Race Around The World – SPOILERS ALERT

Just finished watching it last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. We got talking afterwards though as to how much the route is planned in advance and how many people accompany each team.

We watched last night and also really enjoyed it.

I'm starting to feel its a little more scripted/contrived than i first thought - each leg is a little formulaic with each team always getting work, etc. and the finishing times were also very close considering the differing routes.

I guess its a bit like the old Top Gear Specials - it was clear in the earlier days they really were just making it up as they went along, but the later ones were painfully scripted and obvious.

There has to be some safety contingency I guess because people could get lost or hurt. For example, killing Harry Von McFly's mum would be really bad on many levels.
Also, from listening to the interview with the winners on 5LIVE this morning, you can't have a team falling too far back (or getting too far ahead) as it would screw up the timing for the next leg.

Really enjoyed it and I've now put Slovenia on my list, it looks stunning.

Iirc they did a behind the scenes show for one of the earlier non celeb races. From memory the routes have been scoped out and tested in advance with crew doing each leg to make sure the budget is achievable. They are then obviously accompanied by at least camera bod and sometimes security/fixer, and the crew are in touch with producers to keep them updated about where each team is. The book of work options are all pre arranged and flexible but on the Canadian one I think one of the teams genuinely blagged some work in exchange for bed and board or transport.

Despite knowing all that, it's still reasonable brain out entertainment but it must be getting harder for them to think of a new long distance route that'd pass any sort of risk assessment.

Yeh we enjoyed this one quite a lot, pity about Billy and Bonny having to leave, any more been said?

The work is via a book of agreed options, and often hardly looks like work, from the edit atleast 🤣 Just another excuse to add 'interest' to the trip in reality I think.

Seattle to Miami might be an interesting one. I guess lots of Africa, Asia and middle east are just too dangerous, and Oz or NZ are too limiting in terms of routing options?

Canada was good from a 'seeing the place' point of view, but the lack of travel options made it a bit boring interns of the challenge for a lot of it.

Canada was good from a ‘seeing the place’ point of view, but the lack of travel options made it a bit boring interns of the challenge for a lot of it.

My feelings exactly, the celeb one was much more interesting using 3 totally different ways to Tromsø for example, while in Canada they largely ended up on same train.

The work is clearly contrived - I don't think they do more than an hour or two but it adds a local interest story to the race. The reindeer job looked more fun than work!

Really enjoyed it and I’ve now put Slovenia on my list, it looks stunning.

You always add up places to 'The List' as you watch it. We thought the same about Tromsø last night. It looks amazing! Though I expect you'd need to remortgage your house to afford a weekend away there 😂

Its a cracking programme. Its not so much about the travelling and the race itself, more about watching peoples relationships. An 18 hour coach journey is going to strain any family or friendship ties. It was a real shame Billy and Bonny had to go, with only the final leg to go

The work is clearly contrived

I did enjoy Harry just spending his whole time on the fishing boat going 'WHOOOOA... WTF IS THAT?!!!!' when they pulled various creatures out of the sea 😂

Do you know how far Mel and her mam were behind?

They pixilated out the times at the end of each episode and revealed it in the next.

Maybe there will be a "catch up" show as has happened in previous series.

We saw Tromso and thought wow too! And that we really need to get back to Norway as it's so amazing, but it's just sooooo expensive. Only been there back packing and camping and that was pricey enough for our budgets.

No idea on the time of Mel and her Mam, but I suspect it was a a good amount behind.

Was a bit disappointed that they didn't have a bit of a 'reunion dinner' for them to talk about their trips, don't they usually do that at the end?? Ah well, it was a bit of light family entertainment for us. Task Master for the family tonight 😍

It's like C4's 'Hunted' - totally contrived to deliver the illusion of jeopardy or real competition while giving useable content. But if these things are done well (unlike Hunted), you don't notice it as much.

In the Canada series I think one of the crews might have been using a white transit minibus. When the girl and her dad had a bear encounter they were suddenly sat in the back whilst the risk passed, and then after that I noticed what looked like the same van popping up in a few shots. Makes sense where the cameraman has to follow if there aren't enough seats when they get a lift. Also looks like someone places a few cameras in the cars when they get a lift.

But as others suggest - slightly contrived but interesting and informative entertainment compared to most TV stuff.

It’s TV, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if all the participants filmed winning and losing segments in advance and the winners were chosen from who made the best footage or whose life story matched the current agenda or news cycle.