BBC One has announced the launch of Destination X, a new competitive reality format hosted by Rob Brydon. The show, which premieres on Wednesday 30 July at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer, will air two episodes per week on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Thirteen contestants will travel across Europe on a specially designed bus with blacked-out windows. At the end of each episode, they must place an X on a map to guess their location. The contestant whose X is farthest from the actual destination is eliminated. The last remaining player wins a cash prize of £100,000.
Rob Brydon, who serves as gamesmaster, described the show as combining the best elements of The Traitors and Race Across the World. He admitted he was surprised by how invested he became in the contestants' journeys, saying he felt for them when they struggled and celebrated their successes.
Brydon also revealed the challenges of not giving away clues. He recalled a moment when he nearly mentioned a future location within earshot of a contestant, but luckily they did not hear. He noted that crew members had to be careful not to return from errands with branded items that could reveal their whereabouts.
When asked how he would fare as a contestant, Brydon said he would be hopeless at the game, jokingly adding that he would be exposed as 'not too bright at all'. He also highlighted that the most gripping aspect of the show is watching how players respond to pressure and how their relationships evolve over time.
