The hit BBC show Race Across the World has crowned its 2026 champions, with best friends Jo Diop and Kush Burman becoming the first pair to reach the final checkpoint in Hatgal, Mongolia. The series six finale aired on Thursday, 21 May, and saw the four remaining pairs sprint through a snowy forest to the finish line. The Liverpudlian friends, aged 19 and 20, celebrated their £20,000 victory by jumping into the snow.
A Dream Realised
"I can't put it into words, bro!" Kush exclaimed, while Jo added, "That's how I feel, bro." Reflecting on their win, Jo said: "The dream from the start was opening the final book and seeing it empty, so that actually happening... it's hard to get my head around it." Kush expressed pride in representing Liverpool: "Big up scousers!"
Other Finalists
Father-daughter duo Andrew and Molly secured second place, followed by siblings Katie and Harrison, and in-laws Mark and Margo. Viewers were particularly moved by Mark and Margo's story, who reconciled after 40 years of conflict following the death of Julia, Margo's sister and Mark's wife. Julia, who died in 2022 from a rare cancer, had wished for them to become friends.
Plans for the Prize Money
Jo and Kush, who entered the show as "a bit of a joke" after finishing their A-levels, plan to spend their winnings on more travel. "We'd have to spend a little bit on ourselves," Jo said. "I'd probably get a nice pair of Jordan 4s for a new outfit and a nice little holiday, and stash the rest." He also intends to "contribute to a future house for my mum at some point."
Behind the Scenes
The semi-final was moved a day earlier to avoid clashing with the Eurovision Song Contest. Over 51 days, the finalists travelled over 7,400 miles across Europe and Asia, through Italy, Greece, Turkey, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Mongolia. The show, narrated by John Hannah, first aired in 2019 on BBC Two before moving to BBC One in 2023. This year also saw the launch of a companion podcast, originally hosted by Scott Mills but replaced by Tyler West after Mills' dismissal.
A reunion special with the 2026 contestants will air after the final at 9pm on BBC One.
