Race Across The World viewers are begging for a major change, and it’s about time the BBC listened. The beloved competition is like no other, transporting viewers across continents to some of the world’s most spectacular places.
For the uninitiated, the series sees five intrepid teams embark on the adventure of a lifetime as they leave behind their contact with the outside world, mobile phones, bank cards and access to the internet, and travel as far as they can to their final destination, reaching checkpoints along the way. With a limited budget and a set rule on no air travel, they find odd jobs in destinations where they can’t speak the language, learn about cultures they’ve never faced and find unique ways to take them to checkpoints.
For viewers, it’s not only a way to gain some travel inspiration and find your next holiday destination, but the contestants taking part often offer their own eye-opening views and share their experiences. BBC viewers have been left with melted hearts at relationships strengthening, been left in tears as the contestants open up on their past difficulties in candid conversations, and been made aware of totally different ways of life.
Previously, contestant Betty was widely praised for sharing her journey after being diagnosed with MRKH after discovering she didn’t have a uterus, womb and only one kidney at the age of 16. As well as hearing her story, we were all left sobbing when her brother James asked a cameraperson for a hug as he broke down in tears over her health condition.
For the contestants, it’s not just a chance to travel the world and gain some fame. The winning couple will secure a £20,000 prize, and the experience can totally transform their lives. 2024 winner Alfie, who won the challenge with his best friend Owen, is now a travel influencer and even hosts the Race Across The World spin-off vodcast.
And while it may be a competition, and of course there must be a winner, fans are now begging to let the contestants enjoy more of the journey, and ditch eliminations in the meantime. Each season, the pair that make it to a checkpoint last are kicked out of the competition, with this year seeing cousins Puja and Roshni become the first to go when the elimination round came along. Their exit came just moments after Puja had heartbreakingly opened up about the guilt she faced over the death of her father, after working as a doctor during the Coronavirus pandemic led to her catching it and bringing it home and isolating, yet him still catching it and becoming one of the hundreds of patients she worried for.
Instead of making them leave, viewers have been insisting they should have been allowed to continue their journeys, with one person writing: “Catching up on #RaceAcrossTheWorld and the elimination round is awful. It's just not nice. You feel you're just getting to know these couples then one of them has to go. Just feels unnecessary.” Another said: “They should stop the elimination leg - it's very unfair,” while a third echoed: “If there was ONE thing I would change about this show, it would be to have no elimination it’s gutting every series when you know how much one leg can change things. It’s not like they were consistently bad, they deserved to keep going!”
Someone else said: “I really don’t know what the elimination leg brings to the programme,” as another echoed: “I still hate the elimination - wish it was dropped,” while yet another wrote: “Do wish they would stop the elimination.” And they’re right. As fans of the show, we’re watching to learn about Puja’s life on the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic, to witness Katie, another star of this season, travelling with her brother Harrison, live out her dream seeing the Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Festival, to see how in-laws Margo and Mark’s relationship grows after years spent caring for her sister and his wife.
Race Across The World isn’t just about the competition, and we have no desire to see people leave so early. It’s an easy fix to scrap the eliminations and keep all the contestants in until the final, and now that we’re six seasons in, it’s about time the BBC listened. Race Across The World continues tonight at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
