The BBC's Race Across the World has returned for its sixth series, with five new teams embarking on a gruelling 12,000km journey. The contestants, who have no access to phones, social media or bank cards, are racing to win £20,000. Last year's winners were mother and son duo Caroline and Tom, who reached the final checkpoint in Kanniyakumari first.
This year's contestants include childhood best friends Jo and Kush, both 19 from Liverpool; siblings Katie, 21, and Harrison, 23, from Manchester; junior doctor Molly, 23, and her father Andrew, 54, from Northern Ireland; cousins Puja, 31, and Roshni, 32; and unlikely duo Mark, 66, and Margo, 59, who have a fractious in-laws' relationship.
The route takes contestants through Italy, Greece, Türkiye, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia. It is described as the most extreme race to date, with temperatures ranging from 30°C Mediterranean heat to -20°C subarctic conditions. The race starts in Palermo, Sicily, and ends in the remote village of Hatgal on Lake Hövsgöl in northern Mongolia, retracing parts of the ancient Silk Road.
