BBC One's latest reality series, Destination X, premieres this week, promising a blend of travel, mind games, and high-stakes guessing. Hosted by Rob Brydon, the show sees 13 contestants ferried around Europe in a windowless black coach, with no knowledge of their location. Each week, the contestant who fails to identify where they are is eliminated.
The show, based on a Belgian hit, features elaborate challenges designed to disorient participants. In the first episode, contestants are blindfolded and flown by helicopter, then presented with identical twins as airport staff to confuse them. Other tasks include being locked in boxes in village squares or dangling from ropes 2,000 metres above sea level to hunt for clues.
Executive producer Dan Adamson describes the production's cunning tactics, such as using three sets of identical twins to make contestants believe they haven't moved. 'We just thought: wouldn't it be funny?' he says. The bus itself is a key element, with metal plates obscuring windows to prevent contestants from seeing landmarks.
Brydon, known for his impressions, brings his trademark humour to the role. During a preview event, he joked about the heat inside the bus and mimicked David Frost, saying, 'The clues are there as we go through the keyhole.' The show encourages viewers to guess along, making it an interactive experience.
With its combination of travel, deception, and competition, Destination X has been compared to The Traitors meets Race Across the World. The series airs over five weeks, with contestants living and sleeping on the coach, leading to cabin fever and heated arguments. Brydon admits, 'I would be terrible at this!' but promises a thrilling ride for audiences.
