**Behind the Scenes of BBC’s ‘Race Across the World’: Phones, Production, and the Peril of Biscuits**
As ‘Race Across the World’ draws its fifth series to an exhilarating close, millions have watched in anticipation as pairs navigate continents on limited budgets—relying on maps, public transport, and their wits. But the real race isn’t just what viewers see on screen; there is a labyrinth of rules, hidden logistics, and quirky regulations driving the drama and keeping the contestants on their toes.
This week the focus shifts to the southern tip of India, Kanyakumari, as four pairs vie for the £20,000 cash prize. The remaining hopefuls—sisters Elizabeth and Letitia, Carmarthenshire’s Fin and Sioned, brothers Brian and Melvyn, and mother-son duo Caroline and Tom—have journeyed from China, through Nepal, and now across India, testing the limits of resilience and teamwork.
The format, familiar to devoted audiences, is simple in theory but relentless in execution: reach each checkpoint before rivals using only public transport, with no mobile phones or air travel and a tight budget to stretch across thousands of miles. Along the way, participants frequently pause their journey to take on short jobs, bolstering their dwindling funds to keep moving towards the finish line.
Yet, for all its raw adventure, ‘Race Across the World’ is a television production—and a complex one at that. Details about its behind-the-scenes operations have gradually been revealed, offering insight into the meticulous processes that keep the programme ticking while preserving a sense of integrity and spontaneity.
**The Gruelling Audition Gauntlet**
Getting onto the show is a race in itself. As highlighted in Richard Osman and Marina Hyde’s podcast ‘The Rest Is Entertainment’, hopefuls don’t simply fill in a form; instead, they are sprung a surprise task from the producers. Typically, they’re told to navigate to a location about an hour away from the production offices, under scrutiny from the cameras while being shadowed by a team. This upfront challenge reveals how contenders respond to pressure, how they interact with teammates, and whether their personalities will shine—or clash—on national television.
This immersive vetting offers producers invaluable insight, shaping diverse line-ups that go on to be both relatable and entertaining to millions at home.
**Strict Rules on Mobile Phones—and an Extra Twist**
It’s common knowledge that contestants must forgo their smartphones—effectively cutting them off from Google Maps, translation apps, and instant messaging. However, recent interviews with this year’s timorous travellers have lifted the lid on an additional rule many fans overlooked: they’re also banned from soliciting help from others’ phones.
Speaking on The Scott Mills Radio 2 Breakfast Show, Elizabeth and Letitia stressed the difficulty posed by language barriers early on in China, even with Letitia’s conversational Mandarin. Similarly, Brian recounted the confusion of ticket sellers accustomed to a phone-toting clientele, and their bemusement upon learning the contestants were wholly analogue.
Scott Mills himself, a past participant, clarified: although strangers sometimes volunteer their own mobile devices, contestants are strictly prohibited from requesting help. If a bystander offers, it’s permitted, but asking outright is off limits—a small but significant detail that further isolates contestants from the comforts of the digital world.
**Production Presence at Every Turn**
Viewers might assume the only people on the open road are the duos themselves. In truth, teams are trailed at all times by at least one member of the production crew, as confirmed by former competitors Viv and Stephen. If there is only room for two spare seats on a train or bus, the team must forgo it, ensuring their assigned camera operator can always travel alongside them.
The crew, not bound by the same budgeting constraints, often have the luxury of well-stocked snacks and meals on the go, while challengers are often left rationing, sometimes surviving on water as the miles rack up.
**Clean Clothes Amid Chaos**
The matter of laundry, often overlooked by audiences, is addressed only at checkpoint hotels. Fresh off the road, contestants surrender their grubby laundry at these much-needed pitstops—receiving it cleaned within a day, allowing them to recharge and rejoin the race unafflicted by the grime of travel.
Checkpoint hotels also offer rare moments of indulgence: food and drink are freely available, without budgetary constraints, allowing weary travellers to refuel and, crucially, plan their next moves with a clear mind.
**The Bizarre Ban List—No Custard Creams Allowed**
Rules about communications are closely guarded, but every series seems to bring new additions to the list of prohibited items. One surprise ban this year was on certain comfort foods. As Melvyn revealed during a radio interview, after previous tech-savvy travellers and biscuit aficionados packed their bags with snacks such as custard creams, the show’s overseers decided to outlaw biscuits for future contestants. Melvyn lamented his inability to bring ginger nuts and Yorkshire Tea, a detail that speaks not only to the challenge’s hardship but the producers’ commitment to fairness and realism.
The list of bans and regulations, along with ever-watchful crew and a demanding audition process, underpin the genuine spirit of challenge that defines ‘Race Across the World’. While the contestants swap convenience for adventure, the series’ production ensures authenticity and drama remain front and centre.
As the finale looms, viewers are reminded that what they see is the tip of the iceberg—every step on screen is matched by countless untold stories, creative decisions, and an unwavering commitment to reality in travel television.