Race Across the World: BBC’s Global Adventure Phenomenon Returns for 2025
Why Race Across the World Matters
Race Across the World is a British television competition programme, in which teams of two race across an area of the world to become the fastest to reach a destination using any means of transportation other than air travel. The show has captured the hearts of millions since its debut in 2019, offering a refreshing alternative to traditional reality television. It emphasises human connection, cultural exploration, and resourcefulness over manufactured drama, making it one of BBC’s most beloved formats.
The programme’s significance extends beyond entertainment. It showcases diverse regions of the world whilst testing contestants’ problem-solving abilities, resilience, and relationships under pressure. The programme was broadcast on BBC Two for the first two series, but due to better than expected viewership moved to BBC One for the third series.
Celebrity Race Across the World 2025: Dramatic Finale
After six jam-packed episodes of the popular BBC programme, it was broadcaster Roman Kemp and his sister Harleymoon who have taken the title. The celebrity edition concluded on 11 December 2024 with a nail-biting finale. The final saw Roman Kemp and his sister Harleymoon, Tyler West and girlfriend Molly Rainford, Dylan Llewellyn and his mum Jackie, and Anita Rani and her dad Bal make their final leg in the race.
The competition featured dramatic moments throughout. Dylan and Jackie quit the race due to their low budget, with Dylan stating the race was ‘so tough’. The teams were challenged to race 5,900km to reach the finish line in the remote and breathtaking Península de La Guajira in Colombia.
Looking Ahead: Series 5 and Beyond
Excitement builds for the next civilian series. Race Across the World is back for 2025, with a £20,000 prize for the pair of contestants who complete the route first, returning on Wednesday 23 April. This year’s epic race will start at The Great Wall of China, with five teams navigating three of Asia’s most diverse nations – China, Nepal and India, finishing in Kanniyakumari, the southernmost tip of India, making the race a gruelling 14,000km.
Following the conclusion of the fourth series and the second celebrity edition the BBC confirmed that the show was renewed for a fifth series set to air in 2025 along with a third celebrity series. Applications remain open for future series, with the BBC seeking diverse participants from seasoned travellers to complete novices.
What This Means for Viewers
Race Across the World represents more than entertainment—it’s a celebration of human spirit and cultural diversity. The show’s continued success demonstrates audiences’ appetite for authentic, meaningful content that inspires wanderlust whilst showcasing the world’s beauty and complexity. As the format expands internationally and continues attracting millions of viewers, it sets a new standard for reality television that prioritises substance over spectacle.