Across The World and how much do the winning contestants get paid?
The five new teams have been revealed
THE countdown has begun as five teams compete against each other to travel around the globe.
A new season of Race Across The World returns with a brand new route, this time taking place entirely in Eastern Asia.
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What is Race Across The World?
Five pairs take part in Race Across The World, travelling across a region of the globe to become the fastest journey to reach a destination.
The caveat is that they cannot travel by air to any part of the world.
The competitors are provided with an amount of money equivalent to the cost of a one-way plane ticket to the final destination.
They can use this money to travel by land or sea.
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The funds can cover expenses such as transportation, food, and accommodation, but teams also have the option to work along the journey to earn additional money.
The show was originally broadcast on BBC Two, but it was moved to BBC One due to its soaring popularity for the third season.
No phones or credit cards are allowed at the start of the race, but participants are given a world map, a GPS device to track their progress and for safety, and a travel guide with local job adverts.
Using the GPS, the teams are given a checkpoint they have to reach in every episode.
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However, a team can be eliminated if they can’t reach the checkpoint in time.
The racers are then given a 36-hour breather at each pitstop.
All Saints singer Melanie Blatt and her mum become emotional as they discuss her life-changing surgery as a 12-year-old on Celebrity Race Across the World
The BAFTA Award-winning series has been narrated by John Hannah since first airing in 2019.
Where is Race Across the World 2024?
This year's route crosses Eastern Asia, where five intrepid duos will compete in an exhilarating 15,000-kilometre race spanning multiple countries.
Starting from northernmost Japan, they'll navigate across six seas and eight borders, journeying along the path of the volcanic ring of fire.
It is one of the planet's most geologically unstable regions.
They then have to reach the finish line in Lombok, an idyllic Indonesian island paradise.
Who is taking part in Race Across the World?
The five teams that will be taking part in the new Series of Race Across the World have been revealed.
Alfie and Owen
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Football referee Alfie and trainee pilot Owen hail from Hertfordshire are best friends from school.
The 20-year-olds have their sights on different goals.
One wants to experience everything the race throws at them, the other only has eyes for the finish line.
Speaking to the BBC, they say their strategy is “earn first and race later”.
Betty and James
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Social media manager Betty and sales consultant James are siblings from Yorkshire.
Betty, 25, and James, 21, both agree that it’s better to go in with a clear head.
They said: “I think part of our strategy is just being nice to people, speaking to locals and using the fact that we are approachable and can speak to people as a sort of too.”
Eugenie and Isabel
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Mother-daughter pair 60-year-old Eugenie and 25-year-old Isabel are from Barking and Birmingham.
The teacher and trainee clinical scientist are said to have clashing personalities and contrasting strengths, but hope the race will improve their understanding of one another.
For the dynamic duo, they say their biggest challenge is patience.
Sharon and Brydie
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Sharon and Brydie are another mother-daughter team.
Sharon, 52, is a cleaner whilst Brydie, 25, is a snowboard instructor.
The couple say they hope to embrace the challenges of travel and dyslexia.
Stephen and Viv
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Retired husband and wife team Stephen and Viv are from Rutland and are on a quest to prove that wisdom, perspective and maturity is the winning formula.
With a newfound zest for life, and in pursuit of a thrilling adventure, they are grabbing hold of life with both hands.
What do the winners of Race Across the World get?
The team that reaches the final destination first is awarded a cash prize of £20,000.
The winners of season one, retired PE teachers Elaine and Tony, reportedly found inspiration in their three children all taking gap years.
Their season saw them travelling from London to Singapore in a bid to win the money.
They apparently invested the prize money in purchasing electric bikes and divided the remainder among family members and charity.
Uncle and nephew Emon and Jamiul were crowned winners of series two of the show, after trekking across South America.
It’s been reported they pledged 75 per cent of the money to charity, and decided to give the remaining £5,000 to Emon’s family orphanage in Bangladesh.
How real is Race Across the World?
Apparently there are approximately six or seven people accompanying each couple at all times, capturing every aspect of their activities.
The camera crews must try to carry all their equipment and keep pace with the contestants without impeding their progress in any manner.
Each pair is also followed by a local fixer and a security adviser, although they maintain sufficient distance to preserve the authenticity of the journey.
Although they are not allowed from using a phone for assistance, the BBC has confirmed that in case of a serious emergency or an event back home, cast members would be able to speak to a designated individual over the phone.
Maybe you’re looking to change something in your life? Or are keen to share the journey with someone special like a family member, best friend, or someone you’ve lost touch with?
BBC
However, as a producer emphasised, "we really try to keep them in the bubble as much as possible."
BBC commissioner Michael Jochnowitz added all of the job opportunities are real. "We don't create any job opportunities. We don't go to any of those places and say, 'For the purposes of the show, can you provide this kind of service?'
"Those are real jobs, real places, real money or accommodation and things like that so again, because they don't have access to a phone or the internet, we basically just give them a guide of potential opportunities in the area,” he told the .
Can I apply for Race Across the World?
The BBC says the experience is “open for all.”
You can fill out your application before the deadline on April 19, 2024.
You may even have a very personal reason for wanting to travel at this time in your life or explore a particular part of the world.
BBC
The broadcaster explained: “Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or total novice. We want to hear what undertaking a trip like this would mean to you, and with a cash prize at stake, what lengths you would go to to win.
“Maybe you’re looking to change something in your life? Or are keen to share the journey with someone special like a family member, best friend, or someone you’ve lost touch with?
"You may even have a very personal reason for wanting to travel at this time in your life or explore a particular part of the world.”
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How can I watch Race Across The World?
You can catch up on previous episodes of Race Across the World now on BBC iPlayer.
The new series of Race Across the World begins on April 10 at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
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