The BBC's popular travel competition, Race Across The World, made its highly anticipated return for a sixth series last night, but the premiere was quickly overshadowed by a wave of viewer complaints directed at one particular contestant. Fans took to social media platform X to voice their frustrations about Margo, a 59-year-old hypnotherapist from Liverpool, within mere minutes of the broadcast commencing.
Immediate Backlash on Social Media
As the episode unfolded, viewers did not hold back in expressing their irritation. One disgruntled fan posted, "Margo already getting on my nerves....she's been everywhere!!" Another echoed this sentiment, writing, "Margo is driving me mad already and it’s only been on for 10 mins." The criticism intensified with a third viewer offering a scathing assessment: "Margo would be the person on your holiday that pretends she friends with everyone but everyone really can't stand her, she's also the person that has travelled everywhere, thinks she's better than everyone else, and makes a complete tot of herself on Karaoke."
A Team Under Unique Circumstances
Margo is competing alongside her brother-in-law, Mark, aged 66. Their participation in the series is rooted in a poignant backstory. Both cared for Julia, Mark's late wife and Margo's sister. Before her passing, Julia expressed a wish for the pair to maintain their friendship, a commitment they are honouring by embarking on this challenging journey together. Despite the viewer criticism, not all feedback was negative. One supporter penned, "Love all the couples in #RaceAcrossTheWorld but have a soft spot for Margo. She is an absolute ray of sunshine."
The New Series Route and Spin-Off Changes
This sixth series sees five new pairs embarking on an epic journey from Palermo, on the island of Sicily, to the remote village of Hatgal on the shores of Lake Hövsgöl in northern Mongolia. The premiere coincided with significant news regarding a related spin-off show. The BBC has announced a replacement for Scott Mills on the Race Across The World podcast, titled The Detour.
Mills, who co-won the 2024 celebrity edition with his husband, was originally set to co-host the podcast with series four contestant Alfie Watts. However, Mills was recently dismissed from the BBC. Reports from The Daily Mirror linked the dismissal to a 2016 police investigation into historical allegations, though the case was dropped years ago due to insufficient evidence. In his place, the BBC has appointed TV presenter and DJ Tyler West, aged 30, as the new co-host alongside Alfie Watts.
New Host and Podcast Details
Tyler West is a familiar face to viewers, having competed with partner Molly Rainford in last year's Celebrity Race Across The World and appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2022. The weekly video podcast, The Detour, will chronicle the highs and lows of the new series, featuring a range of guests including creators, comedians, and celebrity fans offering their insights and commentary.
Internal Shock at the BBC
Scott Mills's departure has reportedly caused considerable internal disruption. A senior broadcaster described a state of "total shock" within the corporation. Lorna Clarke, the BBC's Director of Music, confirmed the news in an email to staff, stating, "I wanted to personally let you know that Scott Mills has left the Breakfast show, and the BBC. I know that this news will be sudden and unexpected and therefore must come as a shock." She acknowledged the impact on both staff and the audience but indicated she could not provide further details at this time.
Race Across The World continues to air on BBC One and is available for streaming on BBC iPlayer, with the new podcast, The Detour, set to provide additional weekly content for dedicated fans following the teams' progress across continents.
