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Race Across the World series 2

737 replies

IsabelleSE19 · 26/02/2020 11:23

I loved this show last year and was very excited to see a trailer yesterday that seemed to show series 2 was coming soon and was located in the Americas? But Googling it has revealed absolutely nothing! I thought I'd start this thread so that fellow fans have a place to comment when we have more info.

If it is the Americas, it will stop the contestants just copying last year's journeys, although I must admit I think the Europe/Asia route will prove more interesting as there's such a great variation in cultures as you travel east. But I don't know much about South America so looking forward to being wrong, and I'm sure it will be just as exciting as the last series. It'll be the people that make it - loved Darron and Alex from last year and their changing relationship/bond!

OP posts:
MakeItThroughTheDay · 13/04/2020 18:39

Now I'm the one being mean but apart from the manual labour, Sam hasn't done much that Jo couldn't have done much more easily alone. It's like the trip is FOR him, not by him.

MrsGrindah · 13/04/2020 18:47

I know these programmes are heavily edited but there’s something a bit unbelievable about it... 30 plus days on the road and the blokes beards and hairlines still perfectly trimmed..the amount of times couples reach the bus / train at exactly the same time etc. However, I still love it .

Cruddles · 13/04/2020 19:19

There's too much chit chat and not enough on the travel part of it, everything is them just talking about their relationships, getting a bit sick of it to be honest.

As for the previous season, i didn't care who won as long as it wasn't the hipster guys. They annoyed me

MakeItThroughTheDay · 13/04/2020 20:16

My favourite couple last series were the ones who got eliminated, two lifelong friends, was one called Susan maybe.
I liked one of the hipster guys but not the other.
I find the work situations TOTALLY contrived but yeah, still love it.
Is Emon the only one we've seen someone from home and his house (his wife) in the scenes where he's packing? I wonder why only him.

theschoolonthehill · 13/04/2020 21:11

Yes you are right about Emon and his wife helping him pack. Odd.

slimecentury · 13/04/2020 21:31

@thetoddleratemyhomework ooh can you say who you know?
This is my hour I look forward to all week. So sad I know! I love love love this programme. Jo for the win. Or the uncle/nephew.

CurbsideProphet · 13/04/2020 21:35

It's so interesting reading other people's interpretations of the different pairings. I agree there's a lot of navel gazing along the way this series. The production team must be asking a lot more questions this time.

The brother and sister seem to really agonise over their relationship. I don't know why they would need to. They're different people and have differing opinions, react to things in different ways etc. I don't know why that is such a cause of upset for them. I'd be interested to see what their parents are like.

Sedona123 · 13/04/2020 21:51

I love the show, but also find it a bit unbelievable at times. All of the teams have somehow chosen different tourist attractions to visit, and also haven't by chance picked the same work to do?

MaggieFS · 13/04/2020 22:00

I agree with a pp that said it's almost as if the mum martyrs herself to let the son do what he wants, but then I had a soppy moment thinking how much pleasure I get watching my son when he's happy and he's not even two yet, so perhaps it's the same sort of thing. Seems like she's putting herself out, but actually it's mostly no bother to her and she enjoys it when he's thriving?

theschoolonthehill · 13/04/2020 23:34

This thread is so funny and amazing. I know one of the pairs in real life, so it is funny to see how non-partial people would see them

Can you tell us if you share the opinions without outing them?

I think we are all a bit too interested in their relationships because it is the tv's show main focus this time.

I quite like Jen and I don't think Rob is a saint for putting up with her. I think she is self aware although certainly not a shrinking violet. She LOVED being centre stage when they were singing. I have to admit I felt sorry for her when she described their social life as sitting in watching tv and playing games. That is not the life she wants and its ok for her to say that.

I don't suppose any of them are shy though or they certainly wouldn't have volunteered to go on national tv. That is why I also find it difficult to believe that the sister is so unassertive and shy. Apart from being quite pretty, slim, tanned, long blonde (particularly gorgeous) hair, she willingly went on national tv. The dynamic of their relationship is strange, they are still stuck in the older/younger sibling relationship dynamic. Maybe this is true of many? In my family, it is because our parent never treats/respects us an adults and we revert to being as we were as children around each other.

theschoolonthehill · 13/04/2020 23:37

This is my hour I look forward to all week

Me too. It is the one and only programme I wake up on Sunday mornings excited it will be on later that evening.
I like this thread too.

pinksoda35 · 14/04/2020 10:29

I enjoy this series too
I like Jen.
I like all the couples this time but am slowly liking the Uncle/Nephew more and more they just seem so real and nice!!
How come one of the couples(the two school friends) got eliminated last series?
I know we have lost one couple already this series so that won't happen this time?
TBH I don't know what pleasure they get off travelling for hours and hours on crappy buses...I could not do it but I enjoy watching it

crazycatguy · 14/04/2020 10:36

I hope Jo wins and she gives Sam a fiver and a thanks for coming.

I hope Robbie leaves Jen and finds someone who'll appreciate him for who he is and not live his life scared of his wife's next hideous over reaction.

Really like the uncle and nephew - I'd be pleased to see them win.

I hope Dom emails me his phone number.

Cruddles · 14/04/2020 10:51

I love the show, but also find it a bit unbelievable at times. All of the teams have somehow chosen different tourist attractions to visit, and also haven't by chance picked the same work to do?

The previous series focused on the work thing a bit more, they had a book with listings of jobs and would sit and discuss if they wanted to do it, there were a number of options. I'm not sure if this series has the same options and I'm assuming they don't get the same option.

Also I'm assuming they are told they must stop at a certain amount of sites during the race? It's just not promoted. If you're in a race for £20k skip the waterfalls and deserts, win it and use your £20k to go back and have a proper holiday

BiggerBoat1 · 14/04/2020 11:05

I'm loving this series.

I want Jo and Sam to win. She's an amazing woman and he does seem to be growing as the race goes on. He works so hard and seems to connect really well with the people they meet.

I really like the Uncle and Nephew too. They seem the most genuine and their reaction to the homeless family was genuinely touching.

Jen annoys the shit out of me and the sister is such a princess I can't understand why her brother agreed to do the race with her.

theschoolonthehill · 14/04/2020 11:10

TBH I don't know what pleasure they get off travelling for hours and hours on crappy buses.

I’ve done it and loved it. One of the best times in my life. Chatting to strangers, stopping in unheard of places, walking around trying to find accommodation, it is very liberating and probably the only time in my life to just ‘be’ myself. No expectations, no pressure, the ultimate freedom. The contestants are playing the ultimate game. I’d love to do it but not with a tv crew trailing me! I know people who hate even the thought, love expensive hotels. taxis, direct flights. I’d choose the buses and seeing local areas.

BeaLola · 14/04/2020 11:34

I am enjoying it but preferred the last series I think because there was more variety countrywise and also travel wise eg they could take local trains or fast ones as well as bushes, taxis or overnight buses

I expect due to the unrest they had to change a couple of the checkpoints and that has probably affected the options available

I think the working options are staged somehow and perhaps they each get a different set of options booklet ?

Also - how come 2 couples lost the map this time round ?

I also wonder how many applied to take part - much as I like Jo wouldn't she be an insurance nightmare for them ? Older , lymphoma and diabetes ?

In my dream scenario they would make a deal to all cross the line together and get £5 k per couple from the winnings !

runwithme · 14/04/2020 11:45

When is the last episode? How do they decide the winner- is it first to the final check point? Surely it makes all the other checkpoint races worthless?

Love Jo, and have a lot of time for Sam. Not keen on the wife in the married couple. She never sees fault in herself, it's all about how his condition has negatively affected them. Uncle and nephew are great, probably my favourite. Love the brother, but the sister is very much like the wife of the couple- blames him for everything and doesn't see how she could have acted differently.

theschoolonthehill · 14/04/2020 11:45

I think the working options are staged somehow and perhaps they each get a different set of options booklet ?

I never thought they were ‘real’ jobs.

I’m sure getting to stay in a lovely hotel every few days is great too, hot water, clean sheets, a chance to wash clothes. It must give them huge motivation to get there first and have a longer time there.

ArsenicNLace · 14/04/2020 12:42

It must give them huge motivation to get there first and have a longer time there. They all stay for 36 hours. No on stays longer than anyone else. The first to arrive leaves first.

There was one episode where the couple left the hotel but couldn't get a connecting boat/coach to wherever they were going until the day after so they had to go and find a place to stay in the same town as the checkpoint hotel.

IDefinitelyHaveFriends · 14/04/2020 13:07

First to check in at the final checkpoint wins, but yes you keep your lead at each checkpoint, so if couple one checks in one hour ahead of couple two then they set off an hour earlier after their break. If they get there 24 hours ahead of everyone else then that’s a really massive lead to carry into the next leg. It does mean that the frantic foot races to get to the middle checkpoints are a bit pointless. No point in giving yourself an asthma attack sprinting up a hill just to gain a five minute advantage setting off in 36 hours time. It’s worth sprinting to catch a bus, but not just for bragging rights at a checkpoint.

thetoddleratemyhomework · 14/04/2020 19:34

Well for those who asked, it's Rob and Jen. Definitely still together and (so far as I can tell) happy!! Obviously, I am not a fly on the wall in their house, so I only see the public face, but what I see isn't edited for TV either 🤷‍♀️. I have known them a while. Jen definitely tends towards the dramatic, but actually she is also very caring in real life and i have always found her a very positive and enthusiastic presence - I think she is just someone who processes stress in a particular way. Rob is a laid back gent, bright (aerospace engineer), dry sense of humour and a good dancer - actually, I have always thought he was a bit of a catch (I am happily married and my husband wouldn't mind at all - he is a rob fan too!). They are able to laugh at themselves on Tv.

Honeyroar · 14/04/2020 20:29

I didn’t watch last series, but I’m enjoying this one. I’m rooting for the nephew/uncle pair, they seem genuinely nice people. I can’t stand Lizzie, she’s just as hopeless as Sam! Sam’s mum has the patience of a saint. She did say that the trip was for him, to push him to experience new things. Nice to hear a bit more about Rob and Jen. She also comes across as a bit self centred. Nice to hear they’re still together, I’m not sure I’d have put money on it!😄

How many more episodes are there?

theschoolonthehill · 14/04/2020 21:20

I’m glad they are happily together too though I’ve always thought Jen comes across as very normal albeit a talker.

thetoddleratemyhomework · 14/04/2020 21:29

@theschoolonthehill

I've certainly never thought she was particularly unusual!