Race Across The World, Season 5
Discussion
Competing in this years challenge are sisters, Elizabeth and Letitia; former married couple, Yin and Gaz; brothers, Brian and Melvyn; teenage couple, Fin and Sioned and mother and son, Caroline and Tom.
The starting point of this year’s race is The Great Wall of China, although it’s a long wall, so that’s not giving much away.
Five teams will have to navigate three of Asia’s most diverse nations across the series.
The included countries will range from China to Nepal and finally India.
All in all, the teams will race more than 14,000km to reach the finish line.
The routes going to be fairly circuitous, if its going to rack up 14,000kms
The final ending point will be in the stunning Kanniyakumari, the southernmost tip of India.
Race Across The World airs on Wednesday April 23 at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
The starting point of this year’s race is The Great Wall of China, although it’s a long wall, so that’s not giving much away.
Five teams will have to navigate three of Asia’s most diverse nations across the series.
The included countries will range from China to Nepal and finally India.
All in all, the teams will race more than 14,000km to reach the finish line.
The routes going to be fairly circuitous, if its going to rack up 14,000kms
The final ending point will be in the stunning Kanniyakumari, the southernmost tip of India.
Race Across The World airs on Wednesday April 23 at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
Heads up, new series of ‘Race Across The World’ starts tonight, 21:00, BBC One.
The race will start at The Great Wall of China (No mention where, it’s a long wall) and head to their first check point in the village of Huangling.
Just three countries this time, will be interesting finding out the route they take.
The race will start at The Great Wall of China (No mention where, it’s a long wall) and head to their first check point in the village of Huangling.
Just three countries this time, will be interesting finding out the route they take.
Good mix of people as ever, the back stories will come out throughout the series, but the two that were married and now divorced is one, the two brothers clearly grew apart and haven't really spent that much time together for 30+ years from what they touched upon in the first episode. Likewise the two sisters lived apart for years and trying to reconnect.
Not sure on mother and son and the teenage couple, although they did touch upon his type 1 diabetes.
Good first episode, mother and son who just couldn't get moving will be interesting to see if they can claw some time back, they must be at least 24 hours behind now. Money will be interesting on this one and how they'll stretch that over 14,000 km.
Not sure on mother and son and the teenage couple, although they did touch upon his type 1 diabetes.
Good first episode, mother and son who just couldn't get moving will be interesting to see if they can claw some time back, they must be at least 24 hours behind now. Money will be interesting on this one and how they'll stretch that over 14,000 km.
CooperD said:
Enjoyed the opening episode. All the teams seem quite likeable (at the moment). Looks a very interesting route. Not having been to any of those countries, I would think that public transport in India and China would be relatively cheap compared to some other countries.
I can’t comment on the public transport in Nepal or India, however, the public transport in China is one of two stories.Over the past twenty years, there has been huge investment in infrastructure, which has resulted in an extensive road and rail network.
In the summer of 2008 China inaugurated its first high speed rail line Tianjin to Beijing (distance 120kms) today China is a world leader in high-speed rail design, innovation, construction and operation, with over 45,000kms of track.
While it’s not cheap, in comparison to UK prices it is, a journey of 180kms is around £9.00 high-speed, whereas the slow train will be around £3.00.
It’s a similar story for road transport, with much improved highways (tolls are applicable), making journey times much quicker.
On longer routes, there are options of the slow trains for affordable travel. But like the fast trains departure/arrival times are done to the minute.
Last Friday Mrs. DG and seven girlfriends went away for ten day’s holiday, 52 hours each way on a sleeper train, all retirees time is not a restriction, so they chose the cheaper option.
Just in case anyone’s thinking which countries they visited, one, all that travel is in China, with an additional couple of days on a bus to visit the attraction, it really is that big of a country.
The route for the ‘RATW’ looks circuitous to put it mildly, the teams look interesting and should as always be an interesting watch.
Is it just me or is this now focussing more on the people rather than the logistics of travel?
Maybe it'll change as they visit other countries but in the earlier series it was all about saving money on overnight buses, getting in with locals and getting a lift etc.
These huge distances in the first two episodes just seem to have been about getting a fast train (which I understand given the distances involved) but maybe they could have chosen a route so they didn't have to cover such vast distances ?
Maybe it'll change as they visit other countries but in the earlier series it was all about saving money on overnight buses, getting in with locals and getting a lift etc.
These huge distances in the first two episodes just seem to have been about getting a fast train (which I understand given the distances involved) but maybe they could have chosen a route so they didn't have to cover such vast distances ?
Bluedot said:
Is it just me or is this now focussing more on the people rather than the logistics of travel?
Maybe it'll change as they visit other countries but in the earlier series it was all about saving money on overnight buses, getting in with locals and getting a lift etc.
These huge distances in the first two episodes just seem to have been about getting a fast train (which I understand given the distances involved) but maybe they could have chosen a route so they didn't have to cover such vast distances ?
Yeh, its a bit too much "hey, we're suddenly at this location now, lets have a chat about your life story" Maybe it'll change as they visit other countries but in the earlier series it was all about saving money on overnight buses, getting in with locals and getting a lift etc.
These huge distances in the first two episodes just seem to have been about getting a fast train (which I understand given the distances involved) but maybe they could have chosen a route so they didn't have to cover such vast distances ?
I agree with that. I get lost at times with what's going on - you see them getting a train and then they're somewhere else and I've lost all notion of time and distance. How the 2 brothers caught up all that time when they stopped to work somewhere had me all confused. There aren't enough reminders of who is where, and why they are lagging behind.
I think it's always been about the back story, the beeb aren't going to pick any random 5 couples they need to have a story.
There have been lots over the years, father and daughter, father had a pub and kind of forget about his kids, mum and daughter, daughter was dyslexic I think or some form f learning difficulties, so this was to try and bring her out of her shell. First series had a married couple who were on the verge of divorce and so on.
I think in this one the distances to travel are huge and really there probably isn't much to watch as they're sat on trains, coaches for hours covering the vast distances. Obviously we're two weeks in and none have any money worries yet so this will play out. Next week's episode with an elimination should be good and it will literally be a race to the checkpoint.
There have been lots over the years, father and daughter, father had a pub and kind of forget about his kids, mum and daughter, daughter was dyslexic I think or some form f learning difficulties, so this was to try and bring her out of her shell. First series had a married couple who were on the verge of divorce and so on.
I think in this one the distances to travel are huge and really there probably isn't much to watch as they're sat on trains, coaches for hours covering the vast distances. Obviously we're two weeks in and none have any money worries yet so this will play out. Next week's episode with an elimination should be good and it will literally be a race to the checkpoint.
Was going to post similar thoughts.
Very little focus on the travel and more about why this experience means so much.
The 18 year olds had a meltdown, not knowing what to do and had no plan for moving forward. Next thing you know they're on a beach with no explanation as to how they got there.
Frustrating.
It's still watchable, but last night's really was hard to follow at times.
Very little focus on the travel and more about why this experience means so much.
The 18 year olds had a meltdown, not knowing what to do and had no plan for moving forward. Next thing you know they're on a beach with no explanation as to how they got there.
Frustrating.
It's still watchable, but last night's really was hard to follow at times.
welshjon81 said:
I felt the series has been going down ever so slightly with each release. Loved the travel aspect of it in the early days but now they focus too much on the people, as previously mentioned. Think I'll give this a miss from now on. Shame.
Like with all of these things, as more people watch is becomes stale and I would imagine if you get selected you would probably do some studying/prep based upon previous series. It's a bit like I'm a celeb, no one goes in there without knowing what you are in for.
This episode was a bit thin on the travel side; Elizabeth and Letitia (sisters) traveled by slow train, but it showed few details about the train. Teenage couple Fin and Sioned, just seemed to magic their way to Hainan Island. No idea how the brothers got a gallop on.
It’s a bit early for the back-stories, Sioned’s missing her mum, Yin and Gaz, 1st birthday without their grown up daughter, they appear to conjuring stuff up.
With 9 episodes in just 3 countries (albeit 2 of them very big) the first few episodes seem a bit dull, let’s hope it improves.
It’s a bit early for the back-stories, Sioned’s missing her mum, Yin and Gaz, 1st birthday without their grown up daughter, they appear to conjuring stuff up.
With 9 episodes in just 3 countries (albeit 2 of them very big) the first few episodes seem a bit dull, let’s hope it improves.
daqinggregg said:
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With 9 episodes in just 3 countries (albeit 2 of them very big) the first few episodes seem a bit dull, let’s hope it improves.
That is probably the crux of the issue: two very big countries to cross, so huge distances mean only bullet trains make sense to cross China, with only remarkable thing being the amazing scenery they have driven a huge viaduct across.With 9 episodes in just 3 countries (albeit 2 of them very big) the first few episodes seem a bit dull, let’s hope it improves.
The best in terms of journeys were the first and central/south America, lots of border crossings and therefore options for different routes and variety on those routes. With the best will in the world; another amazing Chinese city you've never heard of linked by bullet trains doesn't give them a varied canvas.
The problem is that other than repeating the routes that went well, it is difficult to come up with other routes with variation in them. Canada was clearly the most compromised, but given it was post covid cautious, perhaps understandable. Routes into/across Africa are doubtless a nightmare for many reasons.
Maybe it will improve once down to four teams and they cross a border, but I can't image they spend more than one stop in the middle before they are into getting down the length of India. Does India have a high speed train network? All the images in my head of Indian trains include over-crowding and additional passengers on top!
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