Race around the world
Discussion
Really got into this. On BBC after TG.
Five couples, £1300 each, fastest to Singapore wins £20k. No planes.
Thought it would be poor, but there are great characters, real tension and great to see the reality of travelling in these places which you don’t see when Lumley and co travel.
Worth a watch
Five couples, £1300 each, fastest to Singapore wins £20k. No planes.
Thought it would be poor, but there are great characters, real tension and great to see the reality of travelling in these places which you don’t see when Lumley and co travel.
Worth a watch
Agree with above
It's an interesting challenge, spend more for a quicker route, or slow'n'cheap
They need to choose the country where they to do their work (for extra funds) as the rates vary hugely, I forget where the 2 girls were, but they got paid pretty much zilch after labouring for hours
Alex & Dad just made it onto the ferry across the Caspian, but, had they missed it, they would have gained quite alot of time on the others
Alex (fortunately!) seems to have matured quite alot since the start
It's an interesting challenge, spend more for a quicker route, or slow'n'cheap
They need to choose the country where they to do their work (for extra funds) as the rates vary hugely, I forget where the 2 girls were, but they got paid pretty much zilch after labouring for hours
Alex & Dad just made it onto the ferry across the Caspian, but, had they missed it, they would have gained quite alot of time on the others
Alex (fortunately!) seems to have matured quite alot since the start
matt21 said:
Thought it would be poor, but there are great characters, real tension and great to see the reality of travelling in these places which you don’t see when Lumley and co travel.
I'm not sure about real tension. Waste a few hours ice skating/looking at mosques/rock climbing & then the producer gets them to run/jog for a few hundred yards with a heavy pack on as if they desperate to make up time. The tension is as fake as Car SOS or any of the myriad other fake programmes. Do you really think a couple of Westerners who don't speak the local language are going to pick up a job in a Chinese flower market? It's fakery of the highest order.Mr Pointy said:
I'm not sure about real tension. Waste a few hours ice skating/looking at mosques/rock climbing & then the producer gets them to run/jog for a few hundred yards with a heavy pack on as if they desperate to make up time. The tension is as fake as Car SOS or any of the myriad other fake programmes. Do you really think a couple of Westerners who don't speak the local language are going to pick up a job in a Chinese flower market? It's fakery of the highest order.
It's not a bad way to pass an hour but it does come across as quite "scripted" with regard to the fakery. What I would have liked to have seen was someone say I have a crazy idea, why don't we spend £800 on a car and see if we can drive it? Spending the rest of the budget on fuel repairs etc, a proper TG style car vs public transport.I agree there is quite a bit of scripting, and would be cool if they bought a car, but I find it interesting nonetheless. It feels a lot more real than most of these shows as it does represent a bit more reality of travelling through these remote locations than most travel shows
They are quite open that each couple are given a book of jobs in each location.
Also agree the running in the last few yards is pointless.
They are quite open that each couple are given a book of jobs in each location.
Also agree the running in the last few yards is pointless.
I watched the episode where the girls worked all day for £6 each. It was Istanbul I think. The cafe owner made Swiss Toni look self-effacing - I swear he had rolled-up socks stuffed down his jeans. Greasier than a greasy thing.
I had also wondered why they didn't just buy a car, but I suppose there would be problems at border checks with documents/insurance.
I only watched that one. It didn't make me want to watch another.
I had also wondered why they didn't just buy a car, but I suppose there would be problems at border checks with documents/insurance.
I only watched that one. It didn't make me want to watch another.
Mr-B said:
Mr Pointy said:
I'm not sure about real tension. Waste a few hours ice skating/looking at mosques/rock climbing & then the producer gets them to run/jog for a few hundred yards with a heavy pack on as if they desperate to make up time. The tension is as fake as Car SOS or any of the myriad other fake programmes. Do you really think a couple of Westerners who don't speak the local language are going to pick up a job in a Chinese flower market? It's fakery of the highest order.
It's not a bad way to pass an hour but it does come across as quite "scripted" with regard to the fakery. What I would have liked to have seen was someone say I have a crazy idea, why don't we spend £800 on a car and see if we can drive it? Spending the rest of the budget on fuel repairs etc, a proper TG style car vs public transport.I also suspect they have local fixers/translators, and aren't solely relying upon strangers.
And gicen what they earn for a day's work, they would be barely any worse off by not bothering, so again, I suspect it's a condition that they have to do this.
ewolg said:
The activity I thought was stupid was when the two mates went rock climbing and spent £111 out of their meager budget!
At first I thought it might be quite good but as mentioned above, I now think it’s all a bit false, which is a shame.
Next!!
Them two have openly explained that they don't want to blitz it and get there first without having the adventure. They want to get the experience and enjoy the journey and if that means they are last to the finish then they're not bothered. I like that approach but then after they spent that much on the rock climbing a few days after spending hours on searching to get into China as cheap as possible just doesn't add up. At first I thought it might be quite good but as mentioned above, I now think it’s all a bit false, which is a shame.
Next!!
With the girls going well out of their way to go ice skating, and the guys going rock climbing, there must be a script they follow to give a bit of variety to the constant travel.
I also don't get why all the teams are spending money on hotels. A tent, sleeping bag, camp cooker, a pan and a water bottle and you're all set for a night anywhere for (almost) zero cost.
Never the less, it's a good series, it has it's flaws, but i'm enjoying it.
When the two bloke friends checked in to a hotel that charged by the hour and found the condoms did I hear correctly that the narrator said, “Josh and Alex are hoping for a happy ending”?! I bet the script writer is pleased with himself for slipping that in.
I’m looking forward to the final as the BBC will probably do a catch up with the teams to see what they are up to now and I really hope Alex has got his s
t together and has a job. I’m also a little bit in love with Natalie.
I’m looking forward to the final as the BBC will probably do a catch up with the teams to see what they are up to now and I really hope Alex has got his s
t together and has a job. I’m also a little bit in love with Natalie. A poor relation to https://www.cbs.com/shows/amazing_race/ but i'm enjoying it none the less.
I've been enjoying this too, although haven't watched last night's episode yet. With regards to them going off and doing stuff like the rock climbing and ice skating, I was wondering if maybe part of the rules is that they must spend 1 day of each leg doing either the work thing or a touristy thing? Or they have to spend 1 day 'not travelling' which would therefore allow them the time. This obviously gives the producers some alternative footage to trains and back seats of taxis!
Also the dad and son were on breakfast TV the other day, I didn't see it but apparently the boy is now working for his dad's business
Also the dad and son were on breakfast TV the other day, I didn't see it but apparently the boy is now working for his dad's business
SwanJack said:
A poor relation to https://www.cbs.com/shows/amazing_race/ but i'm enjoying it none the less.
Agreed, but TAR has gone downhill over the past several years as the tasks aren't that difficult.I wish I had watched it from the start. I enjoyed the last two episodes. I thought last week was really good. Tonight was good, but too much dodgy editing at the end.
The two guys having a big strop with each other last week was funny. It was embarrassing for them and really childish, but car crash tv.
I see they are looking for new applicants.
How many people could afford to give up 50 days? Seems like a lot of effort for not a massive prize.
The two guys having a big strop with each other last week was funny. It was embarrassing for them and really childish, but car crash tv.
I see they are looking for new applicants.
How many people could afford to give up 50 days? Seems like a lot of effort for not a massive prize.
Edited by Driver101 on Monday 8th April 10:00
Really enjoyed the series, although as stated above, if it really takes off and goes mainstream you can see it going the way of The Apprentice and other 'wannabe celeb' programmes.
I think there's definitely another series in it though, it'll be interesting to see what contestants do now they have an idea of what the programme is about and the good/bad ideas that previous contestants have taken.
I noticed the actual winning time was 2.5 hours between first and second place. That's pretty mad considering the distance they've covered.
Enjoyable programme and decent Sunday night viewing.
I think there's definitely another series in it though, it'll be interesting to see what contestants do now they have an idea of what the programme is about and the good/bad ideas that previous contestants have taken.
I noticed the actual winning time was 2.5 hours between first and second place. That's pretty mad considering the distance they've covered.
Enjoyable programme and decent Sunday night viewing.
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