Race Across the World Returns with New Thrills and Destinations

Epic Race Returns in 2025

Race Across the World returns for its fifth season on BBC One (23 April 2025). Five teams will traverse 14,000km from China’s Great Wall to India’s southern tip, Kanniyakumari, without smartphones or flights.

The BAFTA-winning show tests resilience, strategy, and teamwork, with a £20,000 prize. prize for the winners (approximate conversion). This season features diverse duos, including siblings, ex-spouses, and a mother-son pair, navigating Asia’s cultural and geographical extremes.

Route: China, Nepal, India

Teams begin at the Great Wall (Huanghuacheng) and race through China’s cities, Nepal’s Himalayas, and 13 Indian states. The route includes checkpoints like Huangling County and challenges like budget travel (Budget travel £1,000 per person).

Contestants rely on trains, buses, and hitchhiking, avoiding flights. The finish line is Kanniyakumari, where three seas meet.

Political and terrain hurdles add drama, with Nepal’s mountains and India’s linguistic diversity (700+ languages) testing adaptability 

Yin & Gaz: Unlikely Duo

Former spouses Yin and Gaz, both 54, reunite for the race after Yin’s partner passed away. Gaz supported her grief, leading to their application.

Their dynamic blends Yin’s caution with Gaz’s spontaneity. They aim to honor Yin’s late partner’s adventurous spirit.

“We’re best mates,” says Gaz. Their strategy balances frugality with seizing experiences, though Gaz admits, “I’m terrible with heights.”

Elizabeth & Letitia: Bonding Sisters

Sisters Elizabeth (33) and Letitia (26) reconnect after years apart. Extrovert Elizabeth and introvert Letitia leverage language skills (Spanish, Mandarin) and travel experience.

Elizabeth seeks spontaneity; Letitia values research. “I signed up to grow,” says Letitia. Their clashes may arise from Elizabeth’s impulsiveness and Letitia’s “hangry” moods, but they hope to strengthen their bond.

Fin & Sioned: Young Love Tested

Welsh teens Fin (18) and Sioned (19) aim to prove their relationship. Competitive yet eager to explore, they trained by navigating without phones. “It could make or break us,” admits Fin. Sioned’s map-reading complements Fin’s calm under stress.

Their youth may help endurance, but they lack experience.

Brian & Melvyn: Brotherly Reunion

Brothers Brian (62) and Melvyn (65), estranged since childhood, seek shared adventures. Brian, a retired financial advisor, and Melvyn, a driving instructor, differ in lifestyle but share curiosity.

“We want new memories,” says Melvyn. Their weakness? No language skills, but their openness to strangers could help. The duo trained by hiking in Wales, testing their endurance.

Brian admits, “We argue over directions, but we always find common ground.” Their bond will be tested by Nepal’s rugged trails and India’s chaotic transport systems.

Caroline & Tom: Mother-Son Journey

Caroline (60), a homemaker, and son Tom (21), a seasoned traveler, swap roles. Tom leads; Caroline steps out of her comfort zone. “I’ve never arranged travel,” she admits.

Hygiene and sleep are concerns, but they hope for treasured memories. “Family is everything,” Caroline says. Tom adds, “Mom’s resilience surprises me; she slept in a bus station during training!”

Their biggest test? Navigating India’s monsoons while managing Caroline’s motion sickness.

Budget: Just £1,000 Each

Teams get the equivalent of a flight’s cost ($1,200 per person) for food, transport, and lodging. Earning extra cash via odd jobs is allowed. Past winners were saved by hitchhiking and camping.

This season’s budget is the tightest yet, intensifying the challenge. Contestants must balance speed with frugality, sleeping in temples or volunteering for meals.

Producer Sarah Parker notes, “Some teams thrive on resourcefulness; others crumble under financial stress.”

Rules: No Tech, No Flights

Contestants surrender smartphones and bank cards, relying on paper maps, cash, and locals. Flights are banned; travel is land/sea only.

Checkpoints must be reached in order. Penalties include elimination for last-place finishes. Crews film but don’t assist.

A new twist this year: teams can “block” one route choice per leg, forcing rivals to rethink strategies.

China: First Leg Challenges

From the Great Wall, teams navigate Beijing’s six train stations to reach Huangling County. Choices: inland routes or coastal high-speed trains via Shanghai.

Language barriers and crowds in cities like Shanghai test adaptability. Yin and Gaz plan to use Mandarin phrasebooks, while Elizabeth’s basic Mandarin could give her team an edge.

Delays are likely, one team missed a checkpoint in 2024 by 30 seconds.

Nepal: Himalayan Obstacles

Teams enter Nepal via the Himalayas, home to Everest. Rugged terrain and limited transport options slow progress.

Cultural immersion in villages and altitude sickness are potential hurdles. “It’s physically grueling,” notes a producer. Fin and Sioned trained in Snowdonia but fear Nepal’s steep trails.

Local buses often break down, and landslides could force detours.

India: Final Sprint South

The race concludes in Kanniyakumari after traversing 13 Indian states. Teams face monsoons, crowded trains, and 700+ languages. The diversity, from deserts to coasts, demands flexibility.

Last year’s winners won by 8 minutes, highlighting the tight competition. Caroline and Tom worry about hygiene, while Brian and Melvyn joke, “We’ll survive on chai and kindness.”

Past Winners: Alfie & Owen

2024’s champions, best friends Alfie and Owen (21), won £20,000 by reaching Lombok, Indonesia, 8 minutes ahead of rivals. Their strategy combined frugality and relentless pacing, setting a benchmark for new teams.

They hitchhiked 12 times and slept in fishing boats. “We trusted strangers,” Owen recalls.

Why Fans Love the Show

Viewers praise the show’s raw emotions, stunning locales, and relatable contestants. The blend of travelogue and competition, plus the no-tech rule, creates authentic drama.

It’s the BBC’s top factual entertainment series. Social media buzzes with #RaceAcrossTheWorld, with fans debating strategies and rooting for underdogs.

How to Apply for 2026

Applications for Season 6 close on 15 July 2025. Duos must submit videos showcasing teamwork and resilience; no experience is required, but adaptability is key.

As the legendary Johnnie Walker signs off from BBC Radio 2 after 23 years, proving even iconic partnerships must evolve, this could be your chance to start a new adventure.

Details are on the BBC’s website, where over 20,000 hopefuls applied for 2025. “We’re looking for that special chemistry and grit,” reveals casting director Mia Jones.

Don’t Miss the Premiere!

Race Across the World 2025 airs Wednesdays at 9 PM on BBC One (from 23 April). Stream episodes on iPlayer.

Follow teams’ highs and lows as they push limits for £20,000 and life-changing adventures. If you’re still mourning TV shows that deserved another season, like the cult-favorite Firefly or the criminally short-lived Mindhunter, this globe-trotting drama might just fill the void.

Exclusive behind-the-scenes content drops weekly on the BBC’s Instagram.

What are you most excited to see this season? Let us know in the comments below!

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