Race Across the World (2019–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Delphi - Greece - full transcript
The teams set off from Greenwich. They must pass through five checkpoints to reach their final destination. First up: the ancient city of Delphi.
Reaching the other
side of the world
has never been easier.
However, by flying over,
are we forgetting
how to travel through?
Singapore...
The furthest point from
the u.K. By road and rail,
normally a 12-hour
plane journey.
But could you get there for
just the price of the airfare
without taking a single
flight? What am I doing?
Holy moley, that's
gonna be tough.
Five pairs of ordinary brits
are about to
attempt just that...
Most people would
go from "a" to "b" on a plane,
but then they'd miss all this.
In an extraordinary
race. Come on. Come on.
At ground level, they'll cover
over 12,000 miles. Oh, man!
- Look at that!
- That's amazing.
Everybody
wants to get to Azerbaijan.
Who will finish first,
as they leave behind
the trappings of
modern-day life...
It's 34 hours on one
bus.
without their bank cards...
We're gonna run out
of money at some point.
And their smartphones?
I don't want to argue
about it. Time's ticking on.
It will test them physically...
This is where you
find out about yourself.
- Sleep.
- Sleep where?
You can't finish the
race if you're dead.
And emotionally.
It's almost like
I'm questioning my purpose.
What is it that I want?
It's
just a bit much.
I'm at breaking point.
How will they triumph?
Tactics...
A new strategy
blend in with the locals.
Resourcefulness...
This is nice. It's
actually lovely.
Risk taking...
Seriously running
out of food, proper water.
Or charm?
Can you take us to Greece?
For you, I want to help you.
The reward is great...
It's about recapturing
the little bit of me, this.
As the first team to Singapore
will claim the
prize of £20,000...
Ahh!
In a race across the world.
Shift your butt, come on.
50 days, blood, sweat, tears.
captions paid for by
discovery communications
the race begins in greenwich,
the meridian line
separating east from west.
The old naval college is the
former home of the royal Navy
and epicentre of
British exploration.
- I can't wait.
- No. No.
I'm just so excited.
We'll get started now.
First to arrive, best
pals since school,
sue and Clare.
Clare has been my best friend
since we were 11 years old.
I can't wait.
The most exciting thing
I think we've ever done...
When we were 21, we
did an interrail trip together
around Europe. Good morning.
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
We didn't have phones,
we didn't have the Internet,
we had limited money.
- Mm.
- Thank you.
Yes, we want to win,
but I think we also both
want to enjoy the
experience of the journey.
Do you know where we
are? Well, we're at greenwich.
The next team aiming to find
the fastest route to Singapore
without catching a plane...
Father and son darron
and Alex from Bradford.
I think I'm gonna be
quite hopeless at the start
because I'm used to my phone.
Like, if I'm lost, I
go on Google maps.
But I'm gonna win
'cause I've got my dad.
He knows how to travel.
You got used to
your backpack yet?
A bit.
I've slept in
tents on top of mountains,
in the wilderness, at the
side of an active volcano.
I want something I've
never experienced.
Before the start of the
race, the teams have agreed
to be stripped of
all mobile devices,
credit cards, and cash.
Good morning. Good morning.
Good morning. Do you
have any mobile phones
or wallets with you? Yeah, I do.
Right, if you could
hand that over
to my colleague for me, please.
Thank you.
What each team is
provided with is a world map,
a travel guide
with local job ads,
and two money belts.
Thank you.
Third up...
Friends for over 30 years
Natalie and shameema.
You forget how pretty London is.
I know.
I would say Natalie's
and i's experience of travel
is very different.
My first expedition,
I went to Vietnam,
Cambodia, Thailand, Burma,
India, Sri Lanka,
Madagascar, Kenya,
Uganda, Tanzania.
Setting
off into the unknown
is something that
I don't usually do.
You know, I've never even
owned a backpack before.
This trip has come
at a great time for me.
I've been married for 19
years, but we've decided
that it's the right time
for us to separate,
and my two daughters
are growing into strong,
independent women.
So it's almost like
someone's saying,
"you've got permission to not
be responsible for something,"
and that feels quite nice.
First thoughts when
I say "race across the world."
Oh...
- Good morning.
- Morning.
For the team's safety,
the only piece of technology
permitted is a GPS device...
- Thank you.
- Thank you very much
that will track their
progress to the finish line.
Singapore...
The furthest point you
can travel to from the u.K.
By road and rail...
A journey of over 12,000 miles.
But rather than a
12-hour direct flight,
it'll take an estimated 50 days.
Also joining the race...
Husband and wife and owners
of a small retail chain,
jinda and bindu from Nottingham.
We've been together
since we were children
and, after three decades,
you're gonna know
somebody very, very well.
We've been through ups,
downs. We've been broke together.
We've been through
crises together.
Our marriage has seen
everything that a marriage can see
and come out the other side.
Yeah.
It's made us so tough,
and it's made us so determined.
Those skills, when you put
them in this type of situation,
it really boosts you along.
We need turbulence and
stress around us to perform.
There's gonna be
plenty of that on the way.
Center of time,
center of London.
- I am so ready.
And completing the line-up...
Best friends and business
partners, Josh and Felix.
We've traveled a lot together
over the last five or six years.
We've had some
incredible adventures...
Kind of a bit like
hergé's "tintin."
Whether it's grizzly
bears in the Oregon mountains
or visit the Montenegrin alps,
we know that anything this
challenge can throw at us
we'll probably be
able to surmount.
This is going to be the most
rich and amazing experience.
We want to climb the
hills and swim in the lakes.
We want to eat it.
En route to Singapore,
the teams must pass
through five checkpoints.
Only when they reach
one will they learn
where the next will be.
Your first checkpoint
will be delphi.
Delphi. Where's delphi?
France? Really?
Greece. The oracle. The oracle.
I've got some
sophocles in my bag,
so we're sorted.
Ooh. Money.
Just over £1,300 per person
gives them a budget of
roughly £25 each a day.
You have £1,329.
The cost of a direct
flight to Singapore.
So it's got to cover all
expenses on the race,
including food, water,
travel, and accommodation.
They'll have to work
to earn extra cash
and travel smart if they're
to make it to Singapore.
We don't want to
run out of money.
We can always work.
I'd rather be budgeting
and be careful.
We'll make it work. We
know how to live on a budget.
We'll make that work.
We'll make it work, yeah.
I'm not worried.
The race begins at 14:00 hours.
- Hey, guys.
- Hi.
Do you need help?
No,.
The intrepid adventurers
assemble at the start line...
- We meet at last.
- Yeah!
Setting eyes on
their competition
for the very first time.
- Hello.
- Hi.
Our paths
will, I suppose, cross.
We'll be a little bit ahead
of you, unfortunately.
All that stands
between the finish line
and the £20,000
prize is two continents,
21 countries, four seas,
and each other.
Oh, for god's sake.
We've got to be
at least jogging.
We're in a race, remember. So?
I can't run with this
pack on, not yet.
I'm not talking running.
I'm talking jogging.
Suck it up and jog.
We don't need to jog.
We'll just, like,
walk really fast.
Should we look on the map?
No, not now. We can get going.
It's not gonna move, is it?
Without smartphones
to help plan the route
to the first checkpoint...
I'll find somebody to ask
where delphi is, yeah?
They need to be
sure where it is.
I was wondering if
you could help me.
I don't need money.
Delphi, Greece? Yep.
Almost 1,900 miles from London
and the team's
first checkpoint...
The ancient town of delphi.
When the Greek god Zeus sought
to find the center of the world,
he released two eagles...
One to the east and
another to the west...
And delphi was the
point at which they met.
It seems that the most direct
route is just this straight line here.
Through Germany,
Croatia, Albania...
There are two sensible
routes to delphi.
The first could take the
teams through Western Europe
from France to Italy,
crossing the adriatic to Greece.
Transport is fast and
reliable but can be expensive.
I don't think that's gonna be
necessarily the quickest way to do it.
The coastal route
won't be the quickest.
Or they could navigate
central Europe to the Balkans,
where traveling can be cheaper,
but transport less reliable.
Let's get across
to Germany first.
But first, they need
to get out of the u.K.
I was thinking, get a train
that'll get us out of London
and then try and see
if we can hitchhike.
We might be able to find
someone who's taking the ferry over.
Do you know,
like, from dartford,
which is the next town in
the direction towards Dover?
Well, the next
big town's Gravesend.
We'll get to Victoria
coach station...
Yeah... see what
coaches are due,
see where they go,
and we'll adapt and
adjust accordingly.
Yeah, we'll just
see what happens.
Yeah, I mean, for all
I know, there might be
one due to Paris.
Could you
call a local taxi firm?
Hi, there. I'm in cutty
sark at the moment,
and I need to get to Dover.
What is the best price
that you could do?
I know it's far.
£105. Okay.
It's not cheap
to get out of London,
but I just want to move forward.
There's a little dock here,
where they have boats
that go back to Waterloo.
I think we can get a train
to ashford international.
From there, see if we
can negotiate a ticket
on the eurostar.
Josh and Felix are on a mission
to cross the channel
today at any price.
We'd like to go
to Dover or folkestone.
We'd basically like
to know the prices.
It's 70 quid.
It's quite a lot of dosh.
The appeal of this, even though
it's more money than we want to spend,
we can be there in two hours.
I would like to sit down and
look at our budget because...
I don't think we've got
time to plan our money
properly in the next 15 minutes.
Let's just get on the... Train.
We're the perfect partnership.
Already we're choosing
the luxury option,
which is maybe a
mistake. I think we're fine.
Working together
and being friends,
we're charging forward
for the same goal
and although along the
way we might disagree,
it's never personal.
So long as we don't spend
any more money today.
We might make
France this evening.
also aiming for Dover,
but on the cheap...
Just flag anyone down.
Natalie and shameema
have taken a short train ride
to Gravesend and
are now on the a2.
You're not going
to Dover, are you?
No.
Are you gonna
Dover, by any chance?
You're going to sleep.
50 miles down the road,
two teams are already in Dover.
So, buddy, how
much is that, please?
Jinda and bindu have
opted for speed and comfort...
You'll get it. Don't worry.
But at a price,
blowing nearly 4%
of their entire budget.
This is cheap.
I just don't think this
is gonna be cheap.
Two tickets, please.
- Foot passengers.
- Foot passengers.
Ay-ay-ay.
If we spend money at this rate,
we'd be through our
money in two weeks.
Goodbye, angleterre.
Oh, my god.
We've been joined
by our competitors.
They're keeping their cards
very close to their chests.
I don't want to go near them
'cause they just keep talking.
As the first two teams
leave British shores...
I think we've got to
head into Paris... freshen up.
We might have a drink.
Sue and Clare also have
their sights set on France...
Ashford international.
By taking the fastest route...
The eurostar from
ashford in Kent.
Arrivals, that is.
So, when's departures?
Maybe that is the next train.
But that's coming
in. That's arrivals.
Oh, is it? Okay.
We're trying to find
out where to buy tickets
for the eurostar. oh, hello!
Is it the other side? Oh,
sorry, I've just recognized
who you are, Mr. Merton.
You can get tickets over there,
if you go down there
to those.
- We're on a trip to Singapore.
- Can I shake your hand because
I think you are brilliant?
- Oh, are you?
The eurostar looks
closed at the moment.
Arrivals, it says 17:34.
I can't see anything
on departures.
Can you? No.
Have you checked
your timetables at all?
- No.
- No.
Any idea that forward planning
might be a good idea in this?
I think our organization
skills will come into it.
Careful organization
with a bit of speed
and know-how.
That'll take you to the
other side of ashford station
where there's a
ticket desk there,
- fantastic.
- That's lovely.
Thank you very
much for your help.
Cheers. Really nice to meet you.
- Bye.
- Bye.
Can you believe that?
I think that's the
one... The left.
And I think the right
one is with a passport.
That's locked.
I'm not liking the
look of that thing there,
where there are no trains...
Listed on the board.
That's not good.
Ashford depart...
Unfortunately, the last
eurostar today from ashford
left over two hours ago.
Ridiculous.
Well... Right...
Let's just go back on a train.
I would've never thought that.
With two teams halfway
across the channel
and two teams
trying to reach Dover,
there's one duo yet
to leave London...
Father and son darron and Alex.
How much would it
be for two tickets to dusseldorf?
- £43.98.
- £43 for two?
Oh, that's not
bad. That's worth it.
£20-something.
let's do it. Let's do it.
Yeah, we'll do that.
Nearly bought
tickets to go to Paris,
but for a couple pound more,
we could get to dusseldorf.
We'll travel overnight.
Set off 8:00 this evening.
Get there at 7:00
in the morning.
So cheap tickets, save
on accommodation.
First 12 hours,
we're in Germany.
Dusseldorf tomorrow.
Budapest, Serbia, Macedonia...
It's probably not the most
well-traveled of routes
definitely not... Into Greece,
but I think arguably, it's one
of the most interesting ones.
Our strategy is,
like, always on the move.
If we're gonna be sleeping,
hopefully be traveling
while we're sleeping.
I'm feeling tired.
Suck it up, Alex.
20-year-old Alex's parents
separated when he was 4.
He now lives with his mum.
Got you some oreos.
Alex has got a
pretty cushy life...
No responsibility.
Does what he wants when he wants
whenever.
I've already started
packing a few stuff.
Some cooling mist.
Two pairs of versace aftershave.
You want to be smelling
nice wherever you go
and, like, you're
meeting new people.
Oh, that's not a pleasant smell.
First casualty of
adventure is hygiene.
As darron and Alex bed down
for their 12-hour
journey to Germany...
Still stuck on the a2...
Natalie and shameema.
Alright, come on,
then. Shall we walk?
We've
been on an adventure
since we were 9 years old.
There's no doubt about
her having my back.
She was there when my mum died.
Shameema was there
when I got hit by a car.
She wasn't there, but I think
she rang all the hospitals,
trying to find
which ward I was in.
If I'm feeling weak,
she knows how to pick me up.
She knows that I can't
do this without her.
We're trying to
get to Singapore.
We are now getting
anxious because we're like,
"oh, my god, it's getting dark!"
So we have a core belief
of what a good person
should be like in this world.
First stop is we're
trying to get to Dover.
And on this trip I'm hoping
to rely on the kindness
and the goodwill of strangers.
We could buy you
a ticket to Dover
from Rochester, if you like.
Really? Yeah, why not?
Can I... can I...
can I...
They're gonna want
to do things for us
because we are kind
people.
- Thank you so much. Thank you.
- Bye!
The girls head from
Rochester to Dover.
We hit the last passenger
foot ferry out of england
by literally seconds.Yeah.
I never give up.
We're getting off
u.K. Soil today.
Whoa, whoa, whoa,
whoa, whoa, stop.
Sorry. what are you doing?
We're getting on the
ferry. No, you're not.
Not until tomorrow
morning at 8:30.
Is that the last
passenger ferry?
That's the first foot
passenger boat, yeah.
Having run out of options
to leave the u.K. Today,
Natalie and shameema head
off to find a bed for the night.
Having reached Dover
themselves, sue and Clare
are also unaware the
only ferries at this time
are not taking foot passengers.
There's a 10:00 one.
Okay. Yeah, let's go.
Yeah, so you should be
able to get them for tonight.
Do you want to get that
one now and get across?
- Yeah, yeah, I do.
- And where are we gonna stay?
In calais?
- We might not stay in calais.
We might find
somebody on the ferry
that can give us a lift to
wherever they're going.
And we've got an hour
and a half to find that person.
Why are we in
such a rush tonight?
'Cause I want to get on the
way. We haven't come very far.
What are places
like here in Dover?
Are there some
nice places to stay?
Yeah, there's plenty of
b& Bs and stuff like that.
Yeah.
It's gonna be really expensive.
Well, what...
Where else are we
gonna stay tonight
late finding somewhere?
I don't know. Depends.
£49 for double
room with en suite.
Is it possible to reserve it?
Okay. Awesome.
Thank you. Alright, bye.
Thank you so much.
26 miles away, the ferry
has docked in France.
- Bonjour.
- We made it
to country number one.
But with no trains or
buses leaving calais tonight,
it's straight to the
nearest budget hotel.
We're leaving
very early in the morning,
so if you can maybe
give us a room
just to stay in a few hours,
get some rest.
- Just us two.
- Guys.
- Ciao.
Always one step ahead.
Would you guys mind
'cause I was just in the
middle of a conversation
I didn't want to share, so would
you guys mind waiting outside?
I'm sorry.
Shall we just go somewhere else?
They're not to be
underestimated, those two.
They've really got... They've
really got some moves.
Can you... can you...
Okay, okay.
Other people...
Yeah? Okay.
Because we came first.
We came and found you.
Yeah. Thank you.
- Right.
- 59.
59 Euros? Spent £100 today,
so we're three
times over budget.
Settling down for the night...
My son Steven?
- Yeah.
- Hello?
Jinda receives an emergency call
on the producer's phone.
Is it bad?
My mum's
in hospital and...
She's taken a slight
turn for the worse.
'Cause my mum was
really keen for me to do this
and my dad was as well,
everyone's just saying, "look,
just, you know, carry on
doing what you're doing."
There's a huge family,
everybody's rallying around,
and sort of me being there
isn't gonna make a
huge difference right now.
I know. She was
fine.
She's been poorly
for about three months,
so, you know, I could...
I could possibly
finish all this,
and still she could be in
the same kind of situation.
So we're just
weighing everything up,
and it just feels like
I should carry on,
and that's what
everyone's telling me to do.
After a restless night, jinda
and bindu are up early...
What time is it? 5:15.
To catch the 6:17 train to lille
and then a coach to
aachen in Germany.
But last night's call from home
is playing heavily
on jinda's mind.
I feel helpless in
this situation with my mum.
I'm so many miles away.
I feel like one of the people
who would be most proud
if we won this would be her.
So I feel like I want...
I don't want to just
go home and say,
"oh, well, I've come
home to see you,"
and sit by her bedside
for a couple of hours
and then get back
into my routine.
I want to go home having
achieved something.
Darron and Alex's overnight
coach trip has paid off.
They've leapfrogged
the other teams to arrive
in dusseldorf 215
miles closer to delphi
than their nearest rivals.
It wasn't the most
comfortable coach.
Alex is still a bit cranky
because he didn't sleep well.
It's only day two and
I'm already stinking.
There's still a long way to go.
Nice and refreshing.
Alex, have a go.
- No, no.
- I'll hold your glasses and cap.
No, I'm alright, thank you.
Alex and I used
to be really close.
Alex lived with me
till he were about 16
and he moved to his mother's,
and without a shadow of a
doubt, we have drifted apart,
and we've drifted
apart pretty severely.
It does wake you up.
It's full of moss. I'm alright.
Nothing's gonna hurt you.
I'm alright.
He's getting to the
age where I think
if we don't reconnect now,
it's gonna be harder and
harder the older he gets.
I can't remember where we are.
Is it dumbledorf?
- Dusseldorf.
- Dusseldorf. That's it.
Dumbledorf.
Oh, I'll have to remember that!
Harry Potter. That's what I were thinking!
300 miles away...
- Look at that!
- Yeah.
The white cliffs of Dover.
Sue and Clare...
We've left British soil!
And Natalie and shameema
are on their way to France.
Now it feels like it's real.
There's no going back for
the next seven, eight weeks
until we get to Singapore.
Josh and Felix may already
be across the channel...
We get the,
like, train to lille...
And the coach from there.Yeah.
Just if you had the Internet, we
could just check that, you know.
But are having trouble
getting out of calais.
The current frustration is
working out how to book
an online-only bus company
without getting online.
Pardon, monsieur.
UN telephone?
Google?
What is it called, easybus? Oui.
I can't explain.
It's probably easier
to find someone else
we can talk to about it.
Can we...?
Your phone... may we use it?
Pour le Internet? No,
don't worry, don't worry.
No, no, no, no. No worries.
Merci beaucoup.
Merci, merci. De rien.
Without the credit
or debit card,
how can we make a reservation?
If you have only
cash, that's the problem.
You need to find someone
that can buy with the credit card
and you give him the money.
If you have 44 Euros... Yes.
Maybe I can help you.
- Oh, yeah.
- Because it is...
My good day and...
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
You are.
So if you want to
take my credit card,
I can book it for you. Oh!
The way
we travel normally,
it's not unusual for
us to find ourselves
talking to random strangers
and finding out information.
I think it's quite liberating.
It is better than the Internet.
It's always the
best way of doing it,
but it doesn't mean it's easier.
While Josh and
Felix head to lille...
sue and Clare
have already arrived.
Pardon. Parlez vous anglais?
UN petit peu? Petit peu?
At the northern tip of France,
it's a blend of north
European and French culture,
and a good leaping-off point
to most European destinations.
See, I did say in France that
people didn't speak English.
The girls board a bus to Paris,
looking to head south
and push on into Italy.
I'm just very frustrated that...
How many hours
is it since we left?
I just don't think we
need to be thinking
about that too much, sue.
Can I just speak?
I know you can.
Thank you. Okay. So 24...
About 30 hours after we've left,
we're in lille,
when the journey from the...
From London to
Paris takes 2 1/2 hours.
So I'm just shocked
at how long it's
taken us to get here.
But this has been one
mistake that we made
by not being able to
get on the eurostar,
not knowing that we
couldn't get on at that station.
13 Euros for both of us.
- To get to where?
- Lyon.
Also in lille, Natalie
and shameema
are hustling for tickets.
- That's alright.
- If you want to buy it for us,
we're happy to take
gifts, if you're rich!
I don't understand.
How's it going,
guys? How's it going?
Oh, my god! No way!
- Oh, my god!
- When did you get to France?
- Yesterday.
- Oh, right.
We only got here this morning.
- Yeah, I thought so.
I don't think it actually
benefited us any
'cause we rushed, we
bought expensive transport.
We stayed in a hostel we
didn't really want to stay in.
We spent so much money,
you would not believe.
Really? Yeah.
Where did you
guys stay last might?
We stayed at the
travelodge for free.
- Nice.
- How did you manage that?
- Well, we're hustlers.
- Blagging skills, yeah, yeah.
Where are you going? Paris?
No, no. I can't tell you that.
Natalie will kill me.
Maybe we should go
where they're going. No.
No, we got a
good plan, actually.
I'd better go before
I speak too much.
- See you later.
- Take care.
Bye.
We've managed to get
here in the same time,
doing probably
a lot harder route
and saved a lot
more money, so...
That's given me a boost.
Absolutely neck and neck
and they definitely
spent less money than us
'cause they said they
didn't spend money
on the hotel yesterday, so...
Perhaps we're not exploiting...
Getting stuff for
free?... Getting stuff for free.
We're too willing
to pay for things.
While Josh and Felix
are en route to Munich...
Jinda and bindu are
already in Germany.
150 miles farther east,
in the cathedral town of aachen,
resting place of the medieval
emperor charlemagne.
My sock has been off my
ankle, bugging me all day long.
Before thy can
settle in, though...
jinda receives a
second call from home
on the producer's phone.
Hi, baby, you okay?
Yeah, yeah.
Really?
What?
Oh, god...
- Okay?
- Yeah.
I'll come back.
I'm coming. Alright?
We're gonna head back, okay?
Alright. Thanks.
Alright, I'll let you go.
Alright. See you
when we get back.
Yeah, I love you. See you soon.
Bye. Bye.
Bye, mum, bye.
I would've loved to
be able to get to the end.
I think we would've met a
lot more people along the way
and hopefully we'll get
to do something like this
again one day. One day, yeah.
But right now, I just want to...
I just want to hold
my mum's hand
and let her know that I'm there.
Jinda and bindu's departure
means that a reserve
team have been called upon.
Does anybody know
where delphi is?
Retired p.E. Teachers
Tony and Elaine,
who have been married
for over 40 years.
I can't believe it. We're here
and we're doing it.
And it's about to start,
about to kick off.
We're about to cross
the world. Yeah, yeah.
Five hours ago, they dropped
everything to join the race,
starting from London with the
same budget as the other teams,
and are now making
a final phone call
to take over the Baton
from jinda and bindu.
How are you guys doing?
We've got caught a
little bit cold on it all,
but we're just so
very sorry to hear
that you've had to
withdraw so early on.
Basically, you're
representing us now.
Yes, we are.
We were in aachen.
Yes, in Germany.
And we were gonna
get a lift to Cologne.
And then...
On to Milan.Milan.
And then that should get
you on to delphi in Greece.
While Tony and Elaine
fast-track their way to Milan,
having left Paris, sue and Clare
are heading in
the same direction.
So we've been
into Switzerland...
For about five minutes.
I was just thinking
how amazing it was
to actually come all this way,
you know, Paris to
Milan, for 45 Euros.
Natalie and shameema
have disembarked in Lyon.
Let's go and sit
on the other side.
We're in Starbucks,
brushing our teeth.
Oh, that feels so much better.
Sticking to their strategy
of nonstop coach travel
has got darron and
Alex halfway to delphi,
arriving in Budapest.
Tired after
a long journey?
400 miles behind them,
Josh and Felix are in
the capital of Bavaria.
With almost 12,000
miles of the race still to run,
they have spent close to 1/8th
of their total budget already.
We've got to look at
our classified ads...
All the teams have been provided
with a directory of
local job opportunities,
and Europe is an early
chance to pick up a good wage.
We have brilliantly
got work, so no travel.
Some people would consider
it, if they wanted to win this leg,
a shot in the foot.
But we'll spend
our hard-earned wad
on a getting on the fastest
train out of here tomorrow.
A little speed boost.
They've secured some
manual labor at stables
just outside Munich,
helping out the owner,
Oliver, who's broken his arm.
Let's start.
Bring up the gravel.
- 25 tons.
- 25 tons.
- And afterwards, you roll it.
- Yeah.
We've shoveled
poo, rolled gravel,
and had the satisfaction
of being able to work
for 250 Euros.
It makes a difference
to getting back
to where we were
to start off with.
We stop for no-one.
They're friendly,
they're helpful, they're...
Yeah... the best guests we have.
Travel the world, they said!
See new places, they said!
The opportunity to
race across the world
has come at a good time
for these best friends...
Go on. Get your anger out.
Who have spent
the past four years
building a creative hub
together in Tottenham, London.
We have theater
Sunday to Thursday
and then we have big
music events and parties
on the weekends.
In four months'
time, unfortunately,
none of this will be here.
It'll be knocked down
and turned into a
block of luxury flats.
We've got two months to
decide what our future is,
so this is the perfect
opportunity to find out.
Got it? Yeah.
We do something
like this for a day,
we spend all of our energy,
and we'll lie down tonight
and our minds will be buzzing
with, like, what we could do
when we get back to London
or how we could bring something
that we've learned here back
to our lives and improve them,
and now there's a
lot more riding on it.
We're older, we've got
girlfriends to think about.
We'll have a new plan by
this time tomorrow, mate.
Don't you worry.
On the banks of
the river danube,
the Hungarian
capital... Budapest.
Created in 1873 by the
merger of three cities...
Pest, buda, and obuda...
Here, darron and
Alex are also hoping
to earn their first extra money.
Excuse me, do you have
a phone we can borrow
to make a call, please?
We need to ring this number.
Hello? English?
Alex has spotted an ad
that could continue to keep
their accommodation costs
to a minimum by
offering bed and board...
We've seen your advert
for the paprika harvesting.
Right. No worries.
Alright, thank you, Anita.
Speak to you later. Bye.
But it's not the bed and
board Alex is used to.
They said that we
can sleep outside,
but we don't have tents.
Could we sleep
on the factory floor?
She said it was dirty and that,
so we're in a big pickle here.
We're in this
competition to win it,
but one of the challenges
will be for me to step back
and go, "no, Alex,
you need to step up."
And I need to encourage
him and let him step up.
What do you want
to do? I don't know.
I don't want to sleep outside.
You make a decision.
No. We make the decision.
You say you don't
want to do that.
What do you want to
do? I don't have a clue.
Do not have one single clue.
Am I allowed to bang his head
against the wall on camera?
Dissing ideas but not
coming up with a solution...
Anybody can do that. It's easy.
Him growing, him becoming
a more rounded individual
and still winning,
it's gonna be...
It's gonna be a tough
balance at times.
Just feeling a
bit... I don't know.
Bit homesick, I suppose.
Don't know.
Could just do with some
advice from my mum, I reckon.
My mum just helps
me get stronger,
and she's always got
the right advice to tell me.
I've made an executive decision.
We're going to
stay here tonight.
Try and get a cheap hotel.
I think you will feel
massively better.
Sue and Clare
have arrived in Milan,
considered one of the
fashion capitals of the world.
It's good to have
covered some miles now.
I feel like we've
actually got somewhere
because yesterday...
Just, it felt like
we were taking
one step forward,
two steps back.
But there's no stopping
to admire the fashionistas.
Platform 14. Okay.
Trains.
They're aiming for venice
and, from there, to
catch a ferry to Greece.
We haven't really found out
any information about any boats,
but I think...
It might be easier to
find that out in venice.
Lagging 270 miles behind them...
Natalie and
shameema are in Lyon.
A sugary smell in the air.
Sweet smell of patisserie.
It's the gastronomic
capital of France,
and they're looking to
pick up some paid work
in the city's famous bouchons...
Family-run brasseries.
Morning, so we are trying
to get a job for the day.
Do you ladies know anyone
that might need any help,
like, to do anything?
- Good luck!
- Thank you.
Thank you.
- Bye-bye.
People don't like people
walking in, asking for jobs.
Yeah. I think I've
got that sense of that.
Excuse me. Do you know somebody
that could give us
a job for the day?
I don't know. I call my friend.
He has a restaurant.
Okay. Cool.
Relying on the
kindness of strangers.
- It's okay.
- Oh.
- Have you got a job?
- Got a job for you.
- Can I hug you?
- Okay.
Thank you!
Once again, the girls'
strategy pays off...
Hi, I'm Natalie.
As they secure a shift
for 10 Euros each an hour.
Let's work it, baby.
Should I
put some lipstick on?
You're serving,
so you better do.
Alright!
You want coffee?
- Oui.
- Café?
Two, please, s'il vous plait.
Put it in.
I mean, the car
hire... What do you reckon?
I think, while we're in places
where we can get there
on public transport,
that's got to be cheaper.
By reaching Milan, race
newcomers Tony and Elaine
have completed
the initial travel plan
they inherited from
jinda and bindu.
Customer service.
There you are, Tony.
Now they're on their
own and looking to find
a train to Bari, on the
heel of the boot of Italy.
95 a person to Bari.
That's like 200 Euros. Yeah.
And we're going for
the overnight one.
How much more expensive
for the sleeping for one person?
- 70 euro more.
- 70 euro more.
Do we want to sleep in a bed?
No. We'll sleep in the seat.
I'm from Yorkshire. We're tight.
Anyway, we've not got
enough Euros, to be honest.
We've got next to
nothing to spend, right,
and just, you know,
being a yorkshireman
with short arms
and deep pockets...
Right up our streets.
- What can we get for five Euros?
- Cheapest pizza?
- Cheapest pizza is 8.
- No, that's too much.
Cheapest one's 9 euro.
Pizza, water, and a
coffee, all for 7 Euros.
Happy days.
You like to do a pizza?
- Oh, yeah.
- What's your name?
- Antonio.
- Antonio!
Oh, yes. Oh, yeah.
- All my clothes for you.
- Fantastic.
We worked as
teachers for 40 years,
so we can communicate and
hopefully this communication
will transcend any language
barriers we come across.
Hey!
I think age
will be in our favor.
We don't need a lot of sleep.
We don't eat a lot.
Wow.
One, two, three, hyah!
It's a long race.
It's more of a
marathon than a sprint.
Madame, here we go.
If we are the
oldest contestants,
then it would prove what
we think, deep down...
That old people can do it.
I've made you... dinner!
First time in 40 years.
Oh, god, it's amazing.
140 miles further into Italy...
Sue and Clare arrive in
the floating city of venice.
But rather than
explore its 170 canals
and 417 Bridges,
they have their sights
set on getting a ferry
across the adriatic
and as near to
delphi as they can.
As cheaply as
possible and fairly quickly.
- For today?
- Yes.
From
venice, they are twice
or three times a week.
Nothing today?
There is tomorrow.
What time? At 2:00.
Does it say how
long that journey is?
Uh... It should be 36 hours.
36 hours? 36?
With the ferry to petraeus
not departing for 20 hours,
the girls can see
the sights after all.
I've never been to venice.
You wouldn't give us a
one-minute ride for free?
- You get one ride.
- Whoo!
Oh, this is the life, isn't it?
As Clare spends
half her year in Spain,
this is the most time
they've spent together
since their interrailing
days over 30 years ago.
So this is the partner
in crime all those years ago
and we were unlikely friends
because sue was
a little bit square.
It's those early days
that really count...
The youth clubs and the boys.
All of those silly things
that you do together
have made our friendship.
So we went to paros, and
that was a lovely young man.
Still remember his
name... Well, who wouldn't?
Konstantinos panos.
He probably fancied me.
Can you take us to Greece?
Oh, do you know what?
I think he was police.
Was he? Yeah.
The race will be tough.
There will be
tough times. I know.
But I think it's strong enough
to survive anything, really...
Our friendship.
Oh...
I'm so glad that
we've had the time
to just come here.
In Budapest...
What's the cheapest
twin room available to us?
- 60.
- 60 Euros for the night.
It's the most expensive
eastern European country I've been in.
Darron and Alex have been
struggling for three hours
to find a place to sleep...
I honestly don't think we're
gonna find a room tonight.
And are facing the prospect
of a night on the streets.
We'll sort something out.
It's getting cold now.
No room available.
Okay. Thank you.
- I'm sorry.
- That's okay.
We'll sort something out.
I just feel like...
Do you want to
try a coach first?
I don't care.
I want to sit.
We've got to
do... Sitting here's
not gonna achieve anything.
Having a bit of a
breather, that's fine.
I'm at breaking point.
No, you'll be fine, Alex.
Just...
It's a small hiccup,
that's all it is.
I absolutely hate Budapest,
and I never want to come back.
It's been the worst
day of my life.
Meanwhile, 400 miles due west...
- Wow.
- This is amazing.
Oh, this looks fantastic.
The smorgasbord is
out. Are you hungry?
Josh and Felix
are sitting pretty.
A hard day's work has
not only earned them
a stash of cash...
- It's nice to have you here.
Yes. It's been lovely staying.
It's nice to be here. Thank you.
But also a free
bed for the night.
Whoo! Oh, my god.
Oh... You know what?
It's cozier than the couch.
Yeah. I would rather be here.
I would much rather
be here. This is...
I'd genuinely rather
be here. This is lovely.
After a five-hour hunt
and shelling out £68,
darron and Alex finally
find shelter for the night.
Oh, I'm buzzing!
I'm absolutely buzzing.
You got a bed.
I'm just so happy right now.
Act like you've never
had a bed before.
It feels like it.
It's been, what, three days?
Yeah, but it feels
like it's been a month.
When people
get upset, especially Alex,
I can't quite understand it.
Maybe that's based
on my lack of empathy.
I don't know.
But I need to try to...
Show a little more compassion
and understanding for Alex
and what he's going through,
which is not gonna
be easy for me.
It's those what push through
which are gonna be the
ones what survive and win.
It's gonna be fun.
Yeah.
Having spent time working
in Munich, Josh and Felix
are still 1,100 miles from
the delphi checkpoint.
Seven hours
on a high-speed train,
this is like the
mental challenge
of getting from
transport to transport,
or sitting on transport
and not going mad.
To speed things up, they
plan to travel 30 hours nonstop
on the fastest transport.
We're on a
train to Budapest.
It cost 120 Euros
for both of us,
which is twice as expensive
as the night train version,
which we could've got
tonight. We used the money
that we earned on
the farm for this train.
Settling in for the
next seven hours.
Jet train.
Speed boost. Speed
past everybody.
As Josh and Felix
fast-track it to Budapest...
Certainly been given
a colorful paint job.
Just leaving, darron and Alex.
Absolutely buzzing.
On our way to Serbia
and we've gone for the risk.
We don't know where
we go from Serbia!
They've decided to take
the path less traveled,
heading through the Balkans.
Definitely feels coming
off the beaten track.
The line we're going
on is almost like some...
Forgotten part of the world.
We're just praying and hoping
that we can get straight
to Greece tonight.
We don't want to
be stuck in Serbia,
go straight to delphi from here.
Hopefully, there's
gonna be a connection.
Ticket office.
Hello.
We're looking for a train
to Greece asap, really.
No trains?
No... No train whatsoever?
Oh, this ain't good.
So what
exactly did she say?
She said that, after
the 30th of September,
it don't go to Greece.
Let's try to think of
the best way to do this.
There is potential
for us to be stuck here
with no way out. I know.
With darron and Alex
in danger of getting stuck
600 miles from delphi...
I tell you what, this is gonna
be a totally different ferry
to anything we've been on before
because it is just
full of truckers.
Closing in, Tony and Elaine,
and Natalie and shameema.
That is our ferry.
Both teams have motored
down from Milan to ports
in southern Italy,
and Natalie and shameema
are on the faster crossing.
We're going to Greece, baby!
But Tony and Elaine have a
plan to save time and money
when they get to the other side.
We're hoping
one of the truck drivers
will give us a free lift
from patras up to delphi.
We're trying to get
to this place, delphi.
Do you know... Do
you know where this is?
Delphi? No?
No? No chance?
Can you go to delphi?
Yeah? No delphi.
Athens. Athens.
Oh, here we go.
Yeah, yeah.
Even if we don't
get a lift, I'm happy!
Grazie.
We will fly to delphi.
We'll get there,
sue. We'll get there.
Also heading across
the adriatic sea...
Sue and Clare, halfway
through their 36-hour voyage.
We could've
done it quite a lot quicker,
actually, I suppose.
But how boring is it, you know,
just sitting on a bus?
It's about a journey.
It's about recapturing
a little bit of me, this,
with my best friend, sue.
The trip that we did before...
I've got a few photos here.
You with your dungarees.
I thought they were wonderful.
Oh, well, of course...
Oh, go on, then.
I know you like
saying it, Clare.
Say the name.
Konstantinos panos.
I think it was only 'cause
we had matching shorts
that he liked me.
I feel a little bit of, you
know, the young Clare,
the free Clare.
I feel like crying.
It's, like, really
emotional for me, really.
After several hours
stuck in Belgrade,
darron and Alex took the
first available bus south
and have landed in
Skopje, Macedonia.
What's your opinion, Alex?
I think we should get a taxi
and just go.
Not willing to
risk another delay,
they commit to their
biggest spend so far.
We need to go to Greece.
For 120 Euros?
120. Right.
Is it possible to swing by the
Alexander the great statue?
Yes, okay, no problem.
En route, darron
insists on a quick detour.
If it wasn't for him, you may
have had a different name.
Alex was genuinely named
after Alexander the
great and his achievement.
Alexander conquered
a large part of the known world
at the time in his 20s...
Done Greece, persia,
commanded it all.
If you think, you can't
even make your own bed,
look what he did at that age.
He enjoys this sort of stuff
and I'm not normally keen
on this sort of
stuff, but maybe,
after spending time
together and bonding,
we are seeing similarities
which we didn't know.
As father and son share a
historical moment together,
Josh and Felix have
edged ahead of them
after enduring a
marathon 450-mile bus ride.
They've now crossed the
Macedonian border into Greece
and are looking for a
shortcut to the checkpoint.
- We've hit a problem.
- Really?
We're trying to get to delphi.
Our original plan was to go to
Athens and get the bus back.
Do you know if there is
any other way to get to delphi
without having to go
to Athens, essentially?
So I think, if you go to Athens,
you make kind of a big detour.
Athens is 100
miles south of delphi.
Sticking to their current plan
will take them three
hours out of their way.
- Okay.
- Yeah?
You're our hero. I know.
That's amazing.
You couldn't do
that on the Internet.
Back in their taxi,
darron and Alex
are hot on their heels.
We're in Greece.
Very, very close.
I can smell the
competitors close by.
The sooner a team
reaches the checkpoint,
the sooner they can leave
on the next leg of the journey...
I think there's a
very strong possibility
we're gonna be
in delphi tonight.
So every second counts.
Goodbye. thanks, man.
So, yeah.
Good luck, guys.
Thank you so much.
Excuse me, sir. Are
you gonna delphi?
Delphi?
- No, I don't think this is it.
Did our friend phone you?
Delphi?
I know. Yeah.
Can we buy a map so
that we could hike there?
I mean, it's 60 kilometers,
it's gonna can take two days.
Thessaloniki, 150 miles
from the checkpoint.
First time
we've seen delphi.
- No, we want to buy tickets.
- What's your name?
Alex. Alexander.
Alexander. the great?
- Ish, yes.
- Yeah.
- 38 each.
- 76 euro.
Have a ticket.
We're going to delphi.
Buzzing, absolutely buzzing!
- Delphi?
- No.
Maybe we should
hitchhike. Come on.
It's not it. No?
I don't know.
It's indicating... Yeah,
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
That's it!
- Yes!
- Yes!
Hi.
Thank you for being our savior.
Our ability to follow
a hunch and take risks
is one of our strengths.
Ingenuity, local
knowledge... Lateral thinking.
Lateral thinking and dedication
to, like, our quest has
really come to the fore.
- Here!
- Oh, this is it...
Making their last
connection, darron and Alex...
Thank you.
I'm saying our place
is either second or third,
but obviously
you'd like to be first.
I don't think we're last.
Whilst two of the
teams are still at sea.
We've got no idea
where the other teams are...
- No.
- And I hope we're not
coming in last.
We're still talking
to each other.
We're not fighting.
We're still talking
to each other. That's
not bad after a week, is it?
Sue and Clare and
Tony and Elaine...
What's that like as a pillow?
Won't reach the
checkpoint tonight.
Luxury.
but Natalie and shameema
have hit dry land...
Buses seem impossible.
And despite no public transport
leaving at this hour...
What about if we hired a car?
They're not giving up just yet.
- Hello.
- Hello, how are you?
Is there any car for hire today?
We need to get to delphi.
How much is your rates?
140.
140?!
I know those
negotiation tactics.
No, no, no, no.
No driver?
Do you want us to
buy you a coffee or tea?
Great, so do you want
to buy us a tea or coffee?
Darron and Alex
arrive in delphi.
Their GPS tracker tells them
the exact location
of the checkpoint...
Hotel Amalia delphi.
A mile away, on the
other side of town.
Right, let's ask people.
Go. No, no, no.
East. Run. This way.
Excuse me, can
tell me where hotel Amalia is?
Round here?
Okay. Alex!
Alex!
Come on.
Headless chicken.
Ahh!
I found a driver.
You found a driver?!
Oh. Got a shiver.
Yeah.
He's not killing people.
I know! I know.
We're going to delphi!
Bit faster.
Here.
Dad, it's here!
After six days... It's here.
Oh, fantastic.
And 1,900 miles,
their first checkpoint.
- Hello.
- Hello, welcome to Amalia.
- Thank you.
- We'd like to check in, please.
Where did we finish?
Each team must sign in
to find out its
position in the race.
Second. Oh, damn.
- Hello! Hey!
- Hello!
- Congratulations.
- How's it going?
Thought we'd give you
a chance on the first leg.
- Thank you.
- Thank you very much.
You're welcome.
Thank you!
We did say you are
our biggest competitors
in the thing. Oh, I see, Alex!
- We said it's between us four.
- The game is afoot.
You've won the first leg,
but we'll win the
important one at the end.
Ohh, fighting talk.
Last one to Singapore
buys the beers.
Yeah.
We're
here! Oh, my gosh.
Oh, my god.
Hello!
While Natalie and
shameema take third place...
two teams still have
some way to go.
It's just one
decision, one trip,
that could change everything.
So I expect it to get far
more intense, far tougher...
And far more exciting.
All is still to play for...
The storm is coming.
Fast, fast, fast.
Over the remaining 10,000 miles.
It's a lot further
than we think.
To Singapore.
- Well, we're...
- Looks like we're staying here.
It's a crazy, wacky,
woopy place.
This... just got real. Shut up.
Next time... Good to meet you.
The teams leave delphi...
The next checkpoint
is Baku.Okay.
For Azerbaijan.
"The team that reaches there
in fifth place will be eliminated."
The sword of doom
hanging over our heads now.
Now I'm gonna
start playing dirty.
Are you? It's Baku...
No euro. No euro.
- Pound.
- Oh, it's problem.
Or bust.
That's it, that's it! Come on!
I want to carry on. I'm
not ready to finish yet.
side of the world
has never been easier.
However, by flying over,
are we forgetting
how to travel through?
Singapore...
The furthest point from
the u.K. By road and rail,
normally a 12-hour
plane journey.
But could you get there for
just the price of the airfare
without taking a single
flight? What am I doing?
Holy moley, that's
gonna be tough.
Five pairs of ordinary brits
are about to
attempt just that...
Most people would
go from "a" to "b" on a plane,
but then they'd miss all this.
In an extraordinary
race. Come on. Come on.
At ground level, they'll cover
over 12,000 miles. Oh, man!
- Look at that!
- That's amazing.
Everybody
wants to get to Azerbaijan.
Who will finish first,
as they leave behind
the trappings of
modern-day life...
It's 34 hours on one
bus.
without their bank cards...
We're gonna run out
of money at some point.
And their smartphones?
I don't want to argue
about it. Time's ticking on.
It will test them physically...
This is where you
find out about yourself.
- Sleep.
- Sleep where?
You can't finish the
race if you're dead.
And emotionally.
It's almost like
I'm questioning my purpose.
What is it that I want?
It's
just a bit much.
I'm at breaking point.
How will they triumph?
Tactics...
A new strategy
blend in with the locals.
Resourcefulness...
This is nice. It's
actually lovely.
Risk taking...
Seriously running
out of food, proper water.
Or charm?
Can you take us to Greece?
For you, I want to help you.
The reward is great...
It's about recapturing
the little bit of me, this.
As the first team to Singapore
will claim the
prize of £20,000...
Ahh!
In a race across the world.
Shift your butt, come on.
50 days, blood, sweat, tears.
captions paid for by
discovery communications
the race begins in greenwich,
the meridian line
separating east from west.
The old naval college is the
former home of the royal Navy
and epicentre of
British exploration.
- I can't wait.
- No. No.
I'm just so excited.
We'll get started now.
First to arrive, best
pals since school,
sue and Clare.
Clare has been my best friend
since we were 11 years old.
I can't wait.
The most exciting thing
I think we've ever done...
When we were 21, we
did an interrail trip together
around Europe. Good morning.
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
We didn't have phones,
we didn't have the Internet,
we had limited money.
- Mm.
- Thank you.
Yes, we want to win,
but I think we also both
want to enjoy the
experience of the journey.
Do you know where we
are? Well, we're at greenwich.
The next team aiming to find
the fastest route to Singapore
without catching a plane...
Father and son darron
and Alex from Bradford.
I think I'm gonna be
quite hopeless at the start
because I'm used to my phone.
Like, if I'm lost, I
go on Google maps.
But I'm gonna win
'cause I've got my dad.
He knows how to travel.
You got used to
your backpack yet?
A bit.
I've slept in
tents on top of mountains,
in the wilderness, at the
side of an active volcano.
I want something I've
never experienced.
Before the start of the
race, the teams have agreed
to be stripped of
all mobile devices,
credit cards, and cash.
Good morning. Good morning.
Good morning. Do you
have any mobile phones
or wallets with you? Yeah, I do.
Right, if you could
hand that over
to my colleague for me, please.
Thank you.
What each team is
provided with is a world map,
a travel guide
with local job ads,
and two money belts.
Thank you.
Third up...
Friends for over 30 years
Natalie and shameema.
You forget how pretty London is.
I know.
I would say Natalie's
and i's experience of travel
is very different.
My first expedition,
I went to Vietnam,
Cambodia, Thailand, Burma,
India, Sri Lanka,
Madagascar, Kenya,
Uganda, Tanzania.
Setting
off into the unknown
is something that
I don't usually do.
You know, I've never even
owned a backpack before.
This trip has come
at a great time for me.
I've been married for 19
years, but we've decided
that it's the right time
for us to separate,
and my two daughters
are growing into strong,
independent women.
So it's almost like
someone's saying,
"you've got permission to not
be responsible for something,"
and that feels quite nice.
First thoughts when
I say "race across the world."
Oh...
- Good morning.
- Morning.
For the team's safety,
the only piece of technology
permitted is a GPS device...
- Thank you.
- Thank you very much
that will track their
progress to the finish line.
Singapore...
The furthest point you
can travel to from the u.K.
By road and rail...
A journey of over 12,000 miles.
But rather than a
12-hour direct flight,
it'll take an estimated 50 days.
Also joining the race...
Husband and wife and owners
of a small retail chain,
jinda and bindu from Nottingham.
We've been together
since we were children
and, after three decades,
you're gonna know
somebody very, very well.
We've been through ups,
downs. We've been broke together.
We've been through
crises together.
Our marriage has seen
everything that a marriage can see
and come out the other side.
Yeah.
It's made us so tough,
and it's made us so determined.
Those skills, when you put
them in this type of situation,
it really boosts you along.
We need turbulence and
stress around us to perform.
There's gonna be
plenty of that on the way.
Center of time,
center of London.
- I am so ready.
And completing the line-up...
Best friends and business
partners, Josh and Felix.
We've traveled a lot together
over the last five or six years.
We've had some
incredible adventures...
Kind of a bit like
hergé's "tintin."
Whether it's grizzly
bears in the Oregon mountains
or visit the Montenegrin alps,
we know that anything this
challenge can throw at us
we'll probably be
able to surmount.
This is going to be the most
rich and amazing experience.
We want to climb the
hills and swim in the lakes.
We want to eat it.
En route to Singapore,
the teams must pass
through five checkpoints.
Only when they reach
one will they learn
where the next will be.
Your first checkpoint
will be delphi.
Delphi. Where's delphi?
France? Really?
Greece. The oracle. The oracle.
I've got some
sophocles in my bag,
so we're sorted.
Ooh. Money.
Just over £1,300 per person
gives them a budget of
roughly £25 each a day.
You have £1,329.
The cost of a direct
flight to Singapore.
So it's got to cover all
expenses on the race,
including food, water,
travel, and accommodation.
They'll have to work
to earn extra cash
and travel smart if they're
to make it to Singapore.
We don't want to
run out of money.
We can always work.
I'd rather be budgeting
and be careful.
We'll make it work. We
know how to live on a budget.
We'll make that work.
We'll make it work, yeah.
I'm not worried.
The race begins at 14:00 hours.
- Hey, guys.
- Hi.
Do you need help?
No,.
The intrepid adventurers
assemble at the start line...
- We meet at last.
- Yeah!
Setting eyes on
their competition
for the very first time.
- Hello.
- Hi.
Our paths
will, I suppose, cross.
We'll be a little bit ahead
of you, unfortunately.
All that stands
between the finish line
and the £20,000
prize is two continents,
21 countries, four seas,
and each other.
Oh, for god's sake.
We've got to be
at least jogging.
We're in a race, remember. So?
I can't run with this
pack on, not yet.
I'm not talking running.
I'm talking jogging.
Suck it up and jog.
We don't need to jog.
We'll just, like,
walk really fast.
Should we look on the map?
No, not now. We can get going.
It's not gonna move, is it?
Without smartphones
to help plan the route
to the first checkpoint...
I'll find somebody to ask
where delphi is, yeah?
They need to be
sure where it is.
I was wondering if
you could help me.
I don't need money.
Delphi, Greece? Yep.
Almost 1,900 miles from London
and the team's
first checkpoint...
The ancient town of delphi.
When the Greek god Zeus sought
to find the center of the world,
he released two eagles...
One to the east and
another to the west...
And delphi was the
point at which they met.
It seems that the most direct
route is just this straight line here.
Through Germany,
Croatia, Albania...
There are two sensible
routes to delphi.
The first could take the
teams through Western Europe
from France to Italy,
crossing the adriatic to Greece.
Transport is fast and
reliable but can be expensive.
I don't think that's gonna be
necessarily the quickest way to do it.
The coastal route
won't be the quickest.
Or they could navigate
central Europe to the Balkans,
where traveling can be cheaper,
but transport less reliable.
Let's get across
to Germany first.
But first, they need
to get out of the u.K.
I was thinking, get a train
that'll get us out of London
and then try and see
if we can hitchhike.
We might be able to find
someone who's taking the ferry over.
Do you know,
like, from dartford,
which is the next town in
the direction towards Dover?
Well, the next
big town's Gravesend.
We'll get to Victoria
coach station...
Yeah... see what
coaches are due,
see where they go,
and we'll adapt and
adjust accordingly.
Yeah, we'll just
see what happens.
Yeah, I mean, for all
I know, there might be
one due to Paris.
Could you
call a local taxi firm?
Hi, there. I'm in cutty
sark at the moment,
and I need to get to Dover.
What is the best price
that you could do?
I know it's far.
£105. Okay.
It's not cheap
to get out of London,
but I just want to move forward.
There's a little dock here,
where they have boats
that go back to Waterloo.
I think we can get a train
to ashford international.
From there, see if we
can negotiate a ticket
on the eurostar.
Josh and Felix are on a mission
to cross the channel
today at any price.
We'd like to go
to Dover or folkestone.
We'd basically like
to know the prices.
It's 70 quid.
It's quite a lot of dosh.
The appeal of this, even though
it's more money than we want to spend,
we can be there in two hours.
I would like to sit down and
look at our budget because...
I don't think we've got
time to plan our money
properly in the next 15 minutes.
Let's just get on the... Train.
We're the perfect partnership.
Already we're choosing
the luxury option,
which is maybe a
mistake. I think we're fine.
Working together
and being friends,
we're charging forward
for the same goal
and although along the
way we might disagree,
it's never personal.
So long as we don't spend
any more money today.
We might make
France this evening.
also aiming for Dover,
but on the cheap...
Just flag anyone down.
Natalie and shameema
have taken a short train ride
to Gravesend and
are now on the a2.
You're not going
to Dover, are you?
No.
Are you gonna
Dover, by any chance?
You're going to sleep.
50 miles down the road,
two teams are already in Dover.
So, buddy, how
much is that, please?
Jinda and bindu have
opted for speed and comfort...
You'll get it. Don't worry.
But at a price,
blowing nearly 4%
of their entire budget.
This is cheap.
I just don't think this
is gonna be cheap.
Two tickets, please.
- Foot passengers.
- Foot passengers.
Ay-ay-ay.
If we spend money at this rate,
we'd be through our
money in two weeks.
Goodbye, angleterre.
Oh, my god.
We've been joined
by our competitors.
They're keeping their cards
very close to their chests.
I don't want to go near them
'cause they just keep talking.
As the first two teams
leave British shores...
I think we've got to
head into Paris... freshen up.
We might have a drink.
Sue and Clare also have
their sights set on France...
Ashford international.
By taking the fastest route...
The eurostar from
ashford in Kent.
Arrivals, that is.
So, when's departures?
Maybe that is the next train.
But that's coming
in. That's arrivals.
Oh, is it? Okay.
We're trying to find
out where to buy tickets
for the eurostar. oh, hello!
Is it the other side? Oh,
sorry, I've just recognized
who you are, Mr. Merton.
You can get tickets over there,
if you go down there
to those.
- We're on a trip to Singapore.
- Can I shake your hand because
I think you are brilliant?
- Oh, are you?
The eurostar looks
closed at the moment.
Arrivals, it says 17:34.
I can't see anything
on departures.
Can you? No.
Have you checked
your timetables at all?
- No.
- No.
Any idea that forward planning
might be a good idea in this?
I think our organization
skills will come into it.
Careful organization
with a bit of speed
and know-how.
That'll take you to the
other side of ashford station
where there's a
ticket desk there,
- fantastic.
- That's lovely.
Thank you very
much for your help.
Cheers. Really nice to meet you.
- Bye.
- Bye.
Can you believe that?
I think that's the
one... The left.
And I think the right
one is with a passport.
That's locked.
I'm not liking the
look of that thing there,
where there are no trains...
Listed on the board.
That's not good.
Ashford depart...
Unfortunately, the last
eurostar today from ashford
left over two hours ago.
Ridiculous.
Well... Right...
Let's just go back on a train.
I would've never thought that.
With two teams halfway
across the channel
and two teams
trying to reach Dover,
there's one duo yet
to leave London...
Father and son darron and Alex.
How much would it
be for two tickets to dusseldorf?
- £43.98.
- £43 for two?
Oh, that's not
bad. That's worth it.
£20-something.
let's do it. Let's do it.
Yeah, we'll do that.
Nearly bought
tickets to go to Paris,
but for a couple pound more,
we could get to dusseldorf.
We'll travel overnight.
Set off 8:00 this evening.
Get there at 7:00
in the morning.
So cheap tickets, save
on accommodation.
First 12 hours,
we're in Germany.
Dusseldorf tomorrow.
Budapest, Serbia, Macedonia...
It's probably not the most
well-traveled of routes
definitely not... Into Greece,
but I think arguably, it's one
of the most interesting ones.
Our strategy is,
like, always on the move.
If we're gonna be sleeping,
hopefully be traveling
while we're sleeping.
I'm feeling tired.
Suck it up, Alex.
20-year-old Alex's parents
separated when he was 4.
He now lives with his mum.
Got you some oreos.
Alex has got a
pretty cushy life...
No responsibility.
Does what he wants when he wants
whenever.
I've already started
packing a few stuff.
Some cooling mist.
Two pairs of versace aftershave.
You want to be smelling
nice wherever you go
and, like, you're
meeting new people.
Oh, that's not a pleasant smell.
First casualty of
adventure is hygiene.
As darron and Alex bed down
for their 12-hour
journey to Germany...
Still stuck on the a2...
Natalie and shameema.
Alright, come on,
then. Shall we walk?
We've
been on an adventure
since we were 9 years old.
There's no doubt about
her having my back.
She was there when my mum died.
Shameema was there
when I got hit by a car.
She wasn't there, but I think
she rang all the hospitals,
trying to find
which ward I was in.
If I'm feeling weak,
she knows how to pick me up.
She knows that I can't
do this without her.
We're trying to
get to Singapore.
We are now getting
anxious because we're like,
"oh, my god, it's getting dark!"
So we have a core belief
of what a good person
should be like in this world.
First stop is we're
trying to get to Dover.
And on this trip I'm hoping
to rely on the kindness
and the goodwill of strangers.
We could buy you
a ticket to Dover
from Rochester, if you like.
Really? Yeah, why not?
Can I... can I...
can I...
They're gonna want
to do things for us
because we are kind
people.
- Thank you so much. Thank you.
- Bye!
The girls head from
Rochester to Dover.
We hit the last passenger
foot ferry out of england
by literally seconds.Yeah.
I never give up.
We're getting off
u.K. Soil today.
Whoa, whoa, whoa,
whoa, whoa, stop.
Sorry. what are you doing?
We're getting on the
ferry. No, you're not.
Not until tomorrow
morning at 8:30.
Is that the last
passenger ferry?
That's the first foot
passenger boat, yeah.
Having run out of options
to leave the u.K. Today,
Natalie and shameema head
off to find a bed for the night.
Having reached Dover
themselves, sue and Clare
are also unaware the
only ferries at this time
are not taking foot passengers.
There's a 10:00 one.
Okay. Yeah, let's go.
Yeah, so you should be
able to get them for tonight.
Do you want to get that
one now and get across?
- Yeah, yeah, I do.
- And where are we gonna stay?
In calais?
- We might not stay in calais.
We might find
somebody on the ferry
that can give us a lift to
wherever they're going.
And we've got an hour
and a half to find that person.
Why are we in
such a rush tonight?
'Cause I want to get on the
way. We haven't come very far.
What are places
like here in Dover?
Are there some
nice places to stay?
Yeah, there's plenty of
b& Bs and stuff like that.
Yeah.
It's gonna be really expensive.
Well, what...
Where else are we
gonna stay tonight
late finding somewhere?
I don't know. Depends.
£49 for double
room with en suite.
Is it possible to reserve it?
Okay. Awesome.
Thank you. Alright, bye.
Thank you so much.
26 miles away, the ferry
has docked in France.
- Bonjour.
- We made it
to country number one.
But with no trains or
buses leaving calais tonight,
it's straight to the
nearest budget hotel.
We're leaving
very early in the morning,
so if you can maybe
give us a room
just to stay in a few hours,
get some rest.
- Just us two.
- Guys.
- Ciao.
Always one step ahead.
Would you guys mind
'cause I was just in the
middle of a conversation
I didn't want to share, so would
you guys mind waiting outside?
I'm sorry.
Shall we just go somewhere else?
They're not to be
underestimated, those two.
They've really got... They've
really got some moves.
Can you... can you...
Okay, okay.
Other people...
Yeah? Okay.
Because we came first.
We came and found you.
Yeah. Thank you.
- Right.
- 59.
59 Euros? Spent £100 today,
so we're three
times over budget.
Settling down for the night...
My son Steven?
- Yeah.
- Hello?
Jinda receives an emergency call
on the producer's phone.
Is it bad?
My mum's
in hospital and...
She's taken a slight
turn for the worse.
'Cause my mum was
really keen for me to do this
and my dad was as well,
everyone's just saying, "look,
just, you know, carry on
doing what you're doing."
There's a huge family,
everybody's rallying around,
and sort of me being there
isn't gonna make a
huge difference right now.
I know. She was
fine.
She's been poorly
for about three months,
so, you know, I could...
I could possibly
finish all this,
and still she could be in
the same kind of situation.
So we're just
weighing everything up,
and it just feels like
I should carry on,
and that's what
everyone's telling me to do.
After a restless night, jinda
and bindu are up early...
What time is it? 5:15.
To catch the 6:17 train to lille
and then a coach to
aachen in Germany.
But last night's call from home
is playing heavily
on jinda's mind.
I feel helpless in
this situation with my mum.
I'm so many miles away.
I feel like one of the people
who would be most proud
if we won this would be her.
So I feel like I want...
I don't want to just
go home and say,
"oh, well, I've come
home to see you,"
and sit by her bedside
for a couple of hours
and then get back
into my routine.
I want to go home having
achieved something.
Darron and Alex's overnight
coach trip has paid off.
They've leapfrogged
the other teams to arrive
in dusseldorf 215
miles closer to delphi
than their nearest rivals.
It wasn't the most
comfortable coach.
Alex is still a bit cranky
because he didn't sleep well.
It's only day two and
I'm already stinking.
There's still a long way to go.
Nice and refreshing.
Alex, have a go.
- No, no.
- I'll hold your glasses and cap.
No, I'm alright, thank you.
Alex and I used
to be really close.
Alex lived with me
till he were about 16
and he moved to his mother's,
and without a shadow of a
doubt, we have drifted apart,
and we've drifted
apart pretty severely.
It does wake you up.
It's full of moss. I'm alright.
Nothing's gonna hurt you.
I'm alright.
He's getting to the
age where I think
if we don't reconnect now,
it's gonna be harder and
harder the older he gets.
I can't remember where we are.
Is it dumbledorf?
- Dusseldorf.
- Dusseldorf. That's it.
Dumbledorf.
Oh, I'll have to remember that!
Harry Potter. That's what I were thinking!
300 miles away...
- Look at that!
- Yeah.
The white cliffs of Dover.
Sue and Clare...
We've left British soil!
And Natalie and shameema
are on their way to France.
Now it feels like it's real.
There's no going back for
the next seven, eight weeks
until we get to Singapore.
Josh and Felix may already
be across the channel...
We get the,
like, train to lille...
And the coach from there.Yeah.
Just if you had the Internet, we
could just check that, you know.
But are having trouble
getting out of calais.
The current frustration is
working out how to book
an online-only bus company
without getting online.
Pardon, monsieur.
UN telephone?
Google?
What is it called, easybus? Oui.
I can't explain.
It's probably easier
to find someone else
we can talk to about it.
Can we...?
Your phone... may we use it?
Pour le Internet? No,
don't worry, don't worry.
No, no, no, no. No worries.
Merci beaucoup.
Merci, merci. De rien.
Without the credit
or debit card,
how can we make a reservation?
If you have only
cash, that's the problem.
You need to find someone
that can buy with the credit card
and you give him the money.
If you have 44 Euros... Yes.
Maybe I can help you.
- Oh, yeah.
- Because it is...
My good day and...
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
You are.
So if you want to
take my credit card,
I can book it for you. Oh!
The way
we travel normally,
it's not unusual for
us to find ourselves
talking to random strangers
and finding out information.
I think it's quite liberating.
It is better than the Internet.
It's always the
best way of doing it,
but it doesn't mean it's easier.
While Josh and
Felix head to lille...
sue and Clare
have already arrived.
Pardon. Parlez vous anglais?
UN petit peu? Petit peu?
At the northern tip of France,
it's a blend of north
European and French culture,
and a good leaping-off point
to most European destinations.
See, I did say in France that
people didn't speak English.
The girls board a bus to Paris,
looking to head south
and push on into Italy.
I'm just very frustrated that...
How many hours
is it since we left?
I just don't think we
need to be thinking
about that too much, sue.
Can I just speak?
I know you can.
Thank you. Okay. So 24...
About 30 hours after we've left,
we're in lille,
when the journey from the...
From London to
Paris takes 2 1/2 hours.
So I'm just shocked
at how long it's
taken us to get here.
But this has been one
mistake that we made
by not being able to
get on the eurostar,
not knowing that we
couldn't get on at that station.
13 Euros for both of us.
- To get to where?
- Lyon.
Also in lille, Natalie
and shameema
are hustling for tickets.
- That's alright.
- If you want to buy it for us,
we're happy to take
gifts, if you're rich!
I don't understand.
How's it going,
guys? How's it going?
Oh, my god! No way!
- Oh, my god!
- When did you get to France?
- Yesterday.
- Oh, right.
We only got here this morning.
- Yeah, I thought so.
I don't think it actually
benefited us any
'cause we rushed, we
bought expensive transport.
We stayed in a hostel we
didn't really want to stay in.
We spent so much money,
you would not believe.
Really? Yeah.
Where did you
guys stay last might?
We stayed at the
travelodge for free.
- Nice.
- How did you manage that?
- Well, we're hustlers.
- Blagging skills, yeah, yeah.
Where are you going? Paris?
No, no. I can't tell you that.
Natalie will kill me.
Maybe we should go
where they're going. No.
No, we got a
good plan, actually.
I'd better go before
I speak too much.
- See you later.
- Take care.
Bye.
We've managed to get
here in the same time,
doing probably
a lot harder route
and saved a lot
more money, so...
That's given me a boost.
Absolutely neck and neck
and they definitely
spent less money than us
'cause they said they
didn't spend money
on the hotel yesterday, so...
Perhaps we're not exploiting...
Getting stuff for
free?... Getting stuff for free.
We're too willing
to pay for things.
While Josh and Felix
are en route to Munich...
Jinda and bindu are
already in Germany.
150 miles farther east,
in the cathedral town of aachen,
resting place of the medieval
emperor charlemagne.
My sock has been off my
ankle, bugging me all day long.
Before thy can
settle in, though...
jinda receives a
second call from home
on the producer's phone.
Hi, baby, you okay?
Yeah, yeah.
Really?
What?
Oh, god...
- Okay?
- Yeah.
I'll come back.
I'm coming. Alright?
We're gonna head back, okay?
Alright. Thanks.
Alright, I'll let you go.
Alright. See you
when we get back.
Yeah, I love you. See you soon.
Bye. Bye.
Bye, mum, bye.
I would've loved to
be able to get to the end.
I think we would've met a
lot more people along the way
and hopefully we'll get
to do something like this
again one day. One day, yeah.
But right now, I just want to...
I just want to hold
my mum's hand
and let her know that I'm there.
Jinda and bindu's departure
means that a reserve
team have been called upon.
Does anybody know
where delphi is?
Retired p.E. Teachers
Tony and Elaine,
who have been married
for over 40 years.
I can't believe it. We're here
and we're doing it.
And it's about to start,
about to kick off.
We're about to cross
the world. Yeah, yeah.
Five hours ago, they dropped
everything to join the race,
starting from London with the
same budget as the other teams,
and are now making
a final phone call
to take over the Baton
from jinda and bindu.
How are you guys doing?
We've got caught a
little bit cold on it all,
but we're just so
very sorry to hear
that you've had to
withdraw so early on.
Basically, you're
representing us now.
Yes, we are.
We were in aachen.
Yes, in Germany.
And we were gonna
get a lift to Cologne.
And then...
On to Milan.Milan.
And then that should get
you on to delphi in Greece.
While Tony and Elaine
fast-track their way to Milan,
having left Paris, sue and Clare
are heading in
the same direction.
So we've been
into Switzerland...
For about five minutes.
I was just thinking
how amazing it was
to actually come all this way,
you know, Paris to
Milan, for 45 Euros.
Natalie and shameema
have disembarked in Lyon.
Let's go and sit
on the other side.
We're in Starbucks,
brushing our teeth.
Oh, that feels so much better.
Sticking to their strategy
of nonstop coach travel
has got darron and
Alex halfway to delphi,
arriving in Budapest.
Tired after
a long journey?
400 miles behind them,
Josh and Felix are in
the capital of Bavaria.
With almost 12,000
miles of the race still to run,
they have spent close to 1/8th
of their total budget already.
We've got to look at
our classified ads...
All the teams have been provided
with a directory of
local job opportunities,
and Europe is an early
chance to pick up a good wage.
We have brilliantly
got work, so no travel.
Some people would consider
it, if they wanted to win this leg,
a shot in the foot.
But we'll spend
our hard-earned wad
on a getting on the fastest
train out of here tomorrow.
A little speed boost.
They've secured some
manual labor at stables
just outside Munich,
helping out the owner,
Oliver, who's broken his arm.
Let's start.
Bring up the gravel.
- 25 tons.
- 25 tons.
- And afterwards, you roll it.
- Yeah.
We've shoveled
poo, rolled gravel,
and had the satisfaction
of being able to work
for 250 Euros.
It makes a difference
to getting back
to where we were
to start off with.
We stop for no-one.
They're friendly,
they're helpful, they're...
Yeah... the best guests we have.
Travel the world, they said!
See new places, they said!
The opportunity to
race across the world
has come at a good time
for these best friends...
Go on. Get your anger out.
Who have spent
the past four years
building a creative hub
together in Tottenham, London.
We have theater
Sunday to Thursday
and then we have big
music events and parties
on the weekends.
In four months'
time, unfortunately,
none of this will be here.
It'll be knocked down
and turned into a
block of luxury flats.
We've got two months to
decide what our future is,
so this is the perfect
opportunity to find out.
Got it? Yeah.
We do something
like this for a day,
we spend all of our energy,
and we'll lie down tonight
and our minds will be buzzing
with, like, what we could do
when we get back to London
or how we could bring something
that we've learned here back
to our lives and improve them,
and now there's a
lot more riding on it.
We're older, we've got
girlfriends to think about.
We'll have a new plan by
this time tomorrow, mate.
Don't you worry.
On the banks of
the river danube,
the Hungarian
capital... Budapest.
Created in 1873 by the
merger of three cities...
Pest, buda, and obuda...
Here, darron and
Alex are also hoping
to earn their first extra money.
Excuse me, do you have
a phone we can borrow
to make a call, please?
We need to ring this number.
Hello? English?
Alex has spotted an ad
that could continue to keep
their accommodation costs
to a minimum by
offering bed and board...
We've seen your advert
for the paprika harvesting.
Right. No worries.
Alright, thank you, Anita.
Speak to you later. Bye.
But it's not the bed and
board Alex is used to.
They said that we
can sleep outside,
but we don't have tents.
Could we sleep
on the factory floor?
She said it was dirty and that,
so we're in a big pickle here.
We're in this
competition to win it,
but one of the challenges
will be for me to step back
and go, "no, Alex,
you need to step up."
And I need to encourage
him and let him step up.
What do you want
to do? I don't know.
I don't want to sleep outside.
You make a decision.
No. We make the decision.
You say you don't
want to do that.
What do you want to
do? I don't have a clue.
Do not have one single clue.
Am I allowed to bang his head
against the wall on camera?
Dissing ideas but not
coming up with a solution...
Anybody can do that. It's easy.
Him growing, him becoming
a more rounded individual
and still winning,
it's gonna be...
It's gonna be a tough
balance at times.
Just feeling a
bit... I don't know.
Bit homesick, I suppose.
Don't know.
Could just do with some
advice from my mum, I reckon.
My mum just helps
me get stronger,
and she's always got
the right advice to tell me.
I've made an executive decision.
We're going to
stay here tonight.
Try and get a cheap hotel.
I think you will feel
massively better.
Sue and Clare
have arrived in Milan,
considered one of the
fashion capitals of the world.
It's good to have
covered some miles now.
I feel like we've
actually got somewhere
because yesterday...
Just, it felt like
we were taking
one step forward,
two steps back.
But there's no stopping
to admire the fashionistas.
Platform 14. Okay.
Trains.
They're aiming for venice
and, from there, to
catch a ferry to Greece.
We haven't really found out
any information about any boats,
but I think...
It might be easier to
find that out in venice.
Lagging 270 miles behind them...
Natalie and
shameema are in Lyon.
A sugary smell in the air.
Sweet smell of patisserie.
It's the gastronomic
capital of France,
and they're looking to
pick up some paid work
in the city's famous bouchons...
Family-run brasseries.
Morning, so we are trying
to get a job for the day.
Do you ladies know anyone
that might need any help,
like, to do anything?
- Good luck!
- Thank you.
Thank you.
- Bye-bye.
People don't like people
walking in, asking for jobs.
Yeah. I think I've
got that sense of that.
Excuse me. Do you know somebody
that could give us
a job for the day?
I don't know. I call my friend.
He has a restaurant.
Okay. Cool.
Relying on the
kindness of strangers.
- It's okay.
- Oh.
- Have you got a job?
- Got a job for you.
- Can I hug you?
- Okay.
Thank you!
Once again, the girls'
strategy pays off...
Hi, I'm Natalie.
As they secure a shift
for 10 Euros each an hour.
Let's work it, baby.
Should I
put some lipstick on?
You're serving,
so you better do.
Alright!
You want coffee?
- Oui.
- Café?
Two, please, s'il vous plait.
Put it in.
I mean, the car
hire... What do you reckon?
I think, while we're in places
where we can get there
on public transport,
that's got to be cheaper.
By reaching Milan, race
newcomers Tony and Elaine
have completed
the initial travel plan
they inherited from
jinda and bindu.
Customer service.
There you are, Tony.
Now they're on their
own and looking to find
a train to Bari, on the
heel of the boot of Italy.
95 a person to Bari.
That's like 200 Euros. Yeah.
And we're going for
the overnight one.
How much more expensive
for the sleeping for one person?
- 70 euro more.
- 70 euro more.
Do we want to sleep in a bed?
No. We'll sleep in the seat.
I'm from Yorkshire. We're tight.
Anyway, we've not got
enough Euros, to be honest.
We've got next to
nothing to spend, right,
and just, you know,
being a yorkshireman
with short arms
and deep pockets...
Right up our streets.
- What can we get for five Euros?
- Cheapest pizza?
- Cheapest pizza is 8.
- No, that's too much.
Cheapest one's 9 euro.
Pizza, water, and a
coffee, all for 7 Euros.
Happy days.
You like to do a pizza?
- Oh, yeah.
- What's your name?
- Antonio.
- Antonio!
Oh, yes. Oh, yeah.
- All my clothes for you.
- Fantastic.
We worked as
teachers for 40 years,
so we can communicate and
hopefully this communication
will transcend any language
barriers we come across.
Hey!
I think age
will be in our favor.
We don't need a lot of sleep.
We don't eat a lot.
Wow.
One, two, three, hyah!
It's a long race.
It's more of a
marathon than a sprint.
Madame, here we go.
If we are the
oldest contestants,
then it would prove what
we think, deep down...
That old people can do it.
I've made you... dinner!
First time in 40 years.
Oh, god, it's amazing.
140 miles further into Italy...
Sue and Clare arrive in
the floating city of venice.
But rather than
explore its 170 canals
and 417 Bridges,
they have their sights
set on getting a ferry
across the adriatic
and as near to
delphi as they can.
As cheaply as
possible and fairly quickly.
- For today?
- Yes.
From
venice, they are twice
or three times a week.
Nothing today?
There is tomorrow.
What time? At 2:00.
Does it say how
long that journey is?
Uh... It should be 36 hours.
36 hours? 36?
With the ferry to petraeus
not departing for 20 hours,
the girls can see
the sights after all.
I've never been to venice.
You wouldn't give us a
one-minute ride for free?
- You get one ride.
- Whoo!
Oh, this is the life, isn't it?
As Clare spends
half her year in Spain,
this is the most time
they've spent together
since their interrailing
days over 30 years ago.
So this is the partner
in crime all those years ago
and we were unlikely friends
because sue was
a little bit square.
It's those early days
that really count...
The youth clubs and the boys.
All of those silly things
that you do together
have made our friendship.
So we went to paros, and
that was a lovely young man.
Still remember his
name... Well, who wouldn't?
Konstantinos panos.
He probably fancied me.
Can you take us to Greece?
Oh, do you know what?
I think he was police.
Was he? Yeah.
The race will be tough.
There will be
tough times. I know.
But I think it's strong enough
to survive anything, really...
Our friendship.
Oh...
I'm so glad that
we've had the time
to just come here.
In Budapest...
What's the cheapest
twin room available to us?
- 60.
- 60 Euros for the night.
It's the most expensive
eastern European country I've been in.
Darron and Alex have been
struggling for three hours
to find a place to sleep...
I honestly don't think we're
gonna find a room tonight.
And are facing the prospect
of a night on the streets.
We'll sort something out.
It's getting cold now.
No room available.
Okay. Thank you.
- I'm sorry.
- That's okay.
We'll sort something out.
I just feel like...
Do you want to
try a coach first?
I don't care.
I want to sit.
We've got to
do... Sitting here's
not gonna achieve anything.
Having a bit of a
breather, that's fine.
I'm at breaking point.
No, you'll be fine, Alex.
Just...
It's a small hiccup,
that's all it is.
I absolutely hate Budapest,
and I never want to come back.
It's been the worst
day of my life.
Meanwhile, 400 miles due west...
- Wow.
- This is amazing.
Oh, this looks fantastic.
The smorgasbord is
out. Are you hungry?
Josh and Felix
are sitting pretty.
A hard day's work has
not only earned them
a stash of cash...
- It's nice to have you here.
Yes. It's been lovely staying.
It's nice to be here. Thank you.
But also a free
bed for the night.
Whoo! Oh, my god.
Oh... You know what?
It's cozier than the couch.
Yeah. I would rather be here.
I would much rather
be here. This is...
I'd genuinely rather
be here. This is lovely.
After a five-hour hunt
and shelling out £68,
darron and Alex finally
find shelter for the night.
Oh, I'm buzzing!
I'm absolutely buzzing.
You got a bed.
I'm just so happy right now.
Act like you've never
had a bed before.
It feels like it.
It's been, what, three days?
Yeah, but it feels
like it's been a month.
When people
get upset, especially Alex,
I can't quite understand it.
Maybe that's based
on my lack of empathy.
I don't know.
But I need to try to...
Show a little more compassion
and understanding for Alex
and what he's going through,
which is not gonna
be easy for me.
It's those what push through
which are gonna be the
ones what survive and win.
It's gonna be fun.
Yeah.
Having spent time working
in Munich, Josh and Felix
are still 1,100 miles from
the delphi checkpoint.
Seven hours
on a high-speed train,
this is like the
mental challenge
of getting from
transport to transport,
or sitting on transport
and not going mad.
To speed things up, they
plan to travel 30 hours nonstop
on the fastest transport.
We're on a
train to Budapest.
It cost 120 Euros
for both of us,
which is twice as expensive
as the night train version,
which we could've got
tonight. We used the money
that we earned on
the farm for this train.
Settling in for the
next seven hours.
Jet train.
Speed boost. Speed
past everybody.
As Josh and Felix
fast-track it to Budapest...
Certainly been given
a colorful paint job.
Just leaving, darron and Alex.
Absolutely buzzing.
On our way to Serbia
and we've gone for the risk.
We don't know where
we go from Serbia!
They've decided to take
the path less traveled,
heading through the Balkans.
Definitely feels coming
off the beaten track.
The line we're going
on is almost like some...
Forgotten part of the world.
We're just praying and hoping
that we can get straight
to Greece tonight.
We don't want to
be stuck in Serbia,
go straight to delphi from here.
Hopefully, there's
gonna be a connection.
Ticket office.
Hello.
We're looking for a train
to Greece asap, really.
No trains?
No... No train whatsoever?
Oh, this ain't good.
So what
exactly did she say?
She said that, after
the 30th of September,
it don't go to Greece.
Let's try to think of
the best way to do this.
There is potential
for us to be stuck here
with no way out. I know.
With darron and Alex
in danger of getting stuck
600 miles from delphi...
I tell you what, this is gonna
be a totally different ferry
to anything we've been on before
because it is just
full of truckers.
Closing in, Tony and Elaine,
and Natalie and shameema.
That is our ferry.
Both teams have motored
down from Milan to ports
in southern Italy,
and Natalie and shameema
are on the faster crossing.
We're going to Greece, baby!
But Tony and Elaine have a
plan to save time and money
when they get to the other side.
We're hoping
one of the truck drivers
will give us a free lift
from patras up to delphi.
We're trying to get
to this place, delphi.
Do you know... Do
you know where this is?
Delphi? No?
No? No chance?
Can you go to delphi?
Yeah? No delphi.
Athens. Athens.
Oh, here we go.
Yeah, yeah.
Even if we don't
get a lift, I'm happy!
Grazie.
We will fly to delphi.
We'll get there,
sue. We'll get there.
Also heading across
the adriatic sea...
Sue and Clare, halfway
through their 36-hour voyage.
We could've
done it quite a lot quicker,
actually, I suppose.
But how boring is it, you know,
just sitting on a bus?
It's about a journey.
It's about recapturing
a little bit of me, this,
with my best friend, sue.
The trip that we did before...
I've got a few photos here.
You with your dungarees.
I thought they were wonderful.
Oh, well, of course...
Oh, go on, then.
I know you like
saying it, Clare.
Say the name.
Konstantinos panos.
I think it was only 'cause
we had matching shorts
that he liked me.
I feel a little bit of, you
know, the young Clare,
the free Clare.
I feel like crying.
It's, like, really
emotional for me, really.
After several hours
stuck in Belgrade,
darron and Alex took the
first available bus south
and have landed in
Skopje, Macedonia.
What's your opinion, Alex?
I think we should get a taxi
and just go.
Not willing to
risk another delay,
they commit to their
biggest spend so far.
We need to go to Greece.
For 120 Euros?
120. Right.
Is it possible to swing by the
Alexander the great statue?
Yes, okay, no problem.
En route, darron
insists on a quick detour.
If it wasn't for him, you may
have had a different name.
Alex was genuinely named
after Alexander the
great and his achievement.
Alexander conquered
a large part of the known world
at the time in his 20s...
Done Greece, persia,
commanded it all.
If you think, you can't
even make your own bed,
look what he did at that age.
He enjoys this sort of stuff
and I'm not normally keen
on this sort of
stuff, but maybe,
after spending time
together and bonding,
we are seeing similarities
which we didn't know.
As father and son share a
historical moment together,
Josh and Felix have
edged ahead of them
after enduring a
marathon 450-mile bus ride.
They've now crossed the
Macedonian border into Greece
and are looking for a
shortcut to the checkpoint.
- We've hit a problem.
- Really?
We're trying to get to delphi.
Our original plan was to go to
Athens and get the bus back.
Do you know if there is
any other way to get to delphi
without having to go
to Athens, essentially?
So I think, if you go to Athens,
you make kind of a big detour.
Athens is 100
miles south of delphi.
Sticking to their current plan
will take them three
hours out of their way.
- Okay.
- Yeah?
You're our hero. I know.
That's amazing.
You couldn't do
that on the Internet.
Back in their taxi,
darron and Alex
are hot on their heels.
We're in Greece.
Very, very close.
I can smell the
competitors close by.
The sooner a team
reaches the checkpoint,
the sooner they can leave
on the next leg of the journey...
I think there's a
very strong possibility
we're gonna be
in delphi tonight.
So every second counts.
Goodbye. thanks, man.
So, yeah.
Good luck, guys.
Thank you so much.
Excuse me, sir. Are
you gonna delphi?
Delphi?
- No, I don't think this is it.
Did our friend phone you?
Delphi?
I know. Yeah.
Can we buy a map so
that we could hike there?
I mean, it's 60 kilometers,
it's gonna can take two days.
Thessaloniki, 150 miles
from the checkpoint.
First time
we've seen delphi.
- No, we want to buy tickets.
- What's your name?
Alex. Alexander.
Alexander. the great?
- Ish, yes.
- Yeah.
- 38 each.
- 76 euro.
Have a ticket.
We're going to delphi.
Buzzing, absolutely buzzing!
- Delphi?
- No.
Maybe we should
hitchhike. Come on.
It's not it. No?
I don't know.
It's indicating... Yeah,
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
That's it!
- Yes!
- Yes!
Hi.
Thank you for being our savior.
Our ability to follow
a hunch and take risks
is one of our strengths.
Ingenuity, local
knowledge... Lateral thinking.
Lateral thinking and dedication
to, like, our quest has
really come to the fore.
- Here!
- Oh, this is it...
Making their last
connection, darron and Alex...
Thank you.
I'm saying our place
is either second or third,
but obviously
you'd like to be first.
I don't think we're last.
Whilst two of the
teams are still at sea.
We've got no idea
where the other teams are...
- No.
- And I hope we're not
coming in last.
We're still talking
to each other.
We're not fighting.
We're still talking
to each other. That's
not bad after a week, is it?
Sue and Clare and
Tony and Elaine...
What's that like as a pillow?
Won't reach the
checkpoint tonight.
Luxury.
but Natalie and shameema
have hit dry land...
Buses seem impossible.
And despite no public transport
leaving at this hour...
What about if we hired a car?
They're not giving up just yet.
- Hello.
- Hello, how are you?
Is there any car for hire today?
We need to get to delphi.
How much is your rates?
140.
140?!
I know those
negotiation tactics.
No, no, no, no.
No driver?
Do you want us to
buy you a coffee or tea?
Great, so do you want
to buy us a tea or coffee?
Darron and Alex
arrive in delphi.
Their GPS tracker tells them
the exact location
of the checkpoint...
Hotel Amalia delphi.
A mile away, on the
other side of town.
Right, let's ask people.
Go. No, no, no.
East. Run. This way.
Excuse me, can
tell me where hotel Amalia is?
Round here?
Okay. Alex!
Alex!
Come on.
Headless chicken.
Ahh!
I found a driver.
You found a driver?!
Oh. Got a shiver.
Yeah.
He's not killing people.
I know! I know.
We're going to delphi!
Bit faster.
Here.
Dad, it's here!
After six days... It's here.
Oh, fantastic.
And 1,900 miles,
their first checkpoint.
- Hello.
- Hello, welcome to Amalia.
- Thank you.
- We'd like to check in, please.
Where did we finish?
Each team must sign in
to find out its
position in the race.
Second. Oh, damn.
- Hello! Hey!
- Hello!
- Congratulations.
- How's it going?
Thought we'd give you
a chance on the first leg.
- Thank you.
- Thank you very much.
You're welcome.
Thank you!
We did say you are
our biggest competitors
in the thing. Oh, I see, Alex!
- We said it's between us four.
- The game is afoot.
You've won the first leg,
but we'll win the
important one at the end.
Ohh, fighting talk.
Last one to Singapore
buys the beers.
Yeah.
We're
here! Oh, my gosh.
Oh, my god.
Hello!
While Natalie and
shameema take third place...
two teams still have
some way to go.
It's just one
decision, one trip,
that could change everything.
So I expect it to get far
more intense, far tougher...
And far more exciting.
All is still to play for...
The storm is coming.
Fast, fast, fast.
Over the remaining 10,000 miles.
It's a lot further
than we think.
To Singapore.
- Well, we're...
- Looks like we're staying here.
It's a crazy, wacky,
woopy place.
This... just got real. Shut up.
Next time... Good to meet you.
The teams leave delphi...
The next checkpoint
is Baku.Okay.
For Azerbaijan.
"The team that reaches there
in fifth place will be eliminated."
The sword of doom
hanging over our heads now.
Now I'm gonna
start playing dirty.
Are you? It's Baku...
No euro. No euro.
- Pound.
- Oh, it's problem.
Or bust.
That's it, that's it! Come on!
I want to carry on. I'm
not ready to finish yet.