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).

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Thanks @Itsahardknocklifeforus You summed it up perfectly

What strange things to say. They all have strong working class accents apart from Mark for a start. I dont think anyone has said the boys are more deserving of winning, theyre just generally well liked. Theres only a couple of posters on here that seem vociferously opposed to the 2 lads and it makes me wonder why. Theres absolutely nothing offensive about them or anything to dislike. They just seem genuinely lovely young people. Ive really enjoyed this series because, unlike previous series, all the couples are engaging and likeable. I'd be happy for any of them to win it.

Does anyone think Margo and Mark won't get to finish the race? I wonder how long they have to get to the checkpoint before theyre disqualified

Also, obviously we're all different, but I dont find Mark particularly interesting at all and irish daddy didn't need to talk about his heart attack earlier to get sympathy votes because there are no votes. Its not im a celebrity 😂

I know what you mean. I’m always mindful that some of the biggest touching background stories will be raised just at the time that the winner is about to be revealed, and we only just found out about Andrew’s health problem and Molly’s fears for him recently… such is the nature of editing and narrative!

They are all a good bunch, though. I best they have a great time together during the rest breaks at the checkpoint hotels.

Its the vehement posting on this thread about how many are 'rooting' for the boys and 'in the boy's camp' because of their gushing friendship and Kush's backstory. I don't know if its because the majority of MN are mothers and the majority of RATW viewers are older but its post after post about Kush somehow being more deserving of the prize fund. The reality is we know only what the production team have decided to show us.

Last year the mum who was portrayed as a docile housewife turned out to have quite a different backstory. But it shouldn't matter what their backgrounds are. Its a travel programme. Hearing people say that the boys should get presenting jobs off the back of it. Why on earth would they?

I think Katie and Harrison AND Joe and Kush are charming and level headed. Very personable and resilient.

I do find Molly's deference to 'Daddy' a bit weird. She a grown woman and a qualified doctor. She just seems to be seeking approval all the time.

I like Margot's determined optimism in the face of every single obstacle, and Mark's stoicism, but I'd much prefer the younger contestants won.

Theres only a couple of posters on here that seem vociferously opposed to the 2 lads and it makes me wonder why.

Seriously?

It's because we all have different likes and dislikes, and different opinions.

I haven't warmed to them and want one of the other pairs to win.

Unless you think absolutely everyone posting here has to like them because you do and most other posters also seem to.

All the gushing over them as if they're children is OTT to me, but hey ho each to their own!

I can't be doing with the idea that somebody who's appeared on a programme should get a career in TV. Why?

Most of the people on "celebrity" shows are only there because they had 15 minutes of fame on some other show.

This was covered upthread. It's common for adult children to use Daddy in NI.

Whoops I read deference as reference, although maybe deference is also common?

But not for them to adopt such a submissive or subordinate role, surely? It's not the word Daddy so much as the attitude.

I want the boys to win. I get the impression that although they are of a similar age to other people who would take a gap yar at this stage in their life, they don't come from a background where this is the norm.

Ah bad luck to Mark and Margo - I can't quite understand why they needed to go backwards when the Irish pair had gone the same southern route (just stopped over further on) and smashed the leg. Think they should have double checked there wasn't a random lift etc or anything at all further east even if not all the way to where they were hoping. I hope they make it.

Of course I understand that everyone has different likes and dislikes. Its just that the few posters that don't want the boys to win seem almost aggressive in their dislike of them, which seems very much at odds with their easy going, likeable characters. Maybe its just that there's so much support for them that there's a need to shout louder so to speak.

I'd love to see Margo win but there seems very little chance of that now. Its lovely to see how much their relationship has changed since the start of the race. They're so much more at ease with each other now.

I don’t know how you can say that K and H are as deserving of winning as J & K. The boys have thrown themselves fully into every single leg, and made meaningful relationships with many people along the way. Their warmth and openness are really quite beautiful to watch. They try everything and they rarely complain. Remember the hotel owner last week who paid for their taxi? K & H have not been able to forge connections like that. And they’ve complained a LOT.

Everybody with a car is trying to scam tourists..

I'm not sure that's fair to say as in some countries it's common practice to ask for some financial contribution to the giving of a lift. I guess it's best to make sure before you get in the car but M & M didn't realise. The transport options are thin on the ground in Mongolia. However, it's likely they're getting charged more than the locals would!

Right at the start the two young men said they'd be using their Scouse charm to help them. They've done that to good effect.

Well I absolutely love the boys 😬 but I wonder if they’re getting so much screen time because they’re not actually going to win? Katie & Harrison for me then if not.

Agreed
And I think this is probably a bit more challenging than the average gap yah!

Oh dear. Thread's gone a bit weird with posters getting narky. I wouldn't have thought it possible on a friendly Telly Addicts chat.

I will be so sad if Margo and Mark don't get to the finish. Between the other three, I have no idea who's going to win - with transport so sparse it could be any of them.

I thought that. What if any of the contestants are reading it? No need for horrible comments

I don't care who wins as they are all lovely and don't get the competitiveness from some viewers. I loved this episode but weirdly it didn't make me want to go to Mongolia. The scenery was amazing though.

I said that they may well end up with presenting jobs. That doesn’t mean I think they should do or that they deserve it but that they have been a real focus of the show and come across well on camera. People from reality shows like this do end up with TV careers.