Race Across The World Where Are They Now

Race Across The World was the travel show that made us all jealous, sending pairs across continents with no smartphones and a budget that wouldn’t buy a round of flat whites in Shoreditch. We watched them barter, sleep in bus stations, and cry on ferries—purely for a cash prize and bragging rights. But what happens when the camera stops rolling and real life calls?

As it turns out, the show’s alumni have traded rickshaws for routines, but the the spirit of the race lives on in their everyday adventures. Some have found that the biggest journey isn’t across a map, but through the quiet landscapes of career, family, and self-discovery. This is where they are now, and it’s surprisingly relatable.

The Winners: From Adventure to Anchor

Take Emon and Jamiul, the father-son duo who won the first series by navigating Asia on a shoestring. They’re back in the UK now, with Jamiul working in finance and Emon running his own cab business. No, they’re not planning a sequel—they’re planning a family reunion, and Jamiul says the biggest lesson was “learning to trust your dad.”

Fun fact: Emon still uses the same rucksack. He calls it his “lucky bag,” though he admits it smells like a decade of Southeast Asian spice markets. Practical tip: if you’re ever lost, just ask a local. They did it daily, and it saved them hours of frustration.

The Underdogs: Unlikely Growth

Then there’s the British couple from series two, who seemed perpetually lost but finished with the most heart. They now run a small café in Cornwall, serving the kind of comfort food they craved during long bus rides. “The race taught us patience,” they say, “and that a stranger’s kindness is the best currency.”

Modern magazine moment: their café has a “no Wi-Fi corner” to encourage unplugged conversations. It’s a quiet hit, especially with tourists who want a taste of that old-school connection. Cultural reference: think Chef (the movie), but with fewer food trucks and more cream teas.

The Competitive Ones: Chasing New Horizons

Not everyone settled down. The all-female team from series three—the ones who argued over maps and then hugged it out—are now professional travel planners. They run a company that offers “disconnected journeys,” where clients hand over phones and trust the road. Their tagline? “Get lost, find yourself.”

They’ve also written a guidebook called No Service, No Problem, which includes tips like “always carry a pocket knife” and “learn three words of the local language.” Fun fact: they once missed a train in Mongolia because they were busy feeding a stray dog. They don’t regret it.

The Families: Ties That Bind (and Trip)

The mother-daughter pair from the most recent series—who nearly quit in a Moroccan souk—are now closer than ever. They host a podcast called Two Tickets, One Argument, where they re-enact their worst travel fights and laugh about them over wine. It’s raw, honest, and oddly therapeutic.

Their biggest takeaway? “Travel doesn’t fix you. It just shows you the cracks, and then you decide if you want to glue ‘em or paint ‘em gold.” Practical tip: always set a code word for tension. They used “pineapple” to signal a break. It works surprisingly well in traffic jams too.

The Solo Adventurer: Finding Home on the Go

One contestant from the fourth series—a lone traveler paired with a stranger—took the race’s motto to heart. He now freelances as a digital nomad, hopping between hostels in Mexico, Vietnam, and Portugal. “The show taught me to rely on my instincts,” he says. “And that a smartphone is a crutch, not a compass.”

He’s built a tiny blog following by posting “offline reviews”—places he visited without Google Maps or TripAdvisor. His advice: get curious. Ask a random local for their favorite spot, not the one on Instagram. The results are always messy, but never boring.

What We All Learned (Without the Prize Money)

Looking back, Race Across The World wasn’t really about the race. It was about the quiet moments between chaos—the shared snack, the wrong turn that led to a real conversation, the decision to keep going despite everything. These contestants remind us that the best journeys don’t end at a finish line.

Practical takeaway: next time you’re running late, skip the map. Let yourself be a little lost. You might find a new café, a hidden park, or just the feeling that the world is a lot friendlier than your phone suggests. After all, as one contestant put it, “The route is just a suggestion. The real adventure is who you become along the way.”

A Final Folkloric Nod

Think of it like the old proverb: “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” Whether you’re crossing a continent or just walking to the corner shop, there’s magic in being untethered. So turn off notifications, pack a snack, and take the road less mapped. Your own “where are they now” story starts right here.