Race Across The World 2026 - Thread 2

[LindorDoubleChoc]

Here we are continuing to watch, chat about and admire Race Across The World 2026, Sicily to Mongolia. Everyone welcome!

Link to thread 1 is here https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/telly_addicts/5510122-race-across-the-world-2026?reply=15225883.]]

I'm sorry I've had to start this probably a little early as I'm not watching live tonight (got home very late from work).

Placemark. Thank you.

I'm going to placemarl because not posting on the last thread (due to always being about a week behind) makes it hard to find you all!!

Considering changing my user name to You'veGotAHatDickHead. 😁

Thank you. I like all of them but the lads are just great. I love how the bbc feels the need to subtitle some of their words! Surprised they didn’t subtitle to explain what Kush meant by his kecks 🤣

I like all of them too (unlike last year) but i don't really want to see the two boys win, so it seems I do have a subtle hierarchy!

I think they subtitle when the audio is poor rather than accent.

I love the boys and I’d like them to win, but even if they don’t they could well end up with a presenting job.

Margo got on my nerves stopping to take a picture of the camels and dick about in the snow.

Hope Margo gets to finish it now. They should have signed up for work feel they get help navigating when do that
Hard to know how next week will go when transport so uncertain
Great route

Too focused on the boys again. I think we'll get a surprise and find out that they have a very different lifestyle to what we think. Their accents are making them sound one way but I think thats down to their age. I definitely would not watch them doing any presenting work. They aren't particularly interesting or funny to listen to.

Margo and Mark ran into trouble when they had to backtrack three times. The homestay was their downfall. I hope they get to the next point but I don't think they have the budget to do that.

Katie's positivity puts a smile on my face. She's just lovely. And I find Harrison very droll. Did he say at the end that he doesn't care if he wins or not as long as he either keeps his job or isn't doing his job? I couldn't make it out.

The Dad and daughter did well to catch up.

Mongolia looks so expensive for an underdeveloped country. Everybody with a car is trying to scam tourists..

Katie and Harrison are great
I am getting a bit annoyed by the seemingly runaway lead of the boys but will tune in next week

I really like the two boys. They are so young and doing so well.
And Kush has been through really hard times losing his step dad to suicide when he was just a young teenager. I like the way they speak about each other, the respect they show to the local people they meet and their obvious love & loyalty they have.

I think even if they don't win they will do well out of the show.

But everyone is great this series, I don't mind who wins. Usually there's an annoying couple but not this time.
I think it's been the best one so far because they started off in such familiar terrain but have travelled to some more unknown countries that we don't normally see. The home stays particularly have been fascinating.
I will be sad when this series ends.

I have warmed to Molly and ‘Daddy’ after not really being a big fan before. Do the love the boys and also that we are continually finding out new things about them this late on (the fact that they are both musical from last night)

I have a huge soft sport for katie and Harrison and have since the start. I love the mix of katie’s positivity, vulnerability and drollness towards Mark.

I have loved mark and Margo too and Margo’s endless sunshine that she brings. It must be really hard to be where they are now.. I can’t see how they will finish now.

As we all acknowledge, all 4 couples have clearly got so much from this that £20k couldn’t buy. I would love either of the younger couples to win though as it will make the most difference to their lives. I don’t remember enjoying a series of RATW this much! I think they chose so well this year (even though I didn’t hear back from them re me and my friend’s application 😂)

I'm anyone but "the boys" (actual men, though you'd sometimes be hard pressed to know it because of their constant infantilisation, as if they're twelve year olds).

Molly and Andrew have budget to spare so fingers crossed. 🤞

It’s been such a good series. I still really hope Katie and Harrison win. I think she has a really great attitude!

Technically at 19 they are men but my DD and her friends are 18 and 19 and they really aren’t that different to how they were at say 17. In fact I keep looking at them seeing what they have tackled thinking ‘I cannot believe they are only 19’ as I have such a close comparison at home!

I like the boys too. They are only 19, still kids really and especially in this context. I've really grown to like Kush, he has definitely come across much better as the series has gone on. I hope they win as they reckon they need the money most (or Katie and Harrison but they are far behind them). Also love Margo, really felt for them last night but why did they go backwards?

Joining. I haven't watched this week yet, got caught out by the day change!

Margo and Mark had to go back for transport links.

As much as I want them to, I don't see how Mark and Margo can finish the race. They've almost run out of money before reaching this checkpoint, and they still have another leg to go.

I would love the Kush and Jo to continue their lead, but I think Molly and her dad will win the last leg. They have a lot of their budget left and will be able to pay to speed things up.

Some ramblings while I'm killing some time before I leave for work...

This is my favourite series so far, not least because I really like everyone. There have been two series where I've actively disliked the winners which has spoiled it for me.

I also didn't really enjoy the early episodes of the Canadian series, it was so samey, endless begging for rideshares, and I was quite shocked at the lack of public transport and long distance buses in the west of the country (having travelled quite easily around Ontario and Quebec).

Andrew has done well to be running around with a backpack after a heart attack!

And I also want to know the logistics regarding the cold weather gear...

" I also want to know the logistics regarding the cold weather gear..."

We were saying the same last night. I wonder if the crew hold onto some cold weather gear for them?

Agree with others that this is the best series so far: most unusual locations plus variable routes and most likeable cast. Katie and Harrison are probably my favourites but I like them all.

I always wonder how much each couple is briefed on routes and customs beforehand. I do think some of the conversations feel a bit staged. The one between Katie and Harrison during their coal job felt a bit odd but that might be editing.

I think there's a lot in the editing. Maybe their conversation was more strung out but we don't want to watch the boring bits.

From Facebook:
Margaret Eva: I have So many questions about the planning and options
The home stays must be pre approved ? How are they allocated or chosen by the teams ?
Surely you were not carrying those winter clothes during the earlier days in the hotter countries?
Do you know how much budget each team has when you reach the check points ?
Do you worry that some young people watching will think it’s safe to hitch hike without the film crews you have following you ?
What everyday luxury have you missed most ?

reply from Margo:

Margaret Eva 😄 hahaha there are definitely a LOT of practical bits and logistics that can’t fully make it into the episodes because there’s just so much happening all the time 😊 Yes… we absolutely did carry winter clothes all the way through the hotter countries 😂🎒 which felt deeply unreasonable at the time. We didn’t know exactly what other teams had left budget wise during the race either, so a lot of decisions were made with very little information. And in terms of hitchhiking/travel safety, there are definitely safety protocols and production considerations around all of that 😊 As for everyday luxuries… by the end I think a hot shower, clean clothes and not carrying my entire life around on my back felt wildly glamorous 😂❤️ and always my lipstick.

I'd like Katie and Harrison to win but I've warmed to Molly and Andrew.
I think the boys have had a lot of air time. I hope they don't get presenting jobs out of it.
Never been keen on Margo but at least there wasn't any forced participation this werk.

I really like everyone in this series, but I have ended up especially rooting for Jo and Kush to win. They have such a lovely friendship, and are really handling things very well despite both still being under 20.

Yes, I'm now firmly in the boys camp too, but I suspect the editing showing them talking about how much they want to win is leading up to them being pipped at the post next week. I'll be so disappointed for them if that's the case.

Way too much focus on the boys. I can’t see what’s particularly great about them compared to the others tbh. Other than they have very strong working class accents. They are no more deserving of winning than Katie and Harrison if youth is the winning factor.

Mark is far more interesting and doesn’t anywhere near as much airtime.

Maybe Irish dad should have broken down about his health a few episodes ago to get the sympathy vote.

The lovely thing about this programme was youth and life experience were equally advantageous. Not so in this series apparently.

And I say this as a mother of teens.