While Race Across The World may lack the Bushtucker Trials from I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and doesn’t demand the same level of physicality as SAS: Who DaresWins, it undoubtedly stands out as one of the most challenging programs on television—not only for those competing but also for the production crew.
Now after five seasons and with a group of well-known actors preparing themselves
the third celebrity series
, most viewers are now familiar with the rules of the BBC show.
As indicated by the title, five teams are assigned to race around the globe, starting at a specific location and ending at a finishing line in a different country on the opposite side of the world.
On their journey, the teams cross various checkpoints, and are not allowed to use a smartphone or credit card, with only the cash equivalent of a one-way economy air ticket to their destination to pay for all travel, food and accommodation.
However, what about all the regulations we’re unaware of, and the preparation involved in producing the show? Let us shed some light on this…
1. The paths are tried out prior to the performance
If you assumed that bosses merely designed a path for the participants and left everything else to chance, think again. Actually, an entire group of individuals examines it thoroughly before implementation.
Maria Kennedy, who serves as line producer, stated
Radio Times
“You have some incredibly courageous individuals from the production crew who venture out onto the roads for several months. They inform us, ‘These will be the challenging areas. It’s rather difficult here. But this part is incredible.'”
She commented, “They manage everything within a tight budget too, so they aren’t splurging money or treating themselves lavishly. Instead, they examine the finances closely and determine whether it’s feasible to make ends meet with under £50 per day.”
2. For the producers, the journey might be just as challenging, if not more so, compared to the participants.
According to the
Guardian
Only two producers participate in the dry run, with just one of them knowing the route and their direction.
“As that individual is unaware, they are the one responsible for making the choices,” stated series producer Lucy Curtis.
3. Several additional unnoticed individuals journey alongside each team.
Every journey involves two members from the production team, along with a local fixer and a security advisor; however, they maintain sufficient separation to ensure “the excursion feels genuine,” as stated.
Guardian
reported.
The executive producer, Mark Saben, similarly informed
BBC News
A medical support vehicle also follows the teams, staying about an hour behind them in certain countries.
4. Additionally, there’s another group of individuals responsible for filming all the B-roll content as well.
Mark Saben told
Broadcast
That a cinematographer along with a series director follows every team, filming evocative scenes that highlight the locations they visit.
He stated, “They didn’t just film the expansive aerial drone sequences showcasing the grandeur and magnitude of the landscape, but also captured ground-level scenes depicting the dynamic energy of travel. This way, spectators can experience an immersive connection with the athletes’ adventures.”
5. Interference with the teams’ decisions is not permitted.
The production crew must remain silent, even when it’s evident that the teams are committing errors.
Mark told
Broadcast
How they embarked on their journey was entirely their choice. As such, for this production, we needed to respond to their choices, regardless of how illogical they might seem.
It was a nightmare for production management, as the rival contributors determined their paths forward. The difficulties faced during this process should not be underestimated.
Stephen Day, who serves as an executive producer, also mentioned this point.
The Telegraph
We will step in if they’re at risk, and we hold a genuine responsibility to take care.
If contestants — and there have indeed been some — become so preoccupied with their budgets that they’re not eating properly, then you must encourage them to allocate funds for meals.
Nevertheless, the producers who accompany the participants on their journey are not permitted to explicitly assist them.
give
them food, either.
6. The production team does not receive any special treatment.
Commending the integrated teams, CEO Mark expressed his thoughts to the
BBC
: “They had to do the same journey as them, sleeping alongside them on the bus, they weren’t given a five-star hotel. So they were almost like a family, with its ups and downs.
And although we had conducted reconnaissance missions, the teams stumbled upon parts of the world that were completely unexpected.
7. A member of the production crew had quite bad luck while working on the first season.
Prior to the commencement of filming, executive producer Mark Saben conducted an initial reconnaissance, and he stated that
BBC News
That “one of the unlucky ones had to make the journey once more,” this time alongside the genuine participants.
“He remained quite composed and did not inform them until the final moment, though. To the greatest extent possible, we aimed for it to seem like a rehearsal,” Mark said additionally.
8. A
lot
A significant amount of planning goes into each series.
Before production began, executive producer Mark stated that the initial season took “a year to create,” but he also noted additional information.
BBC
“It’s easy enough to do theoretical work, examining schedules and such. However, until somebody actually puts it into practice, you won’t realize where the challenges may be hiding.”
Visas and vaccines for “every possible country” were taken care of beforehand.
He mentioned to Broadcast that they also “investigate all possible bus and train alternatives, including costs and connections.”
“We established protocols outlining the guidelines for how the teams could thumb rides, journey during nighttime, and securely traverse international boundaries,” he mentioned additionally.
9. Although contestants aren’t permitted to use phones, there are some exemptions.
“If significant issues arose at home, we could permit them to talk with a designated individual; however, our aim is generally to maintain their isolation as much as possible,” said Maria Kennedy (as reported).
Radio Times
).
10. Managers do not generate any employment options
Although the brochure of job listings is put together by employers, all the positions listed are genuinely available.
“We do not visit these locations and ask them, ‘For the sake of the program, could you offer this type of service?'” stated BBC commissioner Michael Jochnowitz, as reported.
Radio Times
.
These are genuine job openings, actual locations, legitimate earnings or housing options and similar prospects. Therefore, since they lack access to a phone or the internet, we essentially provide them with a handbook of possible chances within their region.
Mark Saben, the executive producer, mentioned: “As a general guideline, we aim for something similar to what you might see posted on a bulletin board at a youth hostel or a place like that. We want it to feel completely genuine.”
11. The participants do not receive additional food when they are not being filmed.
Given the incredibly limited budgets, food becomes a genuine challenge for the teams. And despite what you might assume, they aren’t receiving additional provisions when the cameras stop rolling; this isn’t how it works.
The Series Two champion, Emon Choudhury—who won alongside his nephew Jamiul—mentioned that they frequently asked strangers for sustenance and hydration.
He told the
Daily Express
“I shed more than a stone, even a stone and a half, similar to what my nephew experienced; he also dropped quite a significant amount of weight. The problem lay in the food.”
You often imagine on those TV shows that you can grab a sandwich off-camera or have some water or a small snack whenever you want, but actually, it was nothing like that!
Season one champions Tony and Elaine Teasdale also shared this information with the
Telegraph
During one phase, they “didn’t eat unless someone fed them or they came across very affordable street food.”
“We would purchase small packets of rice for 20 pence each and consume them for all three daily meals. As a result, I dropped one dress size going from size 14 to size 12!” Elaine mentioned.
Water was crucial. We used chlorine tablets, eliminating the need for bottled water. This saved us funds and spared us from searching for stores. In Europe, we enjoyed kebabs, and in Asia, we ate rice; additionally, we did not purchase any beverages.
12. The decision to limit season three to just one country had its rationale.
Although the first season of Race Across The World had participants journeying from London to Singapore, and the second season started in Mexico and concluded in Argentina, the third installment remained within a single nation—Canada.
This occurred due to the fact that during filming of the show, numerous COVID-19 travel limitations remained enforced. These constraints would have posed additional challenges for both the crews and the overall production process.
The third season along with the celebrity edition were initially scheduled to premiere at an earlier time, however, production was halted soon after the onset of the pandemic.
The season three champions, Tricia Sail and Cathie Rowe
revealed
They initially applied for the show in 2019, but did not receive any response until 2021 due to the pandemic.
The finale of Race Across The World will be the reunion special airing on Wednesday at 9 pm on BBC One.
With a star-studded edition scheduled to premiere later this year.
.
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