So much reality TV these days is so utterly contrived, you would have forgiven some viewers for calling Wednesday’s emotional climax to Race Across The World a set-up.
Having opened up about their fertility issues during this epic eight-week trek across Canada, married couple Zainib and Mobeen scored a last-minute final stretch lift from trucker Brent.
The chat turned to families, and Mobeen mentioned that he and Zainib had been considering adoption.
Then, boom, Brent dropped his EastEnders duff-duff. He’d been adopted as a child.
He duly declared adoption “the greatest expression of love I can think of” – and everyone was in tears.
It was another perfect moment in a series that had already been full of them.
The subsequent outpouring of emotion on social media – and in a fair few living rooms – confirmed the real secret of this show’s success: It’s almost impossible to watch it and not end up caring about the people taking part.
Lifelong friends Tricia and Cathie may have scooped the £20,000 prize, but, to be honest, it didn’t really matter who won.
When someone on a lesser reality show says “We’re all winners” the fake sincerity can make you want
to punch the screen. When someone says it on this show, you shrug “Aye, fair enough.”
I’d go as far as to say Race Across The World has replaced Strictly Come Dancing as my answer to the question “If you could take part in one TV show, which would it be?” And that’s not just because Oti Mabuse has left Strictly.
I was so invested in it, I even watched the reunion show way past my bedtime on Wednesday night.
And I’m glad I did. Firstly, because Zainib freed the elephant that had been squatting in my living room since the series began: “Everyone tells me I’ve got a resting bitch face.”
And secondly, because the producers dropped in a wonderfully subtle gag as the duos arrived at the reunion venue in London.
Father and daughter Kevin and Claudia were the only ones who turned up in a taxi.
If you know, you know.
