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.

Good episode. Obvious backstory incoming with the siblings and the in law couple.

I think Scott Mills was supposed to do the after show so it might be a bit unpolished for now.

I loved the first episode, best start to a series so far. Liked all the teams for different reasons which is nice.
I’m from Liverpool so I’m routing for the Scouse boys - interesting that they seemed to go the more expensive route but look like they will finish this leg in the best position financially.

I thought it was a bit mean of the lads to not change the money for the dad and daughter. Yes it’s a competition, but I didn’t like that and was cheering when dad and daughter got on the ferry also.

I agree. 💐
I don't get why people are being down on Margo, she spent time caring for her sister, helping her to laugh. Now she's helping Mark in this journey. She's not Hyacinth, or annoying. However, she's an older woman who is good humoured, determined and confident, and that always seems to irk people.
Go Margo!

Yes, they ought to have helped, funnily enough they were given an opportunity to share the mini van.

Palermo is just stunning, isn't it? The first episode was a complete visual joy.

I did think this at first and I suggested to DH that it wouldn’t be a bad thing for someone to owe you a favour for later on but imagine if you gave them the money and then they managed to get ahead of you which cost you in the next leg.

Anyone who goes on a show like this needs to have a competitive streak.

As I said, they got the opportunity to share the mini van, though, didn't they? It reduced the cost for Andrew and Molly, but was still a real help to Jo and Kush as they were touting round the ferry, trying to get on with the next step of the journey.

That was mutually beneficial though so both teams benefitted.

I just said that! 😂
However, it was a chance for the lads, too!

I thought it was a little sad at the end when Harrison, who seemed a lovely polite young lad, couldn’t enjoy his win as he was concerned about the amount of money spent. Hopefully the extra time in a luxurious hotel will make up for that. Maybe he was just tired as it was late.

Just realised, the others arrived in daylight, so they must have a several hours advantage on the other teams.

Yes, @Silverbirchleaf , he seems very anxious about the budget. I hope the win will help him to relax about money, a little bit. I laughed at the dry sandwich, though!

Im loving Margo. Loved the way she prepared for the sprint off at the start by getting her red lippy on 😂. The 2 boys and the brother and sister are so sweet and funny and think they'll all do well. I like the cousins but dont feel we've seen as much of them yet. The geography teacher needs to get out of teacher mode and listen to his daughter more as he very much thinks He Knows Best. He's the only one thats irritated me so far.

I agree, @XiCi - loved Margo and the lippy! Also when Mark was getting anxious about accommodation and she pretended to jump on the scooter! I like all of them so far, it'll be interesting to see how the journey tests them.

It was actually only Kush that wouldn't as well - so potential squabbles to come later? Joe seems a bit nicer. (I think I have them the right way round!)

I think Kush seems a bit more competitive. He found the location of the first checkpoint by asking Puja and Roshni, and they were happy to tell him where it was, so others have helped them.

That's his self described Scouse Charm, I guess!

Now watching after show. I do really like Tyler and Molly so am enjoying it. Tyler has a lovely persona.

I think it is good having people who have done it before.

Margo is very middle class isn't she. Probably on Mumsnet! She knew where Fiskardo was. (as did I, as have been to Kefalonia!). It's a useful advantage to be well travelled but once they are out of Europe that advantage will go. I did think they were both a bit knowingly 'well travelled' what with all the squabbling over Naples.

Tyler and Molly from the celebrity one? Thet were lovely.

Yup, the Hyacinth thing is lazy sexism and ageism at its best. Go Margo!

Isn't it just! How dare an older woman be confident and assertive! 💪

Yes, them. Lovely couple. Now engaged , it seems.

Yay!

Mount Edna on my face was hilarious 😂

I like the two young lads, the teacher is irritating me. The guy with his sister in law is a bit miserable but the sister in law is a bit forced crazy.

Mind you I wouldn't go travelling with my Brother in Law!

I asked my husband if he’d travel with any of my sisters and he said he’d maybe consider one of them, but otherwise it was a no!

With Margo, I can’t quite decide if she is forcing it a bit or she’s genuinely like that as her core persona. But I also think if she’s forcing it, there’s a reason.

She nursed her sister, she watched her beloved sister die, maybe her sister asked her to not let her brother in law sink into a morass of grief, to keep him present in the world. I feel like there’s something over her. Something a little brittle, a protective layer, that she’s holding together for him. Jollying him along. Because that’s who she is and that’s what she does.

Maybe I’m totally overthinking it! But I feel
like there’s a lot more to her yet.

I wonder if it's the latter. She helped her sister and she helped him. Now she's helping him again. He wouldn't have coped with that accommodation problem without her.