Topic: "Race Around the World"

[georgiapeach]

Thanks to freds for the heads up!

New BBC series!

Race Across The World is an adventure series in a similar vein to CBS’ The Amazing Race which pits pairs of travellers against each other in a race to reach the Far East without taking a single flight, with no smartphone in sight. Each contestant will only have the cash equivalent of an air fare to their destination to pay for their overland travel. If they run out, they’ll need to earn more. Setting out on the adventure of a lifetime, the couples will hit the open road using whatever mode of transport they can – from trains to pickup trucks, from ferries to tuk-tuks – crossing continents and experiencing travel the way we once used to.

And the race is on to reach the finish line in the fastest time, making best use of their money – and strategy – to win a cash prize. Each couple has their own personal motivation for taking part in this once-in-a-lifetime experience, immersing themselves in different cultures, forming bonds and friendships across cultural divides and relying on the kindness of strangers in order to stand the best chance of winning the competition. The series, which has received an order for six episodes, is produced by Studio Lambert – marking their second commission from the BBC this week after their drama The Nest was greenlit for BBC One. The executive producers are Stephen Lambert, Tim Harcourt and Mark Saben.

 https://www.tvwise.co.uk/2018/08/bbc-two-orders-new-romesh-ranganathan-series-the-amazing-race-style-series-race-across-the-world-more/

[BourkieBoy]

Is this the closest to TAR UK as we're going to yet?

Actually sounds amazing <33333

Where is the Far East?

[G.B.]

Actually sounds more like a British version of Peking Express.

[dryedmangoez]

Also a little like NBC's "Lost"?

[georgiapeach]

Apparently already casted:

https://www.studiolambert.com/take-part-travel.html

[Gra1162]

Is this the closest to TAR UK as we're going to yet?

Actually sounds amazing <33333

Where is the Far East?

[Lemontail]

Is this the closest to TAR UK as we're going to yet?

Actually sounds amazing <33333

Where is the Far East?

It's a region which compromises China, Russia, Korea, and Japan.

[Musicon]

Also a little like NBC's "Lost"?

I thought that too, there was actually a British version of that in the early 2000s also.  Never been able to see the US one though, so if anyone has links...

[NELs]

Also a little like NBC's "Lost"?

I thought that too, there was actually a British version of that in the early 2000s also.  Never been able to see the US one though, so if anyone has links...

Ironically the US version is Lost only the first two drops aired, the third and final one did not due to 9/11, TAR was very lucky to have great ratings, this however is not. The first one teams were dropped in Mongolia, the second in Bolivia. Only the first four drops on the UK one have been found, the final one in Azerbaijan is lost however. We never know where the third drop of the US one went to. So, in total 4/5 of the British one have been found, and none of the US versions have been found.

[BritishTARFan]

Omg I love Romesh Ranganathan he's so funny. Hopefully this will be a good series.

edit: Realised i misread the article, these are exclusive from each other 

[steve2013]

For anyone interested it has an air date February 28th meet the players special. Then seems to shift to Sunday’s as 2nd episode will air march 3rd

[BritishTARFan]

It's always advertised on bbc2, looks really good can't wait.

[lemurio]

Is this more similar to The Amazing Race (ignoring that planes are forbidden) or to Peking Express??? Or is it a mix of both?

[NumfarPTB]

Did not realize we had a thread in the TAR board.

Reposting info I posted in the other reality board. Peach would mind deleting that post?
More info about the show, premiering this SUN on BBC2, including the 5 "teams".



https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000319z

If you were tasked to race across the world with limited cash and nothing in the way of modern technology, how do you think you’d fare? This Spring, a brand-new BBC Two series will see five teams attempt just that. Race Across The World takes viewers on the trip of a lifetime, following our contestants as they embark on an epic and adrenaline-fuelled adventure, travelling into the unknown without the trappings of modern life.
Our five pairs set off on a race to Singapore without taking a single flight. They will leave behind their smartphones, internet access and credit cards, and will be armed with only the cash equivalent of a one-way airfare to Singapore, the furthest destination by land and rail from the UK, to pay for the entire journey. If they run out, they'll need to earn more. In a competition that sees our teams travel through rather than fly over, their skill, ingenuity and determination will be tested to the extreme as they race through some of the world’s most beautiful scenery, form bonds and friendships across cultural divides and rely on the kindness of strangers in order to stand the best chance of winning.

The teams set off from Greenwich. They must pass through five checkpoints to reach their final destination. First up: the ancient city of Delphi.

Now in their late 50s Sue and Clare have been lifelong friends since school and want to re-live and recapture the magic of the cross-Europe trip they made together 30 years ago. A chance encounter helps them realise they should have put a bit more planning into this crucial first leg.

With his copy of Sophocles in his rucksack, Felix, along with business partner Josh, is impatient to get going but quickly finds out how easy it is, with an estimated 50 days of the journey still to go, to burn through their budget.

Natalie and Shameema, best friends since they met at a youth club aged nine, are determined to save money and so adopt a very focused strategy to do just that – be nice to people along the way, in the hope they will repay this kindness with a train ticket or two. Will it work?

Married couple Jinda and Bindu’s strong negotiation skills stand them in good stead but an unexpected emergency has their trip hanging in the balance.

And as the first day draws to a close, father and son, Darron and Alex have yet to leave London – they’re patiently waiting for an overnight coach to Germany, aiming to leap-frog their fellow competitors and get ahead of the pack in the dash to Delphi.

The race is on, and the stakes are high - everyone wants to be first to the finish line and win the cash prize. As the series unfolds we will see chance encounters, cultural revelations, friendships formed, relationships tested and bonds strengthened as the teams experience, and come face-to-face with, some of the most awe-inspiring locations that modern-day travellers seldom get to see. The dramatic scale and thrilling unpredictability of the race is sure to change their lives forever. The Race Across the World has begun.

https://www.tvwise.co.uk/2018/08/bbc-two-orders-new-romesh-ranganathan-series-the-amazing-race-style-series-race-across-the-world-more/

Race Across The World is an adventure series in a similar vein to CBS’ The Amazing Race which pits pairs of travellers against each other in a race to reach the Far East without taking a single flight, with no smartphone in sight. Each contestant will only have the cash equivalent of an air fare to their destination to pay for their overland travel. If they run out, they’ll need to earn more. Setting out on the adventure of a lifetime, the couples will hit the open road using whatever mode of transport they can – from trains to pickup trucks, from ferries to tuk-tuks – crossing continents and experiencing travel the way we once used to.

And the race is on to reach the finish line in the fastest time, making best use of their money – and strategy – to win a cash prize. Each couple has their own personal motivation for taking part in this once-in-a-lifetime experience, immersing themselves in different cultures, forming bonds and friendships across cultural divides and relying on the kindness of strangers in order to stand the best chance of winning the competition. The series, which has received an order for six episodes, is produced by Studio Lambert – marking their second commission from the BBC this week after their drama The Nest was greenlit for BBC One. The executive producers are Stephen Lambert, Tim Harcourt and Mark Saben.

[Granth]

BBC2's schedule has the second checkpoint as the city that eliminated Joey "Fitness" (and Danny).

[NELs]

How am I going to be able to watch the episodes? I tried watching the "Meet the Teams" short episode on the BBC2 site but its geoblocked.

[georgiapeach]

please no links here.

If anyone knows please message me and we 'll make a p!ace for it

Thanks!

[steve2013]

Since official link Georgia said ok to post but if not in the UK your probable will need a VPN

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0002tvs/episodes/player

[dryedmangoez]

Since official link Georgia said ok to post but if not in the UK your probable will need a VPN

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0002tvs/episodes/player

I also think you need a TV licence as well? 

[Granth]

The premiere ended with a To-Be-Continued, the following checkpoint * (airing next week on the 10th) being the first proper elimination:

1.) Felix/Josh
2.) Darren/Alex
3.) Shameema/Natalie
4.) Clare/Sue
5.) Elaine/Tony

* First = Delphi, Greece; Second = Baku, Azerbaijan; Third = Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Fourth = Huangyao, China; Fifth = Kaoh Rong, Cambodia

[Xoruz]

Having never seen Pékin Express I decided to give this show a watch and enjoyed what I saw. This show did start off on an expected start though:

Show content

The mother of Jinda from Jinda & Bindu was hospitalized hours after they left. The next day they were told that Jinda's mother's condition had gotten worse, so they pulled themselves from the show. As a result, a replacement team (Elaine & Tony) was brought in, and they only had five hours to prepare. Seriously, I thought it was crazy that Davie from DvG was replaced a day before the show began, but this is something else.

[NumfarPTB]

Fun episode. Actually didn't get to watch it live, but I will try to post links for the following weeks, as there are live links options.

The narration by John Hannah was interesting, but it still lacks the presence of a proper host.

Show content

Sad seeing a team leave under those circumstances, the episode even ends by the message about the mother's passing.
The budget management is probably the most interesting aspect to this, with teams able to make back some of the budget by working. Without being able to fly, the journey did take days, only for this first leg.
It seems that the entire journey will take almost 2 months, which is more than twice the time they take to film of season of TAR in comparison

Update: There's a rerun of this first episode on BBC2 on Saturday. If someone who missed it, and we can't find a on demand version for easy access until then. PM on Friday, so I'll post the livestream links for people who might want to check it out during the Saturday rerun.

[Granth]

Seeing as the show's already aired, I do believe that spoiler-tagging is optional. 

[NumfarPTB]

For those following this thread and who'd like to attempt to watch this live. I'm planning to post links for live streams tomorrow. The show airs 9pm in the UK. As the US, is about to go into Daylight savings mode, adjust your time accordingly.

The current plan is to set up a thread in a members only section, I'll probably set up the thread tomorrow morning and will post the links a few minutes before the episode starts. I'm heading out around lunchtime (my timezone) but will be back about 30-40 minutes before the show airs, just in time to post the links.
If you've followed our TAR Live Stream links or even live stream links I posted for Australian Survivor last year, you'll know where to find the Live Stream links for Race Around the World, the thread will be there tomorrow. If you're new, please sign up for RFF, and if you need to know where to find the links, please PM me and I'll send you the info.

Update: The thread is up. The show is actually airing at 9pm.

[NELs]

For those following this thread and who'd like to attempt to watch this live. I'm planning to post links for live streams tomorrow. The show airs 8pm in the UK. As the US, is about to go into Daylight savings mode, adjust your time accordingly.

The current plan is to set up a thread in a members only section, I'll probably set up the thread tomorrow morning and will post the links a few minutes before the episode starts. I'm heading out around lunchtime (my timezone) but will be back about 30-40 minutes before the show airs, just in time to post the links.
If you've followed our TAR Live Stream links or even live stream links I posted for Australian Survivor last year, you'll know where to find the Live Stream links for Race Around the World, the thread will be there tomorrow. If you're new, please sign up for RFF, and if you need to know where to find the links, please PM me and I'll send you the info.

Is there any way I can get links to the first episode non-geoblocked? I would like them please.

[georgiapeach]

Lets post/remove the live stream links as we normally do. NumFarplease feel free to start threads.

If there are "official"ways to post the eps already aired (links by the show etc) feel free to post them. Unofficial links need to be run thru me please, I'll start a place if we need it.

Happy we can watch!!

[Granth]

Farewell, Gutsy Grandmums: both > Jersey Shore.

1.) Elaine/Tony
2.) Shameema/Natalie
3.) Felix/Josh
4.) Darren/Alex
5.) Clare/Sue

[Xoruz]

Due to the fact that there were only two routes across Turkey to reach Baku, this episode was less hectic than the premiere. At the same time, even though teams were a day behind, the race was still competitive. Also, the decreased number of routes allowed the show to slow down and develop its teams.

The cut from competitive race music with Darron & Alex to Josh & Felix singing "Can't Help Falling in Love." 

The Turkish barber wax. 

Sue & Claire stumbling onto Tony & Elaine's hotel coupled with the snark from the narrator calling it the hottest tourist spot in Tbilisi. 

Looking forward to Uzbekistan next week.

[NumfarPTB]

Sad to see the gradmas go. This was only episode 2, so I bet the budget, will probably become a huge issue in the next few episodes.

Was this the first time we got to see Alex doing the testimonials. I think during the 1st episode we only saw the dad doing them.

[Granth]

Nay, Alex the not-so-great did have some solo confessionals back in Europe.

[Musicon]

I saw the first episode and this definitely isn't The Amazing Race.  It's a different version of Lost from 2001, but the original was much quicker as each episode had a different cast.  The large amount of narration slows it down and makes us more distant from them, some things (like the work bits) feel very set up.  It would be more interesting if they had challenges to complete than just do boring jobs for money, and that would enable you to compare the teams more.  The casting feels very safe as well.

[Musicon]

The second leg was definitely much better, the end did seem to cram in too much Amazing Race editing manipulation to make the viewer guess the placings, do it for last place only maybe.  It seemed more like old style Amazing Race where it was all about navigation and not challenges (the job parts still seem perfunctory to me and the edit treats it like that).  I'm not sure why they need a GPS at the end just let them find their way, if it's really close it would make it more exciting. 

[Granth]

Another non-elimination:

1.) Darren/Alex
2.) Elaine/Tony
3.) Felix/Josh
4.) Shameema/Natalie

[Musicon]

The latest episode went back to not being The Amazing Race with the teams knowing from the start that it wasn't an elimination.  So it was more a travelogue, interesting in parts for scenery or transport choices and seeing if any big time difference was made.  But I with the teams weren't informed it was a non-elimination.  I don't know why they are given a sat-nav in the city at the end of legs.

[Granth]

Nice to see terra incognita with the Uzbeks and their majestic cities.

[Xoruz]

That boat ride across the Caspian Sea looked rough. They spent 4 days without moving. 

The deserts of Uzbekistan, the Aral Sea, and the cities of Khiva, Samarkand, and Tashkent all looked gorgeous.

Darron accidentally eating drugs. 

Shameema saying she's 25 on her dinner date and the narrator correcting her age. 

[NumfarPTB]

The ship getting stuck was extremely frustrating, it was probably was something that producers were aware might happen, since they chose that as a "pit stop".
I think Shameena and Natalie has been the most entertaining team so far, wished they were faring better.

[Granth]

Nice to see terra incognita with the Uzbeks and their majestic cities.

Too bad that the next episode will essentially amount to China Rush 4.

[Granth]

A second To-Be-Continued, really?

1.) Darren/Alex
2.) Felix/Josh
3.) Shameema/Natalie
4.) Elaine/Tony

[Musicon]

It was more a non-elimination than TBC.  There was some interesting scenery and interaction with locals but the confessionals get repetitive going on about how close the teams are or about how the father/son are trying to get close.  They should have just made it a race rather than having detours that seem set up for jobs or sightseeing.

[Granth]

Same result regardless.

[NumfarPTB]

The Amazing Race this is not, however it is still interesting to see how each team experience the journey within the given parameters.

Curious of how the filming crew following each team is set-up.

For those following along, next episode is airing again at 8pm, not 9pm.

[NumfarPTB]

Really do not understand the concept of having an elimination early in the race, then no eliminations at all after that, considering they did lose a team that had to be replaced, they should have just kept all 5 teams in.

1.) Elaine/Tony
1.) Darren/Alex
3.) Shameema/Natalie
3.) Felix/Josh

And they are over into day 40 of the race. We would have filmed almost 2 cycles of TAR in that time.

[Musicon]

More teams would have been better as it would have meant more of a race feel to the edit.

The main interest for me is the different travel choices and how that affects placings, that's how The Amazing Race started.  All the most interesting things about the local cultures tend to be around the transporting part, which does obviously take up much of the show.  The sightseeing (and work part) seem led by the producers to me, and the talk of the boy's maturing and the woman's hard life feels manipulative and repetitive. At least they are talking less now about how some people are supposedly always stingy.  I'm rooting for the replacement team, the business partners are a bit boring.

[Granth]

Really do not understand the concept of having an elimination early in the race, then no eliminations at all after that, considering they did lose a team that had to be replaced, they should have just kept all 5 teams in.

Precisely, I'd be miffed if I were one of Clare/Sue.

On a brighter note, this one-off show managed to visit the former Kampuchea when TAR: Asia has neither gone there nor cast a single Khmer on any of its five seasons - like, even the original American edition had second-boot Dennis H. from its 25th season.

[Granth]

Congratulations to Yorkshire's finest for bringing home the gold!

1.) Elaine/Tony
2.) Darren/Alex
3.) Shameema/Natalie
4.) Felix/Josh

P.S. Season Two confirmed.

[NumfarPTB]

Final result:

1.) Elaine/Tony
2.) Darren/Alex
3.) Shameema/Natalie
4.) Felix/Josh

Interesting ending and editors did attempt a very TAR style editing for who would finish first, but turns out there was a 3-hour gap between team that finished first and the second one.
Still miffed the 5th team wasn't included till the end.
3rd and 4th were almost a day behind top finishing teams. And Felix and Josh were almost not able to reach the finish line, cause they lacked the funds to head up to where the book was located, were not for the girls who had a healthy amount of budget left helping them. Do wonder how much of this were producers nudging, cause I still find hard that they'd spot the boys from the top floor.

Seems that the show has been picked up for a 2nd series, as the show ends with Tony and Elaine asking people to apply for the show.

[Musicon]

The only team I liked won, so I'm happy.  Relieved the father who's frightened of hamsters and goes on endlessly about his son didn't win.

The end was very Amazing Race edited so I could tell they were winning, the 'we can see them!!' is a typical thing to make viewers think it's close.  They always seemed ahead, I did wonder if even the day to recuperate the bad back was just to make it a closer race.  The moment at the end with money (Singapore money as well) needed for the elevator was a good touch.  And yes most likely the producers did tell a team to give the last placed team money, but I don't mind that particularly.

[Xoruz]

Overall it was a good season. I do think though that the first half was way superior to the second half. By that time, the show was repeating several story points especially with Darron & Alex and Josh & Felix. Also, I'm still not sure why they did one elimination point on episode two. At the same time, it's crazy that a replacement team won the whole season.

[Granth]

Still miffed the 5th team wasn't included till the end.

Yes, and not just Clare/Sue, but also Jinda/Bindu.

[BourkieBoy]

That seemed like a very short season???

[Granth]

Half the length of a regular TAR, yes.

[Granth]

I do think though that the first half was way superior to the second half.

True, episodes 4-6 were essentially rehashes of China Rush, the Vietnamese edition, and TARA, whereas the earlier ones showed off never-visited delights like Thessaloniki, Ankara, and all of Uzbekistan.

[NumfarPTB]

A cool how the show was made feature fro BBC:

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-47827316

[georgiapeach]

NEW SEASON is CASTING!!

For more info and to apply: bbc.in/2K6pbBj

via @BBC_Casting on twitter

[dryedmangoez]

Just started watching the show and it's fun so far. It's definitely more Pekin Express than TAR, but with even less of a focus on competition. If anything, it feels more like NBC's Lost, yes?

[utubefan]

Back for Season 2 next week!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NWQVq9x_AM

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2020-02-27/race-across-the-world-series-2/

[lemurio]

Tomorrow aires the first episode of the Danish version in TV2.

[Hubickichibi]

TAR knockoff?

[Parasparopagraho]

The cast for the newest season have quite the TARCAN analogues (c.f. Race to the Centre of the Earth's Mindy = Ivana, Paul = Korey, and Dave = Ryan):

1.) Neil/Kristin
2.) Trish/Amy
3.) Aarthy/Thinesh
4.) Simi/Ope
5.) Jody/Cory

[NumfarPTB]

Season 3, It's been an interesting season so far.
I wonder if the team that has been leading the pack can keep the momentum. Would love if they could win it all.
Some editing choices are weird, like the same leading team completely vanishing from last 20 minutes from one of the episodes, only for us to find out they're dozens of hours ahead of the other teams.
Though, that is something that I miss from the old TAR, where leg planning wasn't as boxed in, and leading teams were able to start following leg, while some teams on the back of the pack were still finishing the previous leg.
Completely fine by how the axe fell to eliminate the first team.

[Parasparopagraho]

This season is already better than that Latin American debacle and might even tie with the OG-Eurasian besides routing!

[Maanca]

It's great so far, actually an improvement over what TAR Canada's been in a few seasons. That non-personal attachment to a country makes a difference 😅

[Parasparopagraho]

If RatW3 were a TARCAN season, then it would easily be in the top half alongside 1/2/4/RttCotE.

[BritishTARFan]

I'm really enjoying this season, love how hitchhiking is a big means of transport. I do think the season will slow in quality as they head east into the easier to navigate part of Canada.

I reckon we're gonna have S4 in Australia, maybe Perth to Cairns, could be India, maybe Delhi to Kerala or even Sri Lanka.

[georgiapeach]

If anyone has the LINKS please let me know and I'll add them in the usual place,

Thanks!

[Parasparopagraho]

I'm really enjoying this season, love how hitchhiking is a big means of transport. I do think the season will slow in quality as they head east into the easier to navigate part of Canada.

I reckon we're gonna have S4 in Australia, maybe Perth to Cairns, could be India, maybe Delhi to Kerala or even Sri Lanka.

Agreed, and maybe even tacking on New Zealand to round off the course.

[Parasparopagraho]

If one were to give the seasons marks:

1 = A
3 = A-
2 = C+

[mjharmstone]

The long-delayed Celebrity Race Across the World has filmed and had its cast revealed - it's a way higher calibre of celeb than I expected! All four celebs are actually notable unlike some recent "celebrity" casting choices I could care to name...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2023/-celebrity-race-across-the-world-line-up

Marrakesh to Tromsø is the route, and 24 countries are promised.

[redwings8831]

Anyone have S3 links and could they be added to that "place"?

[NumfarPTB]

The long-delayed Celebrity Race Across the World has filmed and had its cast revealed - it's a way higher calibre of celeb than I expected! All four celebs are actually notable unlike some recent "celebrity" casting choices I could care to name...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2023/-celebrity-race-across-the-world-line-up

Marrakesh to Tromsø is the route, and 24 countries are promised.

Looking forward to this one.

[NumfarPTB]

The long-delayed Celebrity Race Across the World has filmed and had its cast revealed - it's a way higher calibre of celeb than I expected! All four celebs are actually notable unlike some recent "celebrity" casting choices I could care to name...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2023/-celebrity-race-across-the-world-line-up

Marrakesh to Tromsø is the route, and 24 countries are promised.

Looking forward to this one.

Already airing for those who are interested.
It's Wed 9PM show on BBC1.

[NumfarPTB]

It is already 2 episodes in the season.

Amazed by the Celebrity composition that were invited.

Only 4 teams, fewer than the "ordinary" people seasons, so I don's expect we'll see a mid-season elimination through it, unless someone runs out of budget before the finish line.
3 Teams racing with older parents, and the the younger team, features someone with disabilities who wears prosthesis, so it seems we have very equal footing here.
Curious how they will accomplish the promised 24 countries. 

[NumfarPTB]

With TAR US, TAR OZ and this airing on the same day of the week, it's been a bit hard to follow.
Finale is next week, really curious who will be the winner, as placements have shifted around and budget levels of all teams are really close among them.

Hoping no one gets stranded right before the finish line.

[NumfarPTB]

That was fun a season, sad that one of teams had to leave due to family emergency.
But all the oldies made it through, and the teams that made into the finish line all finished quite close to each other.
Yes and entire European route, allowed them to fit a lot of countries as they`re geographically closer together, budgets were pushed to the limit.