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Telly addicts

Race Across The World Series 5 Thread 2

795 replies

TwentyKittens · 31/05/2025 13:24

With only five posts left on the old thread, thought I'd start this so we can link between the two.

This thread carries on from the first:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/telly_addicts/5314933-race-across-the-world?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

OP posts:
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8
BaconMassive · 05/06/2025 16:03

Why is Brian so off-hand with his brother?

Like "maybe after this you could come on a trip to our villa with us". Just for a weekend or something, whilst we are there longer.

Constantly sees himself as superior.

123ZYX · 05/06/2025 16:38

BaconMassive · 05/06/2025 16:03

Why is Brian so off-hand with his brother?

Like "maybe after this you could come on a trip to our villa with us". Just for a weekend or something, whilst we are there longer.

Constantly sees himself as superior.

I think they were both a bit tipsy at that point, so not expressing themselves well.

I suspect they really are getting to know each other again and he didn’t want to put pressure on him by inviting him for a whole holiday, while trying to make it clear that he’d like him to be there.

SabrinaThwaite · 05/06/2025 16:40

Umbilicat · 05/06/2025 14:38

I hate this idea - saw it in the Traitors - that the winner should be the one who "needs" the money most. It should be the one(s) who played the game best. Which - to be fair - is all of them in this case, they've all been very strong at different times and ways.

Having said that, the uncle and nephew donating was fabulous.

I imagine however moneyed Tom's family are he could do with a leg up. He's emerged as a lovely young man and it's great to see Caroline thriving. I strongly suspect her back story has been played to death by the producers. She probably talked a lot about horses too and it all hit the cutting room floor. How can the editors not be aware that all this info is out there and people can access it in seconds?

I'm not sure Tom needs much of a leg up - he's also listed as a company director on Companies House.

Stirabout · 05/06/2025 16:50

Umbilicat · 05/06/2025 14:38

I hate this idea - saw it in the Traitors - that the winner should be the one who "needs" the money most. It should be the one(s) who played the game best. Which - to be fair - is all of them in this case, they've all been very strong at different times and ways.

Having said that, the uncle and nephew donating was fabulous.

I imagine however moneyed Tom's family are he could do with a leg up. He's emerged as a lovely young man and it's great to see Caroline thriving. I strongly suspect her back story has been played to death by the producers. She probably talked a lot about horses too and it all hit the cutting room floor. How can the editors not be aware that all this info is out there and people can access it in seconds?

Melvyn is very well off too.

I agree it should be about the couple who played the best game. It is a race after all.

BreezySwan · 05/06/2025 16:53

On a different note, staying in budget places do you think they ever get bed bugs?

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 05/06/2025 16:56

SabrinaThwaite · 05/06/2025 16:40

I'm not sure Tom needs much of a leg up - he's also listed as a company director on Companies House.

Being a company director is hardly an indicator of wealth

SabrinaThwaite · 05/06/2025 17:02

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 05/06/2025 16:56

Being a company director is hardly an indicator of wealth

Not many 21 year olds hold 100% of the shares for a company that lists a £400k property as its tangible assets.

Stirabout · 05/06/2025 17:03

SabrinaThwaite · 05/06/2025 16:40

I'm not sure Tom needs much of a leg up - he's also listed as a company director on Companies House.

Both the Tom Bright people on CH are not this one on RATW

SabrinaThwaite · 05/06/2025 17:10

Stirabout · 05/06/2025 17:03

Both the Tom Bright people on CH are not this one on RATW

This one has his parents listed as directors too.

Mynewnameis · 05/06/2025 17:17

I feel people are harsh on Caroline. The producers probably make them do the cringe life story bits. No one talks about their hobbies, which is what horses are for her.
They did well to get on that train on the reserve list. She obviously has come out of her shell alot.

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 05/06/2025 17:23

SabrinaThwaite · 05/06/2025 17:02

Not many 21 year olds hold 100% of the shares for a company that lists a £400k property as its tangible assets.

Okay, but not exactly ready cash is it? The family business is some sort of transport or haulage firm. The property is probably the yard/storage facility leased to the transport company.

SabrinaThwaite · 05/06/2025 17:37

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 05/06/2025 17:23

Okay, but not exactly ready cash is it? The family business is some sort of transport or haulage firm. The property is probably the yard/storage facility leased to the transport company.

I think it's more likely a way of transferring a freehold property to someone.

But that's by the by, it's not a case who of is the most deserving winner because that's subjective, it's about who has completed the race the fastest.

bashual · 05/06/2025 18:15

i have spent 20 years working in TV production.

it is absolutely and completely the producer’s choice to portray the contestants in whatever way they have decided. When they chose the contestants, there would have been meetings deciding on the common back story or theme for each contestant and how that was going to be the ‘thing’ for that person or team. They will have instructed the team following each couple to ask these themed questions over and over again. If an answer does not meet expectations, they’ll be asked it again until it does. It is highly likely that the contestants themselves are frustrated with how they are been portrayed. Anything that does not meet the narrative is either not asked about, or if it is (perhaps on the insistent of the contestant), it is edited out.

So for example, Caroline will have disclosed her qualifications, hobbies and skills on the application form and during what would have been lengthy negotiations and interviews to get through. Her background will have been checked (eg so the producers don’t accidentally choose someone with a nasty criminal record ), so she would not have been able to be deceptive.

It is the producer’s choice how she is portrayed and what subjects she is asked about. If she said anything about being more accomplished , it would be edited out. She would have been told multiple times to keep harping on about the housewife thing. You will also notice if you look carefully that many of her comments about this are actually all done in the pre-departure interviews (or post departure, that is also likely).

So I would advise those saying she is deceptive to be plain wrong. She is in the hands of the producers, will have signed a contract and will have very little say in how she is portrayed. Same for the others. It would be very niave to believe she has any power in her portrayal. And if she refused she would have been threatened with breach of contract, not being able to continue the race, not being paid etc.

Having said all of that, I think the back stories are way too much. The harping on about the sisters relationship and how traumatised she was to have to move out of her family home is particularly rehashed to within an inch of its life. But that is the job of a producer….make dull people interesting so they get viewers. Viewers equals being paid and equals another series being commissioned.

CaptainMyCaptain · 05/06/2025 18:25

Mynewnameis · 05/06/2025 17:17

I feel people are harsh on Caroline. The producers probably make them do the cringe life story bits. No one talks about their hobbies, which is what horses are for her.
They did well to get on that train on the reserve list. She obviously has come out of her shell alot.

She said she had done nothing for herself, she said it several times. It isn't true.

jay55 · 05/06/2025 18:28

Fell asleep before the end last night. They don’t seem to be showing the sisters much any more.
Surprised the brothers ended up so far behind.

paranoiaofpufflings · 05/06/2025 18:55

SabrinaThwaite · 05/06/2025 16:40

I'm not sure Tom needs much of a leg up - he's also listed as a company director on Companies House.

I’m listed as a Director on Companies House but I’m flat broke because the work I started up didn’t go well. Being a Director doesn’t mean you are rich!

SabrinaThwaite · 05/06/2025 19:02

paranoiaofpufflings · 05/06/2025 18:55

I’m listed as a Director on Companies House but I’m flat broke because the work I started up didn’t go well. Being a Director doesn’t mean you are rich!

It doesn't mean you're minted, but if you actually read the incorporation documents and the annual returns you get a good idea of how things are set up.

Bruisername · 05/06/2025 19:09

I haven’t warmed to Caroline at all and she comes across as fake and smug to me. I think they get a disproportionate amount of airtime and I don’t think that counts in her favour tbh

i think the brothers are the most genuine but suspect they are too far behind

i didn’t like that the brothers just turned up at the checkpoint with no telling us how they managed. It was also obvious they were last

Arrivederla · 05/06/2025 19:11

BreezySwan · 05/06/2025 15:37

I don't think it was perforative, I think they were genuinely moved and as Muslims acted on that by giving it away. Their faith seemed quite integral to their values.

I don't believe Caroline talked about riding and it ended up on the cutting room floor, there were too many good opportunities like the donkeys/horses and one of the brothers is quite rich so that wouldn't have been a reason for it for them not to be chosen. I think she just made a massive mistake by talking to horse and hound when she got back, I think she portrayed herself how she wanted to portray herself but didn't realize people do is huge amount of research on contestants. I can't believe that people actually look up their details on company's house...

I still want the brothers to win but not feeling very hopeful...

I cant agree. The programme producers do a massive amount of research on the people who have applied to take part before they choose them for RATW - there is no way that they wouldn't have known about Caroline's eventing success, which is out there in the public domain and very easy to find out about.

I knew someone once who took part in a BBC programme which showed the contestants back stories, (not RATW), and he was genuinely upset and shocked by the way that the producers would take things said by the contestants, and broadcast them in a totally different context. This could change the meaning completely of what was said...

Yes, Caroline must have said what she said, but who's to say that she didn't also talk about her eventing success? That could well have been cut out if it didn't 'fit in' with how the producers wanted the different characters to be portrayed.

Bruisername · 05/06/2025 19:12

But she says she isn’t used to making her own decisions and she has nothing for herself.

if she had also gone on to talk about the eventing I think most viewers would raise an eyebrow

BreezySwan · 05/06/2025 19:26

I don't know if people on this forum know Caroline but she seems to be one of the most strongly defended people when questioning the contestants... Why wouldn't the BBC want people to know she was into eventing? That seems strange to me

purpleme12 · 05/06/2025 20:58

I'm stressed out now that Melvyn and Brian won't win!

purpleme12 · 05/06/2025 20:59

I'm stressed out now that Melvyn and Brian won't win!

purpleme12 · 05/06/2025 21:24

Holly485 · 01/06/2025 16:39

Just seen that Sam the young lad who did the show with his mum has died in a car accident. Him and his mum were my favourite contestants out of any show. He was only 24.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cje7nx5l832o

This is so sad 😢

purpleme12 · 05/06/2025 21:48

Gundogday · 02/06/2025 22:01

Over £5000 raised so far!

Wow!