Race Across the World Fans Reveal Their Biggest Grievances in New Season

The fifth season of Race Across The World is well underway.

The BBC reality travel show has assigned five partners to compete in a race across China, Nepal and India And their task is to accomplish this with the smallest budget ever seen in the series — barely more than £1,000 per individual.

Although this season of Race Across The World has once more captivated audiences, several issues have arisen. grumbles from certain quarters .

Most of the grievances focus on how the series balances the individual histories of the pairs with the thrilling challenge of navigating from point A to point B using limited resources.

Many fans think the so-called sob stories have occupied too much screen time, as @fish-and-cushion posited in a buzzy Reddit The discussion jokingly named the show "Sob Story Around the Globe." (Ouch).

@bobblebob100 concurred that the emphasis on contestants' background stories can be "somewhat annoying," yet also noted: “However, that blame lies with the producers, not the contestants. It seems they simply pose the questions.”

‘The sob stories have ruined it for me. It’s nice to see couples bond and improve their relationships (or argue) but the constant sob stories are ridiculous,’ @_I__yes__I_ echoed.

@purpletshirtz added that they thought the show’s runtime would be better spent on the ins and outs of the race, writing: ‘I think we’re missing out on the main story of their travel.

'Ideally, we should know where they rest every evening, their dining spots for each meal, whether it’s a hotel, hostel, or something else, how they handle illnesses, and what happens during their gatherings at a pleasant hotel. We're still uncertain about the scheduling of this series. However, the behind-the-scenes program provides far more details and, in my opinion, is also more intriguing.'

Are the RATW's 'sob stories' becoming a problem?

Our Deputy TV Editor Tom Percival offers his insights...

Honestly,I don’t get why people are complaining about the ‘sob stories’. One of the best things about Race Across the World is the way the challenge gives those taking part the confidence to discuss whatever it may be that motivated them to go on this incredible journey.

And while I get why people might think there’s a bit more backstory than previous series, the series would be incredibly dull if all we were doing were watching people silently go from train, to plane, to car and back again. It would be the equivalent of watching someone do their morning commute!

No backstory informs us about the teams, their dynamics, and personal journeys. It helps us understand whom to cheer for, who has traveled the farthest, and who still has a long way ahead. Without these emotional narratives, you might as well remove the entire series.

Nevertheless, several supporters were quick to champion the emotional aspects of the series, as @IceKalisto commented: "I believe what sets this show apart from other travel programs is the storytelling. Getting to know the teams adds significant intrigue."

'I enjoy the stories as well,' tweeted @Constant_Oil_3775. 'Listening to everyone's tales is wonderful; it would also be fantastic to hear from the people who host them.'

Race Across The World can be seen on BBC One and iPlayer every Wednesday at 9 pm.

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