Race Across The World 2026

[LindorDoubleChoc]

Hooray!

This is back for another series, starting Thursday.

I just googled very quickly and they set off from Sicily and end the race in northern Mongolia - sounds interesting.

I don't know anything else about it at this point, but thought that we should have a thread ready and waiting.

Has anybody ever applied or know anyone personally who has applied or who has been on it?

I love watching Jane MacDonald.

I agree about the boys. I haven't done a lot of backpacking but I gave a bed for the night to a couple of young American backpackers who were hitchhiking. It was pouring with rain and they were heading for the Peak District because they thought they could just pitch their tent there. Their vision of a National Park was a bit different to ours. They were amazed that I knew where New Mexico, where they had come from, was as they said most Americans have no idea about Britain or Europe.

That was lovely of you. I would agree that people are generally good and like to help. I haven't offered accommodation but I have driven very lost toursts to better transport connecton points. I have also walked with lost tourists to where they need to get to (pre google maps). I would definitely be happy to help if there was a camera and a chance to be on the BBC 😁

I have done a lot of backpacking (but it was thirty years ago when everyone went backpacking in their early 20s) and some people were helpful and some were creepy.

I wouldn't help someone being followed around with a camera for a tv show but I agree certain people love the idea of being on tv and would. The programme 'Hunted' is probably the nearest tv programme to it. Again this is quite staged though.

However as this thread has illustrated, the boys crying is obviously good tv for some people, but I prefer watching the contestants getting on wtth it personally and making the most of the wonderful opportunity they have been given.

I think lots of people are being unfair to Kush on this thread. He is only 19, and has suffered a recent bereavement of his much loved step father. He is obviously still grieving and by his own admission suffers with anxiety.
They both seem to have had difficult childhoods to an extent. Joe is a wonderful friend and a genuinely wise young man.
I don't find them irritating at all, they are both adorable and have natural charm.
I really hope they win as the prize money would be a huge advantage to two WC young men.

I really like Kush and Jo, it's lovely to see how supportive Jo was when Kush was struggling mentally. Young men often find it difficult to show emotions so I think that was really helpful.

I caught up with it and I am so glad I watched it .
My heart is definitely behind the boys or the siblings .

This weeks episode is on WEDNESDAY at 8 pm due to the semi finals of the Eurovision Song Contest.
(Apologies if already mentioned ! )

The boys seem nice lads but I’m bored of the back stories and the time they take up. It feels like every episode has less travel and more talking. Stood around in a walnut field chatting and doing almost zero work is neither respectful or a good use of time. I wish there were time stamps too as I find it amazing some can leg it across and others spend a day chatting and doing very little and still get there at the same time. I miss the older series where they’d do a work placement then realise they couldn’t get a taxi back to civilisation at 10pm.

@LindorDoubleChoc under 100 posts left, might need a new thread for Wednesday

I was really touched by Joe and Kush. Without Joe's level head, motivation and knowing how to support Kush they'd still be sat on the side of the road.
Kush has had a really hard life. He had lost 2 Dad's by the age of 14. I cried yesterday at them being in first place...felt like a proud parent.
I also loved Harrison on the horse. I bet that really helped his ND.

I agree. I miss when they got paid for the work they actually did too. Not pissing around on a boat and throwing walnuts to each other.
Now they are being treated like work experience kids where expectations are on the floor and they are still praised and rewarded for doing very little.

If some of the contestants are as fragile as they make out, they wouldn’t apply to be on a tv series in the first instance and secondly BBC are being very irresponsible in taking them on.

and i found it annoying when they danced and the taxi driver didnt look exactly impressed - but i get many people are enamoured by them

Thanks for the heads-up about Wednesday not Thursday this week @bizzey.

HOPE EVERYONE'S NOTICED

I'll do a new thread when we get to around 960/970 on here.

It crossed my mind d whether the race was a good idea also, if they were as fragile. Maybe the show just brought all the emotions to the forefront. However, I hope it’s helped him, and has made him more resilient and stronger.

I would think people who were normally quite strong could have a tearful moment that far in to a long, difficult journey. Molly had one the week before. I don't she or Kush are particularly fragile.

Really enjoyed this week although rather lost track of where everyone was relative to each other. My experience of travelling without a car is people are generally kind and helpful, happy to chat, offer lifts and share their food to complete strangers.

I agree.
Everytime my partner and I go on our travels...we've done several 6 weeks, several 4 weeks, without fail I have a 'moment '. Usually due to being over tired, or a bit overwhelmed with all the organising or just feeling out of kilter.
When you're on a longer trip with nothing booked, going from place to place it can be bloody exhausting. Thinking about budget, finding accommodation, places to eat...everything is new every day or every few days. Add in a bit of additional stress........cant find somewhere to stop, someone is a bit sick, mis choice of plan etc

I had a spell like this myself on a three week camping trip in France. My period started and I was craving a Sunday roast that's all.

Anyone else just watch the series to virtual travel and find either potential holiday destinations (loved the look of China..now on my radar!) and places that you now feel: glad I never went there?! Has anyone here actually gone somewhere because of Race Across the World?

I love watching the off the beaten track destinations but am not brave enough to go to them.

I rewatched the Canadian series just for the scenery. Would love to go there and go coast to coast

I did China in 1995, and would really like to go back as the changes appear to be huge! There were still may people wearing Mao suits even in Beijing. We visited the main tourist sites but Europeans were still a novelty!

Been to a few of the places on RATW my favourite of all is Iguazu. Went almost 40 years ago and have never forgotten it. Nowhere like it since.

Not been, but iguaza falls is very tempting. Just not a very adventurous traveller.