Race Across the World is back and viewers are excited to see five more sets of people go on the adventure of a lifetime. The BBC series, which began in 2019, returns for a third time after last being on screen in 2020.
As its name suggests, Race Across the World sees contestants race across the globe with no planes, no credit cards and no smartphones in sight. This year's series sees contestants travel across Canada.
The teams this year must navigate their way through the very edges of civilization, taking in vast prairies, untouched wilderness, and great lakes without the use of air travel or any of the trappings of modern-day life. They will only have the cash equivalent of doing the same journey by plane to their final destination.
Read more: BBC Race Across the World start time, contestants, locations and how many episodes
But who are the contestants taking part in the show? Here’s everything you need to know.
Cathie and Tricia
Best friends Cathie, 49, and Tricia, 48, are flying the flag for Wales and Devon respectively. The pair are long-time best friends.
Cathie, who is from south Wales, said of wanting to take part in the series: “Initially, when Trish asked me if I fancied doing something completely bonkers, I said ‘yes! That sounds great’. I love to travel but it was very much as a support to Trish. As time has gone on and we've gotten further and further into the process, it's become much more about me having a break from being something to everybody, and just having some time to be selfish and do what I want to do. Read our full interview with Cathie here.
Tricia said: “For me, it's to prove to myself that with my sight loss I can still do stuff and that I'm not sight loss Tricia, I'm Tricia with sight loss – because a lot of people do label you. I also want to get it out there that people that have got sight loss can still do whatever they want to do, obviously, apart from driving.”
Both Cathie and Tricia admitted that they have thought about a strategy. Cathie said: “We want to move at night as much as possible, so save on board. Work for food. And we're both cheeky enough to just go up and ask people for help. I think people are inherently nice and want to help you, particularly in Canada.”
Tricia added: “We want to get as much experience out of things as we can. Trying to stay on the move, not getting stagnant working in one place, enjoy being in the moment and holding money back for the last leg if we get there.”
Claudia and Kevin
Also taking part in the series is father and daughter duo Claudia, 27, and Kevin, 53. They are from Southampton.
As to why she wanted to do the show, Claudia said: “I am looking for some adventure, a reason to explore and develop our relationship. An excuse to get closer to dad, spend some time together and hopefully create some incredible memories.”
Her father, Kevin, had similar reasons. He said: “I think we've both had bizarre lives, we've done a bit of travelling. It all got a bit calm so when you start seeing a programme like Race Across the World, you think, ‘Oh, my God, this is exactly what we need.’ But at the time, it's an application form you fill out and you think there’s maybe 14 million to 1 odds. You never think it will happen to you.”
Whereas Claudia has said that she’ll miss her “friends, my space, food and caffeine”, her father had other ideas. As to what he’ll miss most, Kevin said: “Definitely my Guinness, I'm a Guinness drinker. We’ll have a budget to work to and that won’t include Guinness.”
Ladi and Monique
Another father and daughter competing is Ladi and Monique. Ladi, 52, is a sport and physical activity professional from Essex, while Monique, 25, is an event manager living in East London.
Monique said her reasoning for wanting to go on the show was because of her love of travelling. “My main motivations are because I love travelling, but on a holiday. So, I don't actually travel, I've never owned a backpack, don't do the whole camping thing, that's not me. I want to challenge myself to be able to experience countries in a way that I probably never would unless it was a show like this.”
Ladi echoed: “I fully appreciate that answer: older, wiser, knows more about the world. I think for me, the motivation for doing this show is that I'm going to spend quality time with my daughter that I will probably never ever get again.”
Ladi also shared how the thought of saying goodbye to his credit card didn’t phase him. He said: “I'm old school so I'm used to cash. I need a break away from everything where nobody can contact me because my life is busy and I'm always available 24/7.” Monique was less keen…
She said: “I'm not used to cash. Even when I go abroad I use Apple Pay or cards that don’t charge you, I never take cash anywhere.”
Marc and Michael
Two brothers are next in the line up. Marc, 36, is a lift operator from Tamworth, and Michael, 34, is a manager in children’s services from West Midlands.
Much like several of the other contestants, Marc and Michael wanted to do the show to do something as brothers. Michael said of this: “There are a few reasons, really. I want to take part in it with Marc because we’ll get an opportunity to build a better relationship. It's a unique chance to have protected time out of our individual lives, do something together and share some incredible experiences. I know it sounds a bit corny, but it is a once in a lifetime trip.”
Marc echoed: “I'd say probably more of the same. But also, it's a chance to have one more adventure. I'm at a stage where I'm ready to settle down, but I also want to travel.”
The brothers admitted that they prepared to go on Race Across the World by watching the first two series. As to what handy tips he picked up, Michael said: “I guess it totally depends on where we are, where we're going and what each checkpoint is going to be. There are issues around the budget and how we're going to manage that as well.”
Marc added: “I think it's easy saying that we're going to be tight on money and we're going to come up with all the right ideas, it's easier said than done. But when you mix tiredness, hunger and no coffee, it will be hard.”
Mobeen and Zainib
Completing the line up is husband and wife Mobeen and Zainib. Mobeen, 31, is a trauma orthopaedic surgeon, trainee registrar from Manchester, and Zainib, 32, is a psychiatrist from Glasgow.
Zainib said of wanting to take part: “I think there's personal reasons, individually, and there's a collective reason for both of us. I think the both of us have always spoken about wanting to get a sense of adventure, wanting to go out there and do something that's out of the ordinary, but then we very gradually and sort of almost insidiously slipped into this life of nine to five, working and then coming home and that sense of adventure was completely gone. Then COVID happened, and it just feels like all we've been doing is working and watching TV.”
Mobeen added: “It’s an amazing opportunity to switch off from life, which can sometimes seem to become a bit mundane, which it probably has been and the pandemic added to that. This is just one of those opportunities that doesn’t come around very often. We are very grateful to be sitting here about to do this crazy journey.”
Meet all of this year’s contestants on Race Across the World, which begins on BBC One at 9pm on Wednesday, March 22. For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.
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