BBC Race Across The World returned tonight for a series 4 contest from Japan to Indonesia – but fans still had a complaint about the new cast.
Viewers met five new pairs of contestants hoping to beat each other to the finish line using a limited budget and no smartphone. The BBC adventure travel programme, back for its fourth series, sees the five teams of travellers take part in an epic race from Japan to Indonesia by foot, road, rail (not bullet train!), bus or boat – no planes allowed – with a budget of just the cost of the equivalent air fare. They will be competing to win £20,000.
The couples Eugenie, 61, and daughter Isabel, 25, married couple Stephen and Viv, brothers Alfie and Owen, both 20, and Yorkshire siblings Betty and James took on Bridie and Sharon with a budget of £1,400 to last not just the first episode’s first leg but the entire trip.
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But of the new faces, some viewers weren’t keen on Alfie, who they called ‘intense’, as he struggled to enjoy the journey.
Isabel, by contrast, managed not only to come first with mum Eugenie but even learned some Japanese while on the train, although the couple did blow 32% of their budget on the first leg, and viewers simply couldn’t believe Eugenie was 61.
@dpt2891 said: “#RaceAcrossTheWorld Eugenie is stunning …. and how is she 61?”
@morganjeffrey said: “61?! #RaceAcrossTheWorld”
@turntheboxon added@ “SHE’S 61???????? #RaceAcrossTheWorld”
@escclarinetmoon said; “#RaceAcrossTheWorld eugenie’s 61?? She literally looks 12″
(Image: BBC)
At the end of the leg, Alfie and Owen were a close second, leading Alfie to quip “that’s as close as you can be to joint first.”
@cardiBach91 said: “Sharon & Brydie – Love them Alfie needs to calm the f*** down!”
@li_ga86 said: “That brother of the brothers is stressing me out through the screen”
@laurahallissey said: “Alfie love you’re not joint first you’re second. Get over it!”
@aleexxJP said; “Alfie or Owen I’m unsure which is ALL problems no solutions”
@according2Al said: “Alfie is going to have a cardiac arrest before #raceacrosstheworld ends if he doesn’t calm down”
@katyrodge said: “I would definitely accidently on purpose lose Alfie. #RaceAcrossTheWorld”
But viewers are loving the new series and say it’s already outstripping the Canada series (in Stephen and Viv’s case, very literally).
@alexr_241 said: “5 minutes in and this is already better than the car share around Canada series #RaceAcrossTheWorld”
@mrroddygraham said: “7 minutes in and I love them all already. The perfect mix of young and old. Siblings, partners and friends. Going to be a brilliant series this!”
@benstevens2002 said; “A £20,000 prize fund for what they have to do on this show is madness. Should be LOADS more #RaceAcrossTheWorld”
@_lucasmichael_ said; “I loved Race Across Canada but already this series is more interesting due to the fact they’ve got so many more options than just “oh f*** we all didn’t make the same train. We better get a taxi” #RaceAcrossTheWorld”
Race Across The World continues on BBC One and BBC iPlayer next Wednesday, April 17 at 9pm
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