Unlike most people who watch Race Across The World I am certain in the knowledge that I would be absolutely rubbish at it. 

The hit BBC series sees pairs of people travel from one part of the world to another on a very limited budget and in the quickest time possible. And while I wouldn’t mind roughing it for a few days – i.e. sleeping on trains, washing in public toilets (she says, freshly showered and in the comfort of her kitchen), I would struggle with the required speed of the journey. I’d be one of the contestants people find annoying, those who want to stop and see all the sites, take big detours and chat to as many people as possible. 

Also I’m a notoriously bad packer – I once took 19 pairs of socks to Glastonbury – so fitting enough to travel 15,000km into one backpack is going to be a problem. Oh, and of course I can’t read a map.

But I absolutely love watching the show – just thinking about best friends Cathie and Tricia, the winners from the 2023 series and what they overcame to get there, makes me feel tearful. So I’m thrilled it will be returning next month, that I’ll be able to watch more sets of people do their absolute best, see swathes of the world I’ve never seen before and witness the evolving relationships of the pairs of contestants. 

Where is the new season of Race Across The World set? 

So far the contestants have adventured from London to Singapore, Mexico to Argentina and across Canada. And now the intrepid travellers are headed to Eastern Asia for an unforgettable trip. 

“From northernmost Japan, they will cross six seas and eight borders, skirting the path of the volcanic ring of fire – the most geologically unstable region on the planet – to reach the finish line in Lombok, an idyllic Indonesian island paradise.”

Each week, without the aid of smartphones, the pairs of contestants compete to be the first to arrive at a checkpoint, on a minuscule budget and without travelling by air. Along the way there are chances to earn extra money working locally, and the overall winners of the series will win a cash prize of £20,000.

Think of all the pairs of socks I could buy with that…

Who is in the new series of Race Across The World?

This time around there are two pairs of mother and daughters a set of best friends, a married couple and two siblings. Here’s what we know about each of them…

Stephen and Viv 

I don’t know why my heart’s already in bits over ballroom-dancing retired couple Stephen and Viv holding hands here, but that’s where we are. I think Viv might be a woman after my own heart, with her suggested strategy being “whoever of the other couples look like they know where they’re going or what they’re doing, we’ll run after them!” 

I also admire how they’ve prepared. “I’ve never possessed a rucksack,” says Viv. “We’ve been gardening in them,” adds Stephen. “We borrowed my daughter’s rucksack and stuffed it full of towels. We tried to get a little bit fitter, but the reality is we’re lazy like everyone else.”

Eugenie and Isabel

This mother and daughter team are a teacher and trainee clinical scientist who are both deeply competitive, although Isabel thinks the gene is stronger in mum Eugenie. “I don’t think I’m as bad as you are,” she tells her mum. 

They’d already turned the experience into an adventure even before setting off, preparing packed lucnhes in an attempt to save money. “We’ve got Tupperware,” says Eugenie. “We’ve got a spork. I didn’t know what a spork was before this trip!” 

Spork discovery aside, the pair are doing the series to spend more time together and get to know each other more deeply. 

Sharon and Brydie

Another mother-daughter duo, which is making me think about how excellent my own mum would be on Race Across The World – she deserves a Guinness World Record for how good at packing she is, and the number of countries she’s been to puts me to shame. Anyway! Sharon, a cleaner, and snowboard instructor Brydie (you just know she’s going to be cool!) have a tight bond and are natural adventurers. 

“We can sleep anywhere, you can leave us on the floor with our backpacks on and we’ll sleep. We’re good like that,” says Brydie. “Also, we don’t belong somewhere like a 5-star hotel.”  “I’d probably be more at home roughing it,” adds Sharon, which is lucky…

Betty and James 

“It’ll be reet” is the Yorkshire motto sporty siblings Betty (a social media and events manager) and James (a sales consultant) are bringing to the series. 

And while the pair are admittedly not super-close – “I don’t think I’d have probably chosen Betty,” admits James, bringing big younger brother energy to the game – they hope this experience will strengthen their relationship and both are open to trying anything once. 

Owen and Alfie 

The final contestants are keen travellers Alfie (a trainee pilot) and Owen (a football referee) who, despite their tender ages of 20, have a thought-through race plan: “earn first and race later”.  

Both are “very very competitive”, and Owen’s approach to money should serve the duo well. “I’m just tight with money, I’m stingy, so I’m not worried about the money we’ll have,” he admits. Teach me your ways young adventurer…

When can I watch Race Across The World? 

The series will begin on Wednesday 10 April at 9pm on BBC One, with new episodes airing weekly. Until then, this trailer will give you a snapshot of what to expect. 

Images: BBC