Race Across the World series 3: When does it start, who are the contestants and where do they go?

TV’s most thrilling global travel competition returns to our screens this week following a three-year hiatus.

Race Across the World will air the first episode of its nine-part series on 22 March at 9pm, and this year will have a new home on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, instead of BBC Two.

This year, the five pairs of contestants have been challenged to make a 16,000-kilometre journey across the world’s second largest country, Canada.

Although just one country, the contestants face many obstacles along the way on what has been dubbed as the most extreme series yet.

From budget troubles to coming face-to-face with bears, the difficulties are made all worthwhile as they travel through untouched wilderness, great lakes, and more of Canada's extraordinary scenery.

Beginning on Canada’s west coast in Vancouver, the pairs must make their way across to Canada’s most easterly city, St John’s Newfoundland, stopping off at several check points along the way.

The first contestants to the finish line will win a £20,000 cash prize.

For those who haven’t seen the show before, there is a catch. Contestants have no phones, no internet access, and no credit cards – only a budget equivalent to doing the same journey by plane. They must use their travel know-how and the help of kind strangers to get them to their required points.

Read next: We chat to Emon and Jamiul, Race Across The World's 2020 champions

Cathie and Tricia

Cathie, 49, a company director from South Wales and Tricia, 48, a bank clerk from Devon are two best friends who decided to take on Race Across the World together.

Why did they want to take part?

Cathie said: “Initially, when Trish asked me if I fancied doing something completely bonkers, I said ‘yes! That sounds great’. I love to travel but it was very much as a support to Trish. As time has gone on and we've got further and further into the process, it's become much more about me having a break from being something to everybody, and just having some time to be selfish and do what I want to do. The timing is fantastic for me, my children have both left home now and don’t need me 24 hours a day anymore.”

Tricia said: “Firstly, because I like doing bonkers things. But for me, it's to prove to myself that with my sight loss I can still do stuff and that I'm not sight loss Tricia, I'm Tricia with sight loss – because a lot of people do label you. I also want to get it out there that people that have got sight loss can still do whatever they want to do, obviously, apart from driving. So, for me, it's proving to myself that I can do it, getting some of ‘me’ back and trying to get that confidence back. I wouldn't want to do it with anybody but Cathie because she's the tonic to my gin.”

Kevin and Claudia

Kevin, 53, and Claudia, 27, are a father and daughter duo from Southampton. They work as a marine canopy maker and a product developer respectively.

Why did they want to do the series together?

Claudia said: “There’s a lot of questions running around my head as to why I've chosen to do it with my dad. I think we bring out the best and the worst in each other. To put it simply, my dad absolutely drives me crazy but to be honest, I wouldn't do it with any other person. Me and my dad just have this drive, this similar love and passion for adventure, and pushing each other to see how far we can go. We've always dabbled in a bit of travelling, but we've always done it separately and I guess it'll be nice to share that together.”

Kevin said: “How many parents do I know that have ever travelled with their children? I don't think there's many out there that can actually put their hands up and say that they’ll potentially be travelling together for two months. It’s almost like flipping a coin and watching it land on a map, because that's how much we know about where we are going. I don't know what I'm going to expect tomorrow, or the day after and I think it is the unknown that makes us tick. That’s the nice thought, it's the fact that nothing has been scheduled, nothing's been planned on our side of things. We've just got a bag of clothes which incorporate all weathers. Well, actually I don't think I've really packed for the cold.”

Ladi and Monique

Ladi, 52, a sport and physical activity consultant and Monique, 25, an event manager, are another dad and daughter team.

Why did they want to take part?

Monique said: "So, I stumbled across the series and said to Dad that I reckon we can do this and it sort of just happened. My main motivations are because I love travelling, but on a holiday. So, I don't actually travel, I've never owned a backpack, don't do the whole camping thing, that's not me. I want to challenge myself to be able to experience countries in a way that I probably never would unless it was a show like this. And who better to go with than my dad, because I feel like I need someone who's older, wiser and knows more about the world than I do."

Ladi said: "I fully appreciate that answer: older, wiser, knows more about the world. I think for me, the motivation for doing this show is that I'm going to spend quality time with my daughter that I will probably never ever get again. Yes, she's my daughter, and she's always around, she's my princess, but she's entering into her own adulthood in a way. So, this is probably going to be the last time ever that we're going to be like this. I need to explain to her life and everything that goes with it. So, it was a great opportunity to do that."

Marc and Michael

Next up is Marc, 36, and Michael, 34, the only siblings on the show. Marc works as a lift operator and Michael is a manager in children's services.

Why did they want to the series together?

Michael said: “There are a few reasons, really. I want to take part in it with Marc because we’ll get an opportunity to build a better relationship.

“It's a unique chance to have protected time out of our individual lives, do something together and share some incredible experiences. I know it sounds a bit corny, but it is a once in a lifetime trip. It will not only help our relationship but will also really benefit us moving forward with our lives. It’s something we want to do together, but we've also got our own individual reasons. I feel really fortunate to be able to develop myself a bit more and put some skills to the test.”

Marc said: “I'd say probably more of the same. But also, it's a chance to have one more adventure. I'm at a stage where I'm ready to settle down, but I also want to travel.”

Mobeen and Zainib

Finally, Mobeen, 31, is a trauma orthopaedic surgeon, and Zainib, 32, is a psychiatrist. They live in Manchester and are the only couple on this year's show.

Why did they want to take part?

Zainib said: "I think there's personal reasons, individually, and there's a collective reason for both of us. I think the both of us have always spoken about wanting to get a sense of adventure, wanting to go out there and do something that's out of the ordinary, but then we very gradually and sort of almost insidiously slipped into this life of nine to five, working and then coming home and that sense of adventure was completely gone. Then COVID happened, and it just feels like all we've been doing is working and watching TV. So, for us, it’s needing that sense of adventure again, we need to go back to the things that ignite our excitement. We're in our early 30s and we are living like we are in our 80s to be honest. We just want to do something that's not your usual."

Mobeen said: "It’s an amazing opportunity to switch off from life, which can sometimes seem to become a bit mundane, which it probably has been and the pandemic added to that. This is just one of those opportunities that doesn’t come around very often. We are very grateful to be sat here about to do this crazy journey."

The first episode of Race Across the World: Series 3 begins on BBC One at 9pm on Wednesday 22 March. It will also be available to watch on iPlayer.

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