In a groundbreaking move for the popular BBC series, a pairing of in-laws who describe themselves as 'effectively strangers' are poised to make Race Across The World history. Mark and Margo will become the first ever in-laws to compete together in the show's sixth series, embarking on a 12,000-kilometre (7,450-mile) journey across Europe and Asia.
A Bond Forged from Tragedy
Their participation stems from a poignant family tragedy. Mark's late wife, Julia, who was also Margo's sister, expressed a dying wish that the two would become friends after her passing. Margo revealed to Metro: 'It's the maddest thing because we're just not someone you choose to go on a holiday with, let alone this kind of thing, but I just had this feeling it was the right thing to do. I asked him, and he said yes because Julia wanted us to be friends.'
Mark added: 'It was her last dying wish… but also I wanted to experience the excitement of Race Across The World.' This emotional backstory adds a unique layer to their challenge, transforming the race into a journey of connection and healing.
The Ultimate Travel Challenge
The BBC has labelled this the most difficult journey in the show's history. The five competing teams must traverse through:
- Italy
- Greece
- Türkiye
- Georgia
- Kazakhstan
- Uzbekistan
- Kyrgyzstan
Their final destination is northern Mongolia. In classic Race Across The World fashion, participants are prohibited from using smartphones or bank cards, relying instead on a cash budget equivalent to the cost of flying the same route. The fastest team to complete the epic trek will win a £20,000 prize, with nine episodes scheduled to air on BBC One.
Meet the Competitors
Alongside Mark and Margo, the other duos vying for victory include:
- Best friends Jo and Kush
- Siblings Katie and Harrison
- Father and daughter Andrew and Molly
- Cousins Puja and Roshni
This diverse mix promises high drama and compelling storytelling as they navigate the gruelling course.
BBC Expands the Race Universe
Coinciding with the new series, the BBC is launching a major streaming initiative, introducing five new video podcast shows. Among them is Race Across the World: The Detour, hosted by Scott Mills, winner of the celebrity version's second series. The BBC describes this podcast as the programme's 'younger, wilder sibling, charting the ups and downs of the upcoming series.' Mills will be joined by series four winner Alfie Watts.
This expansion follows successful podcast ventures like The Traitors: Uncloaked, which garnered 11.8 million combined plays in a recent month. Fans can access Race Across the World: The Detour weekly on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds after each new episode airs next month.
The series, which debuted in 2019 and has aired 42 episodes across five series, continues to captivate audiences with its premise: 'No flights, no phones - and one high-stakes, low-budget race to the finish. On a globe-spanning adventure of a lifetime, which pair will cross the line first?'
