Race Across the World (2019–…): Season 1, Episode 2 - Baku - Azerbaijan - full transcript
The five teams head out of Delphi to their next checkpoint - Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan - a journey that sees them leave behind the familiarity of the west.
Reaching
the other side of the world
has never been easier.
But by flying over,
are we forgetting
how to travel through?
Singapore, the furthest point
from the UK 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 moly, that's
going to 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.
At
ground level, they'll
cover over 12,000 miles.
Oh man. Look at that.
It'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 going to 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 my breaking point.
The reward is great.
It's about recapturing
a little bit of me there.
As the
first team to Singapore
will claim the prize of
20,000 pounds in a race
across the world.
Shift your buns.
Come on.
50 days... blood, sweat, tears.
Previously,
the teams set off on their epic
journey to Singapore.
Oh, for god's sake.
Best mates Josh
and Felix worked hard and raced
fast to make it to delphi in
Greece, the first checkpoint,
in first place, claiming
a 3 and 1/2 hour
lead over their closest rivals,
father and son darron and Alex.
Thought we'd give you
a chance in the first leg.
A
tragedy at home...
My mom's in hospital.
She's taken a slight
turn for the worse.
Meant
an early exit for husband
and wife jinda and bindu.
We're going to head back, ok?
Taking
up the Baton, Yorkshire
couple Tony and Elaine.
I can't believe it.
We're here, and we're doing it.
Lifelong
friends Natalie and shameema...
We're in Starbucks
brushing our teeth.
Relied on
the kindness of strangers...
Could I hug you?
To
take third place, leaving
the two remaining teams...
Best friends sue and
Clare, and husband
and wife Tony and Elaine...
We're trying to get to delphi.
- All at sea.
- No?
No?
On the slope
of mount parnassus, delphi.
In ancient times, considered
to be the center of the world.
At each checkpoint,
the teams have
a 36-hour break before
heading to the next destination.
So the earlier they get there,
the sooner they can leave.
Three teams reached
the checkpoint yesterday.
But two have yet to arrive.
Sue and Clare.
Here, look.
Hotel Amalia.
Ok.
Hotel Amalia?
And
Tony and Elaine.
Thank you. Thank you.
Good.
Come on,
Amalia hotel.
Not far now, huh?
It's there.
- It's there?
- It's there.
Crikey.
Hello.
Welcome to Amalia hotel.
Kalispera.
Three other teams
are in before us.
Sue and Clare
take fourth spot, almost 24
hours behind the race leaders.
Can we just do this?
Fantastic.
We got here.
A little bit disappointed,
but not far behind.
Not far behind.
Just
five minutes behind.
Here we go.
Come on, last little bit.
Tony and
Elaine arrive in last position.
Come on.
This
is the first time they'll
meet the other competitors.
Where are the newbies?
Having
replaced jinda and bindu.
Hi there.
Good to meet you.
We took their place.
We're the reserves.
I'm sure we all send
our well wishes to them.
Yeah, but also, lovely
to meet you, as well.
Yeah, it's super.
It really is a great,
great experience.
It's been great
meeting everybody else.
And we had real lovely people.
But it changes things
a little bit, you know.
You see the whites
of people's eyes
and their experiences
they've had.
We're 15 minutes
into a game of football
and we've got extra
time in penalties.
So it'll pick up from now on.
5:35 am.
We'd like to check out, please.
The next checkpoint is Baku.
Ok.
Baku, the
capital of Azerbaijan, a city of fire.
With its historic atashgah
temple and ultra-modern
flame towers
celebrating the nation's
vast oil and gas reserves.
I think we had our suspicions
that it was going to be
somewhere on the caspian sea.
Azerbaijan's meant
to be beautiful.
The
second checkpoint
is 1,447 miles east of delphi.
And there will be a need
for speed on this leg.
The team that reaches there
in fifth place will be eliminated.
Ok.
Whether we get to
Singapore first or fourth,
I really don't mind.
But if we have to go
home at Baku, that'll suck.
Racing
across the world
is all about traveling
smart, displaying
speed and adaptability.
The threat of elimination
means every decision counts.
The first, how to
get out of Greece.
They could head
south to the capital,
Athens, and its port, piraeus,
gateway to the aegean
and the med.
Or head north
through thessaloniki
using road and rail,
crossing the land
bridge between Europe and Asia.
To the bus stop.
Yeah, let's go.
We're going to get
into Athens on the bus,
and then we want to get
the ferry over to cesme.
I think the added
sense of jeopardy
that the elimination
brings, there's
definitely an added urgency.
No one wants to be last.
No one wants to go home.
We've all put too
much into this.
We were planning on a
nice layover in Istanbul,
taking our foot off the
gas, taking the scenic route,
maybe visiting some sites.
No, now it's a real kick
of the bum to get there.
What a lovely little town.
Without
smartphones, Josh and Felix
are unaware that the first bus
to Athens isn't until 10:00 am.
Great.
Time for plan b.
There's a good
chance that we could
do well in this competition.
Over a journey of
such epic proportions,
there's probably a thousand
things that could go wrong.
Felix and i's ability
to rely on each other
is one of the strengths
that we'll have,
our openness to talk to people
and our ability to take risks.
Hopefully that will stand
us in really good stead.
No one's going there.
No.
After two
hours, some divine intervention
from a tour guide and
oracle named Nicholas.
If you want, she will allow
Nick to zip you to Athens right
after breakfast.
Would you be up for that, Nick?
He loves adventure.
As long as I get a nice
breakfast beforehand.
Absolutely, man.
This is exactly how
the universe works.
They're having breakfast in a
hotel with these lovely people,
who have invited
us to join them.
This is Nick, and
he's very kindly
agreed to take us to Athens.
Your health.
Cheers.
9:25
am, the next team
to leave the checkpoint,
darron and Alex.
Your next checkpoint is Baku.
Oh, cranking up the
pressure with an elimination.
Yeah, definitely.
Well, on the plus side, at
least we know where this is.
Exactly.
Try there.
Since the age of 15,
I've lived with my mom.
He's still my dad at
the end of the day.
I just don't know him
as well as I should.
So this trip, we should
get to know each other a lot
better than what we do now.
First thing, definitely Athens.
Yeah.
I think that opens up
more possibilities for us.
I don't know Alex as a man.
I know him as a child.
It's going to be
difficult to get balance
because I need Alex
to make mistakes
so he can grow as a person.
That balance of him growing,
him becoming a more rounded
individual and still
winning, it's going
to be a tough balance at times.
We just need to take as much
advantage lead as we can,
closing the gap and hopefully
catching up to Josh and Felix.
I wonder what Josh
and Felix have done.
I can't
help falling in love with you.
Take my hand.
Take my whole...
While
Josh and Felix hold hands,
they lose their grip
on the race lead,
as darron and Alex catch
the first bus to Athens.
Eventually, Josh
and Felix hit the road.
What's your
background, then?
I am a
professional psychic.
- No way.
- Actually, yeah.
We were saying on our
way here that the gods were
looking down on us and smiling.
When we arrived,
it was at sunset,
and the piercing sun
was through the clouds.
It couldn't have looked more...
It was mythic.
It was mythic, yes.
This is Apollo is greeting you.
Yeah, exactly.
Athens,
birthplace of democracy
and western philosophy,
with over 3,000 years of history.
The city's patron deity,
Athena, was goddess of courage,
strength, strategy, and wisdom.
And a newfound
wisdom is about to be
bestowed on Josh and Felix.
This will help you both
if you put it right here.
Let me see.
Right here on the third eye.
This will help you to open
up your psychic awareness,
relax the mind, and tune in so
you know which way to go, which
decision to make, which path.
Group hug.
The path each
team chooses is their own,
but they must pass through
five checkpoints on the way
to Singapore.
Each team began
the race with the cash
equivalent of two
economy airfares
to Singapore in pounds sterling.
This must cover
all expenditures.
Hello.
Hi, we want to go
to cesme in Turkey.
What time does it leave?
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Well, we got to
Athens in record time,
and then the ferry
isn't until 9:00 pm.
So we're going to hang out.
Hello.
No, we're all right, actually.
We don't have any phones.
We're going to e7
to get some money.
It's a little bit of a
shame that there
isn't a ferry till the evening.
But we have the power of
hermes and Apollo on our side.
200 Turkish lira.
No, 200
pounds in Turkish.
Yeah.
7:00
pm, 11 and 1/2 hours
behind Josh and Felix, Natalie
and shameema leave delphi.
It's 7:10.
What?
A train is coming.
Heading north, they're
aiming to catch the
last train to thessaloniki
then push on
through to Istanbul.
Hi, you speak English?
Oh, no.
I have known shameema
since I was nine years old.
There's absolutely
nobody else in this world
that I can imagine
doing this trip with.
I think shameema would describe
me as somebody who just goes
and does something
and then thinks about it,
and she's more considered.
But I think we
balance each other out.
And I think that's from
decades of friendship.
We have English money.
No.
If you exchange this
money, you get more euro.
But
they're short of Euros.
And the last train north
is due in 15 minutes.
I think we should
just get a train to pay
for it to go to.
I was willing to give
them 30 pounds.
I know.
Is that you throwing a strop?
The girls take a risk
and board the train with a fare
paid for only half the journey.
This is cozy.
Piraeus,
Athens, the largest
passenger port in Europe.
Darron and Alex have booked
an evening ferry to Turkey
and won't be alone.
Oh, whoa!
Seen who's there?
Oh!
Yeah.
Yay.
Hello.
We knew you were
going to be on our ferry.
You getting the ferry?
Yes.
I just said to Josh, I was like,
they're going to
be on our ferry.
Nice to see you, man.
We're closing it up now, eh?
Yeah.
Looking very smart.
We closed the gap.
Three-hour gap and it's
closed like that ..
The crazy thing is we
have the same strategy
as Josh and Felix,
which is quite scary.
I think it's going to be close
between us all the way up
because they have
the same strategy,
the same mentality, the same...
Like traveling
overnight to save costs.
I'm not going to change it
because it's too like theirs.
No, obviously not.
We're still going
to be the same.
Because we believe it's a
winning way to go about it.
an inspector calls.
Hello.
Your ticket, please.
Yes?
We can buy a ticket?
If you've money.
We have pounds, English pounds.
No pounds.
It's a problem for me.
It's a problem for me, as well.
So we need to go to thesso...
What?
Thessaloniki?
Do you have money?
No euro.
About... no euro?
No euro. Pound.
Oh, that's a problem.
You stop traveling now.
We get off next stop?
Yes.
To date, Natalie
and shameema have relied
on the kindness of strangers.
And they are in
dire need of it now.
Hi, can you speak English?
What is your name?
Constantina.
I'm Natalie.
Shameema.
The train inspector's coming.
He's trying to Chuck
us off the train.
Do you have any Euros that,
when we get to thessaloniki,
we will give you Euros?
Can you come to
the ticket inspector
and explain to him, maybe?
How much do you have?
I think that will be enough.
Yeah, that'll be ok.
And then when we
get off the thingy,
we'll get the money back.
One from you, one
from you, the same price.
Yes.
We got tickets to thessaloniki.
This has been an interesting
evening for you, yes?
Yeah, actually
Not your normal evening.
Uh, no.
Natalie and
shameema's risky train strategy
has paid dividends,
catapulting them
right back into
contention, as they've
made it to thessaloniki.
A seven-hour wait for the
ferry connection from piraeus
has dragged back
the leading two teams.
But they've now set
sail across the aegean,
heading for cesme in Turkey.
The remaining teams
are about to leave delphi.
Kalimera.
The first
are best friends of over 40
years, sue and Clare.
The team that reaches there
in fifth place will be eliminated.
Oh, god.
Three teams have already gone.
I know.
We're going to have
to get a move on.
And they're five
minutes behind us.
I know. I know.
Thank you.
It would be so wonderful to get
to Singapore because of my dad.
He was based there when he
was in the raf from 1946 to 1948.
We're here.
Wow.
That's a way.
I'm just thinking maybe stick
to land and get the miles in.
I'm wondering
if there's a train.
I don't want to go home
when we get to Azerbaijan.
We can't afford to make any
mistakes this time, can we?
Nope.
The sword of doom
hanging over our heads
now with the elimination.
We're in fourth place, but
we're only five minutes ahead
of the other team.
Last
to arrive, and therefore
last to leave, Tony
and Elaine, retired
teachers from Yorkshire.
We've got to keep our stride up
because we've just
got six or seven minutes.
Well, as long as
you get there in time.
Just don't go tripping up.
Why would I do that?
I think most people think of
retirement as the last phase
of your life, the bit where
you watch telly all day
and wait to die.
But for us, we really do
want to travel, see parts
of the world we
haven't seen before
and just not be
somebody else's mother,
somebody else's grandma.
We just want to be ourselves.
There they are.
We thought you
weren't coming, then.
I'm quite anxious and also
quite keen to lose the ladies
because it's a bit disconcerting
when you're in a race to have
them traveling alongside you.
This bit is like chicken
because they're...
I don't want to...
Well, it's not, though.
We can talk without
discussing where we're going,
just have a conversation.
In a minute.
We're going different
ways, anyway.
We've got loads of...
How do we know they're
not doing the same thing?
Don't know.
Well, if we get off
together, then it'll be a laugh,
won't it?
If we don't, we'll say goodbye.
That's it.
And we'll see them
at the next destination.
Ok?
Two teams
have docked in the port of cesme
at the western tip of
Turkey, frontier to Asia
and home of the Turkish lira.
See you at the next checkpoint.
Excuse me.
Bus station?
300 meters.
300 meters on the left.
Are you tickets?
Izmir-Ankara.
Two tickets, please?
Ok.
You've got Turkish?
Yeah, it's fine.
They've got it.
We want to get to Ankara.
Do you accept Euros?
We've got no
Turkish money on us.
Where can we change currency?
Where around here
can we change currency?
Cesme central.
Where's that, please?
Minibus departing from here.
Oh, we've got to get...
We need to change some
money so we can get a bus.
Yeah.
We don't have any Turkish
money, and the boys do.
So I'm a bit pissed
off, to be honest.
I don't want them
to get the lead now,
but I think they are going to.
Got our bags?
In the back, maybe.
The fact is that we have to
take an hour out of our time
and then come back.
And they'll be
already on their way.
Stupid.
And then we're going to
have to wait 40 minutes.
What's the point?
Sad to see the guys...
Getting stressed.
Getting into a
difficult situation.
No, because I was
telling you in Greece
we should have changed money.
I was telling you.
Well, why didn't you?
Because obviously,
it's a mutual decision.
I can't just go
spend money, can I?
Piss off, man.
I'm just sick of this.
Every time there's a slight
hiccup, he goes into a mood
like, oh, it's the
end of the world.
British pounds to Turkey.
We can't get beaten down at
the slightest bump in the road.
It's just... you
just can't do that.
On the
other side of the aegean sea,
sue and Clare,
and Tony and Elaine
have both chosen to head
north using road and rail,
entering Turkey
via the land bridge.
With elimination
on everyone's mind,
Tony and Elaine are desperate
to lose their nearest rivals
and set about quizzing locals
to gain any kind of advantage.
I'm trying to get to Istanbul.
Any idea of how we could
find the times of trains?
Oh, thank you.
Thank you.
6001, you will arrive at 22:36.
22:36?
Yes.
Wow.
That is a long time.
We presumed the onward
journey would be by train.
But when the guy
looked it up on his phone,
the bus took half the time.
Three and 1/2 hours.
So the bus is
quicker than the train?
What time do we get in?
12:45.
Maybe 1 o'clock.
1 o'clock.
5 o'clock.
Do you think we could
catch this 1 o'clock bus?
We don't have enough time?
It's very tight, very close.
The obvious route in
this scenario was longer.
I'm so pleased we
had that conversation
because that might
make a difference
of getting to Istanbul tonight.
We're in a race.
Across the world.
We have to go
really, really quick.
Yeah, really quick.
With sue
and Clare in the dark,
Tony and Elaine
plot their escape.
Ready to go.
What?
I just hope it works out.
Been married 40 years.
Basically, I do
what Tony tells me.
I only wish that was the
bloody case, I tell you what.
Bus goes in 24 minutes.
We're both quite
stubborn, we've determined.
When the going gets tough...
Yeah.
Me and Tony get going.
They only
have 10 minutes until the 1:00
pm express bus departs.
And the terminus is
over 3 kilometers away.
So we can go straight
to the bus station?
Yeah.
Another taxi.
Yeah, they're in.
They're following us.
Good god.
I swear to god, the women!
They're behind us in a taxi.
I am desperate to
shake them off now.
Desperate.
They were in a very big rush,
so I'm wondering whether they
know something more than we do.
I don't know.
Well done. Good, good.
Thank you, thank you.
Fast, fast, fast.
Fantastic.
Yes.
But if we hadn't
done the similar...
Well, almost the same thing,
then we would have been behind.
We wouldn't have
been able to do this.
Let's hope that taxi driver
behind us lost us about now.
I can't see because my
neck won't turn that far round.
This one here?
Oh, there's
people waiting still.
Excellent.
Ticket before?
Do you need to get a ticket?
Cheers, thank you.
Us, where do we go?
Alexandroupoli?
1 o'clock?
Where is it?
Platform 18?
Ok.
Alexandroupoli?
This one.
Excuse me?
Are you this bus?
Where you going?
Alexandroupoli.
Ok.
This one.
Jesus.
Bless me.
We made it.
Oh, god.
Excellent.
Woman possessed in bus station.
Unaware they've just
missed the 1:00 pm express
bus, sue and Clare opt for a coach
to Istanbul.
At what time is the next bus?
There's not one before?
No, there's
only one, 10:00 in the morning
or 10:00 in the evening.
But it doesn't
depart for another nine hours.
At least we're in
a place that we
can buy a little bit of
food, sit and relax, maybe
have a cup of tea, coffee.
I can't see the other team,
and that's what's on my mind,
I have to say because
they're not saying.
Sue, we're here...
I'm just talking.
That's what concerns
me is that they're not here.
Yeah, so they get there, right?
Listen.
Listen, calm.
They get there, get an
overnight accommodation
and we'll still be
there at the same time.
So don't worry. It's fine.
Ok.
Won't we?
Well, no because we're sitting
around here for nine hours
till 10 o'clock.
- So?
So what?
What a game.
What a rush.
That is a proper race.
But we'll do anything to
get through to the next stage,
if possible.
I'm going to
start playing dirty.
And you are, too.
What do you mean?
You can't do that.
Why not?
I've never played
dirty all my life.
It's the taking
part that counts.
It's not the winning.
That's what you
said to me all my life.
Why change it now?
Yeah, because I'm older
and wiser now, Tony.
It's about the winning.
Trust me.
370 miles ahead
are Natalie and shameema.
Istanbul, the only city in the
world spanning two continents.
Where Europe meets
Asia, east meets west.
And over 12 million tourists
meet the locals each year.
So we need to go to
kapali carsi ..
We're having to spend
money to move as
quick as we can through Turkey.
So we really need to be able to
work to make that money back.
The
farther the teams
head east, the chance of
earning good money diminishes.
Natalie and shameema
have already spent
over 30% of their total budget.
So they take decisive action.
We are trying to get
a job in the bazaar.
And we have two telephone
numbers that we can call,
but we don't have a phone.
Would it be
possible if you could
call the number for us, please?
All teams have
been provided with a travel guide
for each leg, complete
with classified job adverts.
Yeah, he's waiting for you.
Yeah!
Yay!
They've secured work
in a cafe in one of the
world's most popular tourist
destinations, the grand
bazaar, which attracts
up to 400,000 people a day.
This is it.
I'm shameema.
Hi, I'm Natalie.
What would
you like us to do today?
- Working.
- Working.
Yes.
Hello, guys.
Want to come for
a team or coffee?
Oh!
- No problem.
No problem.
Yes, they have English tea here.
Do you want a drink?
I don't want to do this anymore.
I know we need money.
I'm washing the cups.
Don't slam the cutlery.
God's sake.
Ankara,
the capital of Turkey
and its second largest city.
Home to over 5 million people.
Still 1,200 miles from
the Baku checkpoint,
Josh and Felix have
just arrived and are
looking for a direct bus
east to Tbilisi, in Georgia.
Maybe we should get the train.
I just don't want to spend 23
hours in a coach at the moment.
I'd rather spend
24 hours on a train.
Let's just go.
Like, literally.
Unable to face
another marathon coach journey,
and confident in their
position in the race,
the boys opt to take
the eastern express
railway, a slower, but more
scenic, route across Turkey.
Also awaiting the same
evening train are darron and Alex.
We're heading
to an art gallery.
Which is supposed to have
amazing views over Ankara.
We'll get to work
with some locals,
do something we've
never done before.
It's going to be
good fun, isn't it?
Yeah, of course.
I'm looking forward to it.
There's
a really, really fine
balance between racing and
having a really tight budget.
It's no good
avoiding elimination
if you don't got no
money to carry on.
Please.
Oh yes, we'll come up.
Please.
Father and son will be
working for a renowned
local art dealer, Mr. Terzioglu.
Come, come, come.
Come in.
Chop, chop.
Come, Alex.
I'm coming.
Come in. Come on.
Come in.
Tough boss, shouting and
ordering Alex about already.
I like it.
I'm just surprised
Alex is listening.
I don't really know
my plans in life.
I've been applying
for jobs a lot,
and you go on hundreds
of job interviews,
but you just don't get anywhere.
Come, Alex.
Bloody hell, why me?
This trip is about proving to
myself that I can do something,
like I can probably get
out of my comfort zone.
Alex!
Alex, come on.
Come on.
Not england.
This is Turkish.
Ok.
Two tea, please.
Two tea?
Two tea.
Yes, please.
Can I have a drink?
No drink.
I think Alex has
got in a bit of a rut.
He always takes the easy option.
One other challenge will be
for me to step back and go,
no Alex, you need to do this.
And I'm going to try to let
Alex do as much as he can
because he will benefit.
Pissing me off, man.
This is a joke.
I asked for a drink, and
I can't even get a drink.
Alex is basically
having a bit of a culture
shock at the moment.
Alex!
, Alex.
Fuck off.
Patience, remember.
Patience.
I'm going to walk off soon.
Just can't cope with him.
Respect.
Give respect?
I just want a drink.
That's all I want.
Finish, finish, finish,
finish, finish, please.
Please.
You're mad.
Yes, yes.
and Tony and Elaine have
arrived in Istanbul, having spent
the last 18 hours on a bus.
After bringing up the
rear in the first leg,
the retired teachers know
that, should history repeat itself,
they would be eliminated.
Depends how long and how...
Georgia, 24 to 25 hours.
Determined
not to let this happen,
they're planning to get
straight back on another bus,
traveling a mammoth 1,100
miles across the whole of Turkey
and into neighboring Georgia,
a journey of over 24 hours.
Even the express
train that is full...
That we know is full...
Takes longer than 24 hours.
So clearly this is the quickest
we are going to get there.
We need to know the price.
How much?
Price is 40 euro.
Let's just get the
ticket. Get the money.
Get the ticket.
Done.
We'll be in Georgia tomorrow.
That journey is 24 hours.
For me, that...
I'm going to get upset now.
That journey could be a week,
but if that's the fastest way
to do it, we're going to do it.
As Tony and
Elaine await their connection,
Natalie and shameema are
cashing out after their long shift
at the cafe.
This money is for you.
Oh, thank you!
Thank you.
That's very nice of you.
Thank you very much.
Great.
50 Turkish lira, 6 pounds 42
is what we've earned today.
I think we've really
felt the difference
in the value of money in
Turkey in comparison to Europe.
It was a whole six hours.
We've earned 6 pounds each.
That's like a pound an hour.
I think going across Turkey
probably will be quite cheap.
I hope so.
Meanwhile,
in Ankara, Josh and Felix,
and darron and
Alex are still neck
and neck as they board the
eastern express bound for kars.
The eastern express
takes a long and winding
route across Turkey.
And though it has an estimated
journey time of 24 hours,
it rarely runs on schedule.
Do these pull down?
Got a bed.
Now in
the lead despite being
last to leave delphi,
Tony and Elaine,
who are on the
direct bus to Tbilisi.
Yeah, 25 hour, 26
hour coach journey.
It's a state of mind.
It'll be fine.
It'll be good.
We've got the cards.
Natalie and
shameema are still in Istanbul,
and sue and Clare
have also just arrived.
This place is amazing.
Wow.
Absolutely amazing.
Caviar.
But their nine-hour
wait back in the thessaloniki
bus station has taken its toll.
I think it's more than
36 hours now since I've
really had any sleep.
And I'm feeling it.
I'm not making sense.
I'm functioning
at a very low level.
We've got to be off
by 9 o'clock tomorrow
morning to get the bus.
It's going to take us
to Tbilisi in Georgia.
Which is a 24-hour bus ride.
Which I'm not really
looking forward to,
but we've got to do it.
We've got to power on through.
Having stopped
racing in order to earn money,
shameema is still keen to
make the most of the remaining
time in Istanbul.
I would really still like to go
and have a bit of chill time.
So let's go to the
blue mosque, then.
I really want to go
to the blue mosque.
And then?
Then we can do
whatever you want to do.
If you want to really
go to the blue mosque,
let's make that a priority.
- Right.
Ok.
And then we can sort
everything out after.
Because now it's getting
late to go to the blue mosque.
Don't put that on me.
I'm not putting it
on you, Natalie.
We're trying to make...
- Ok.
So let's go to the blue mosque.
The sultan
Ahmed mosque, one of Istanbul's
most famous landmarks.
Built in the 1600s,
its walls are adorned
with hand-painted tiles,
which, at night, bathe
the mosque in a soft blue
light, giving it its more widely
known name, the blue mosque.
It's a shame we didn't
get here before it closed.
Life's definitely
changed at the moment.
I've been married for 19 years.
And we've decided as a family
that it's come to a point where
me and imran are separating.
It's still quite taboo
in the community
that I'm from, the south
Asian communities.
And although imran and I have
been separated for a while now,
it's not something that I've
been able to openly talk about.
And so it's almost like
I've almost been living a lie.
And it feels really
peaceful around here.
It would have been awesome
if we were able to go in.
Everyone's got their own ideas
about what faith means to them.
For me, it's just kind of
calming, gives me direction.
Having this time
to myself and just
being away from
responsibility will
allow me to think about
what it is that I actually want.
My children, they'd love it.
I'm going to do
a trip with them.
Come here.
It'd be amazing.
Maybe that's why
I didn't get to go in.
I get to go in with my children.
I love
traveling by train.
On an airplane,.
Five, 10 seconds where I
know this area, and it'd be gone.
I think because everyone's
in such a rush all the time,
they sort of like
forget to stop.
And then, when you
do and you look out,
you think, wow, this is amazing.
Initially
running in 1936,
the eastern express has
been expanded over the years
to stop at 11 provincial cities
between Ankara and kars.
It covers a total
of 1,208 miles,
almost double the distance
of the equivalent road journey.
Not so much
express, either, really.
Very slow.
It's very slow.
I'd call it the
eastern trundle if I
was going to call it something.
The eastern local train.
Yeah.
When we get off at kars
and try and make our transfer
as quickly as
possible to Tbilisi,
the feeling of
imperative will return
because the decisions
we make will affect
how quickly we get there.
Whereas for now,
it's a good time
to just sit back,
watch it slide by,
and try and recharge
slightly because we
can't make it go any faster.
I think, within the
context of the race,
the most pertinent thing
is the fact that darron
and Alex are next door.
I'm not saying I don't ever cry.
I don't think I've
ever seen you cry.
It's not something
I do very often.
I cry every time I watch "et".
I've seen it about
a hundred times,
and every single
time I choke up.
"Et" is the thing in
which you cry for,
and it's not even human.
I'm improving.
It's your turn to improve.
You always send digs and stuff.
I don't intentionally dig.
I think sometimes I can say
things without fully thinking
about the consequences.
And piss me off.
Yes.
But also, you get really,
really wound up and peeved
exceptionally quickly.
Generally...
I'll agree with you there.
Over the most
innately dull things.
That's something you
need to heavily deal with.
Yeah.
So we've both still got
a lot more work to do.
To
get into Azerbaijan,
the teams must all travel
through Georgia, as Armenia
remains a closed border.
Sue and Clare are
on the direct bus
to Tbilisi, making
rapid progress.
Picking up the same
route as the new race
leaders, Tony and
Elaine, who have made
it to the Georgian capital.
Natalie and shameema
are making good progress
as they pass through trabzon.
And just arriving into kars
on the eastern express
are darron and Alex,
and Josh and Felix.
After their marathon train ride,
darron and Alex ought to look
for a bed for the night.
But Josh and Felix
have other plans.
Let's go.
Taxi.
How much to Tbilisi in Georgia?
- Today or tomorrow?
- Now.
Today. Now.
Are they
seriously thinking
of getting a taxi to Tbilisi?
We can't go to the
border without having a lift
arranged from the other side.
So could you...
Can you phone Georgia?
Phone a Georgian cab?
No.
No?
Georgian taxi wait at borders.
- They wait at the border?
- Yeah.
Sorry, looking for hotel.
Straight down?
Thank you.
Oops.
Plans
thwarted, Josh and Felix
discover they must also
stay in kars overnight.
I'm spitting fucking balls, man.
Hey!
Due to poor
road conditions and the time
of night, it's too dangerous
to get through the border,
and it's not possible
for any teams to cross.
Bet it will be a dry town.
We have... oh, that is so nice.
Alex, you'll be happy.
We've got a TV.
Ooh, that's a bit weird.
We've got a normal toilet.
It's morning in
the east Turkish town of kars.
Darron and Alex have a few
hours until the connecting bus
into Georgia.
Keeping with the
cutthroat nature of this leg,
they're off to sample a
traditional Turkish barber's.
I'm getting
my ears waxed.
I don't know what it entails,
but I hope it's not painful.
God darn it, that hurt!
Wow.
Yesterday's
not-so express train
journey has left Josh and
Felix anxious and eager
to get out of kars.
We know at least one team
is on the same schedule
as us, darron and Alex.
Let's see if there's a way
we can get a jump on them.
The coach is the quickest way.
And I think if any other teams
have caught on to that fact,
then they'll be overtaking us.
One team
who have indeed overtaken
is Natalie and shameema.
Their strategy of
back-to-back buses
is paying off, as they're
fast approaching Tbilisi.
We focus on speed.
Yeah.
We've got a good
chance, but it's...
It's still everybody's race.
It's just one missed
train connection,
one missed bus connection,
and everything could change.
Tbilisi, derived
from the Georgian for "warm."
It is the country's capital
city with a population
of 1.5 million.
Elaine and Tony
arrived late last night
and have decided to cool
off from the heat of the race.
Travel plans mean we can
spend the afternoon here.
I feel really lucky because I've
always wanted to come here.
And now we have.
And we're looking
around, and it's amazing.
The view of the top
is just quite incredible.
Fancy a shower?
Would you love to
stand underneath that?
Yeah.
I think the excitement of
going somewhere totally new
is just so, so refreshing.
Oh, wow.
It's nice.
Tony's
Yorkshire charm
has proved a hit
with the locals,
particularly the
hotel owner, Tanya.
Tomorrow, we get eliminated.
One of you?
Yeah, on the race, we get...
We don't think
we'll get through.
Then on the way home,
we've come back to Georgia,
and we have our holiday.
Yeah.
As the
day draws to a close,
sue an Clare have
also made it to Tbilisi.
We knew it was going to be hard,
but when you're
actually in the middle of it,
I think it's harder
than we thought.
The relentless moving on
and moving on and moving on,
and the toll it takes on you,
and not being able to sleep
properly and eat properly.
I think once we're past
this leg and we're safely in
and we're not eliminated,
things will change.
I think the pressure
has been enormous.
You can't keep going
without stopping.
And we've had to
stop here for our sanity.
And I think maybe some
of the other teams don't.
Maybe they just
keep flying through.
As sue and Clare
recoup in the Georgian capital,
Elaine and Tony are
heading out, this time
taking a taxi to the border.
Bye-bye.
Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan.
I reckon it'll be one,
two, three buses.
Six hours.
I think we've worked
really hard on this leg
because we thought
carefully about the route.
We thought carefully about
maximizing all long journeys.
Hello.
We come?
Baku?
Start in last place only
to kick up the pants of...
You've got to get
on with it and...
Get going.
You don't want
to be going home first.
Tony
and Elaine's persistence
has paid off, as
they are the first team
to cross into Azerbaijan.
We spotted a
bus immediately to Baku.
I like operating like that.
You can't really
presume that you've
got through to the next stage
because sue and Clare could
have just thought,
well, let's go all out
and hire a private taxi.
They could be there.
You just do not know.
Back
in Tbilisi, sue and Clare
head for breakfast.
Hello.
In what
appears to be the city's most
popular hot spot for tourists.
We'd like some tea, please.
- English?
- Yes!
English.
- Azerbaijan?
- Yes.
Yes. You know?
I've seen couple.
Tony, Helen.
Tony and Helen?
Elaine.
They go to Azerbaijan.
They get there.
- When?
They went today?
Seven.
5 o'clock today.
Ok.
Take a picture?
Wonderful.
Oh!
Excellent.
Tony.
Azerbaijan.
Yeah.
Ok.
They're the team that we
were neck and neck with,
and they're ahead of us.
We've got to get cracking.
Ok, we need to go.
All right, let's get sorted.
Bye!
We don't know
about the other three teams.
We're going to get there
hopefully into third place,
maybe even second.
Sue and Clare
make moves to get out of Georgia,
just as the two teams that
started this leg at the front
of the pack are arriving.
Baku, 6:30?
Were?
There, that bus.
Is it leaving at 6:30?
Yeah?
Excellent.
But to get
ahead, rivals Josh and Felix
are opting for the
quicker, more expensive
route all the way to Baku.
How much to go to Baku?
40.
Yes? Should we do that?
Yeah, let's do that.
50 miles ahead,
Natalie and shameema's tactic
of nonstop travel
from Istanbul means
they are the
second team to cross
the border into Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan!
Azerbaijan!
Everybody wants
to get to Azerbaijan.
But a farther 320
miles ahead, Tony and Elaine.
The last team to leave
the delphi checkpoint
are the first team
to arrive in Baku.
The capital and largest
city in Azerbaijan.
Sitting 28 meters
below sea level,
it's the lowest-lying
capital in the world.
The lowest-lying team
at the start of this leg
were Tony and Elaine.
Having made it to
Baku, they receive details
of the checkpoint location
on the only piece of technology
permitted in the race...
Their GPS tracker.
Please proceed to heydar.
Heydar aliyev center.
Right, ok.
Can't wait to get to that hotel.
I'll be straight in that
pool if there is one.
There will be one.
I'll tell you what.
A taxi would have
been expensive.
We've got this train that's
going a million miles an hour,
and there's seven stops.
Do you know
heydar aliyev center?
Come on.
Oh!
That's it.
Oh, we're really here.
What do you think it is?
- I don't know.
No idea.
That is something else.
Come on.
Come on, then.
Let's read this message.
It should be here now.
Yeah, let's have a look.
Let's have a look.
Look directly in
front of you and you
will see your next checkpoint,
the flame towers hotel.
Which is in front?
That way?
Or that... could it be this?
Yeah, this is it.
This is it. Come on.
Come on. Come on.
Entrance, flame tower hotel.
Reception?
Shit.
There's definitely more.
Welcome
Thank you.
Can I ask you to sign here.
And you're first.
Oh, my lord.
I'm just so, so relieved
that we're still in this race.
And I just want now to maintain
that pace and that energy
all the way through now.
They will be absolutely
floored when they come in.
I think they'll be quite
shocked that we came in first.
Quite shocked.
- Yeah.
Where are they? Come on.
Where are they?
The
remaining teams are closing in
on the second checkpoint,
all too aware the last ones
to arrive will be eliminated.
Never give up.
Excuse me.
Three towers?
Three flames?
Ok.
My heart's staying
at 400 to the dozen.
If Alex and darron
have beaten us here,
leaving at the same
time, then credit
to them because I
don't think we could
have done that any quicker.
I've seen some amazing things.
I've done some amazing things.
But I'm not ready to finish yet.
I want to carry on.
I don't want to finish in Baku.
I'm not ready to
go home tomorrow.
The flame towers.
Fantastic, man.
That's it! That's it!
Let's go.
Flame towers.
That way.
Go that way.
Hello.
Wow!
Sign us in, baby!
Wow.
How did they get here first?
That's amazing.
How the hell have
they done that?
I think we're just so
shocked that Tony
and Elaine have come in
first because they left last.
Yeah.
I don't know how
they've done it,
but it's actually amazing
that they've done that.
Anyway, forget that.
We've beat both people
that were ahead of us.
And we improved our position.
Oh my god.
It shows that we're improving
on our strategy and logic
in the journey as well
as continuing to have fun.
It feels amazing.
Just we're still in it.
We're here for
another week at least.
- Nice to meet you, sir.
- Nice to meet you.
Hi.
- How are you?
We just hope we're not
the last ones to check in.
Thank god.
- Ok, great.
- Sign us in.
Sign us in.
I don't think it's
quite sunk in yet,
the kind of like anticipation
of the journey, all
of the kind of
recalculations and everything
that happens along the route.
And then to get here
and not be going home
feels absolutely fantastic.
But definitely... yeah, a
bit of recalculating today.
The race
continues for the final two teams.
But whoever checks in
last will be going home.
I don't feel like we
are fighting for last place.
I feel like we might be second,
maybe third, maybe even first.
But I don't think, oh my
god, we're going to be last.
As far as we're
concerned, the race is still on.
We both have reasons for
getting to the end of this race.
I want to get to Singapore.
I want to see where my
dad was based when he
was in the raf in 1946 to 1948.
It's really important to me.
It means a lot to me.
So that's my motivation
for just not giving up.
We're not giving up yet.
I think we're nearly there.
Downhill is better than up.
Welcome to Baku.
Thank you.
You would like the check in?
Yes, please.
Oh.
Oh my god.
That's what we thought.
Yeah, I know.
That's what we thought.
Oh, crikey.
We are fourth.
We were so close to being last.
Wow.
Well, we did everything
we could, sue.
We're last.
We said from
the start of this leg
that we needed to get to
this checkpoint in a good time.
Good advantage.
And if I'm honest, I feel
like we let ourselves down.
Skin of our teeth.
We're a bit worried now
for the next checkpoint.
But at least, on
the positive side
is we're not going
home tomorrow.
That is what I'm happy about.
The journey continues.
This has been brilliant.
It has.
And we never
would have had that time.
No.
Never would
have heard that time.
We're always snatching the
odd day here, the odd day there.
And never having a chance
to actually be together.
No.
And get back to where we
were all those years ago.
So for me, I think
that's probably more
important than the whole thing.
Yeah, that we've been together.
Yeah.
Tony
and Elaine have
tipped the race entirely on
its head, and it's all to play for.
But with over 8,000 miles
still to travel, how much will
dwindling budgets play a
part, as "race across the world"
continues.
Next time.
Stepping into the unknown.
The teams
head across the caspian sea.
The storm is coming.
To the wilds of
Central Asia, where the teams
are pushed to their limits.
I'm waiting for the
tough part of the journey.
This may well be it.
As they
reach the halfway point.
Come on.
In the
race across the world.
the other side of the world
has never been easier.
But by flying over,
are we forgetting
how to travel through?
Singapore, the furthest point
from the UK 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 moly, that's
going to 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.
At
ground level, they'll
cover over 12,000 miles.
Oh man. Look at that.
It'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 going to 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 my breaking point.
The reward is great.
It's about recapturing
a little bit of me there.
As the
first team to Singapore
will claim the prize of
20,000 pounds in a race
across the world.
Shift your buns.
Come on.
50 days... blood, sweat, tears.
Previously,
the teams set off on their epic
journey to Singapore.
Oh, for god's sake.
Best mates Josh
and Felix worked hard and raced
fast to make it to delphi in
Greece, the first checkpoint,
in first place, claiming
a 3 and 1/2 hour
lead over their closest rivals,
father and son darron and Alex.
Thought we'd give you
a chance in the first leg.
A
tragedy at home...
My mom's in hospital.
She's taken a slight
turn for the worse.
Meant
an early exit for husband
and wife jinda and bindu.
We're going to head back, ok?
Taking
up the Baton, Yorkshire
couple Tony and Elaine.
I can't believe it.
We're here, and we're doing it.
Lifelong
friends Natalie and shameema...
We're in Starbucks
brushing our teeth.
Relied on
the kindness of strangers...
Could I hug you?
To
take third place, leaving
the two remaining teams...
Best friends sue and
Clare, and husband
and wife Tony and Elaine...
We're trying to get to delphi.
- All at sea.
- No?
No?
On the slope
of mount parnassus, delphi.
In ancient times, considered
to be the center of the world.
At each checkpoint,
the teams have
a 36-hour break before
heading to the next destination.
So the earlier they get there,
the sooner they can leave.
Three teams reached
the checkpoint yesterday.
But two have yet to arrive.
Sue and Clare.
Here, look.
Hotel Amalia.
Ok.
Hotel Amalia?
And
Tony and Elaine.
Thank you. Thank you.
Good.
Come on,
Amalia hotel.
Not far now, huh?
It's there.
- It's there?
- It's there.
Crikey.
Hello.
Welcome to Amalia hotel.
Kalispera.
Three other teams
are in before us.
Sue and Clare
take fourth spot, almost 24
hours behind the race leaders.
Can we just do this?
Fantastic.
We got here.
A little bit disappointed,
but not far behind.
Not far behind.
Just
five minutes behind.
Here we go.
Come on, last little bit.
Tony and
Elaine arrive in last position.
Come on.
This
is the first time they'll
meet the other competitors.
Where are the newbies?
Having
replaced jinda and bindu.
Hi there.
Good to meet you.
We took their place.
We're the reserves.
I'm sure we all send
our well wishes to them.
Yeah, but also, lovely
to meet you, as well.
Yeah, it's super.
It really is a great,
great experience.
It's been great
meeting everybody else.
And we had real lovely people.
But it changes things
a little bit, you know.
You see the whites
of people's eyes
and their experiences
they've had.
We're 15 minutes
into a game of football
and we've got extra
time in penalties.
So it'll pick up from now on.
5:35 am.
We'd like to check out, please.
The next checkpoint is Baku.
Ok.
Baku, the
capital of Azerbaijan, a city of fire.
With its historic atashgah
temple and ultra-modern
flame towers
celebrating the nation's
vast oil and gas reserves.
I think we had our suspicions
that it was going to be
somewhere on the caspian sea.
Azerbaijan's meant
to be beautiful.
The
second checkpoint
is 1,447 miles east of delphi.
And there will be a need
for speed on this leg.
The team that reaches there
in fifth place will be eliminated.
Ok.
Whether we get to
Singapore first or fourth,
I really don't mind.
But if we have to go
home at Baku, that'll suck.
Racing
across the world
is all about traveling
smart, displaying
speed and adaptability.
The threat of elimination
means every decision counts.
The first, how to
get out of Greece.
They could head
south to the capital,
Athens, and its port, piraeus,
gateway to the aegean
and the med.
Or head north
through thessaloniki
using road and rail,
crossing the land
bridge between Europe and Asia.
To the bus stop.
Yeah, let's go.
We're going to get
into Athens on the bus,
and then we want to get
the ferry over to cesme.
I think the added
sense of jeopardy
that the elimination
brings, there's
definitely an added urgency.
No one wants to be last.
No one wants to go home.
We've all put too
much into this.
We were planning on a
nice layover in Istanbul,
taking our foot off the
gas, taking the scenic route,
maybe visiting some sites.
No, now it's a real kick
of the bum to get there.
What a lovely little town.
Without
smartphones, Josh and Felix
are unaware that the first bus
to Athens isn't until 10:00 am.
Great.
Time for plan b.
There's a good
chance that we could
do well in this competition.
Over a journey of
such epic proportions,
there's probably a thousand
things that could go wrong.
Felix and i's ability
to rely on each other
is one of the strengths
that we'll have,
our openness to talk to people
and our ability to take risks.
Hopefully that will stand
us in really good stead.
No one's going there.
No.
After two
hours, some divine intervention
from a tour guide and
oracle named Nicholas.
If you want, she will allow
Nick to zip you to Athens right
after breakfast.
Would you be up for that, Nick?
He loves adventure.
As long as I get a nice
breakfast beforehand.
Absolutely, man.
This is exactly how
the universe works.
They're having breakfast in a
hotel with these lovely people,
who have invited
us to join them.
This is Nick, and
he's very kindly
agreed to take us to Athens.
Your health.
Cheers.
9:25
am, the next team
to leave the checkpoint,
darron and Alex.
Your next checkpoint is Baku.
Oh, cranking up the
pressure with an elimination.
Yeah, definitely.
Well, on the plus side, at
least we know where this is.
Exactly.
Try there.
Since the age of 15,
I've lived with my mom.
He's still my dad at
the end of the day.
I just don't know him
as well as I should.
So this trip, we should
get to know each other a lot
better than what we do now.
First thing, definitely Athens.
Yeah.
I think that opens up
more possibilities for us.
I don't know Alex as a man.
I know him as a child.
It's going to be
difficult to get balance
because I need Alex
to make mistakes
so he can grow as a person.
That balance of him growing,
him becoming a more rounded
individual and still
winning, it's going
to be a tough balance at times.
We just need to take as much
advantage lead as we can,
closing the gap and hopefully
catching up to Josh and Felix.
I wonder what Josh
and Felix have done.
I can't
help falling in love with you.
Take my hand.
Take my whole...
While
Josh and Felix hold hands,
they lose their grip
on the race lead,
as darron and Alex catch
the first bus to Athens.
Eventually, Josh
and Felix hit the road.
What's your
background, then?
I am a
professional psychic.
- No way.
- Actually, yeah.
We were saying on our
way here that the gods were
looking down on us and smiling.
When we arrived,
it was at sunset,
and the piercing sun
was through the clouds.
It couldn't have looked more...
It was mythic.
It was mythic, yes.
This is Apollo is greeting you.
Yeah, exactly.
Athens,
birthplace of democracy
and western philosophy,
with over 3,000 years of history.
The city's patron deity,
Athena, was goddess of courage,
strength, strategy, and wisdom.
And a newfound
wisdom is about to be
bestowed on Josh and Felix.
This will help you both
if you put it right here.
Let me see.
Right here on the third eye.
This will help you to open
up your psychic awareness,
relax the mind, and tune in so
you know which way to go, which
decision to make, which path.
Group hug.
The path each
team chooses is their own,
but they must pass through
five checkpoints on the way
to Singapore.
Each team began
the race with the cash
equivalent of two
economy airfares
to Singapore in pounds sterling.
This must cover
all expenditures.
Hello.
Hi, we want to go
to cesme in Turkey.
What time does it leave?
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Well, we got to
Athens in record time,
and then the ferry
isn't until 9:00 pm.
So we're going to hang out.
Hello.
No, we're all right, actually.
We don't have any phones.
We're going to e7
to get some money.
It's a little bit of a
shame that there
isn't a ferry till the evening.
But we have the power of
hermes and Apollo on our side.
200 Turkish lira.
No, 200
pounds in Turkish.
Yeah.
7:00
pm, 11 and 1/2 hours
behind Josh and Felix, Natalie
and shameema leave delphi.
It's 7:10.
What?
A train is coming.
Heading north, they're
aiming to catch the
last train to thessaloniki
then push on
through to Istanbul.
Hi, you speak English?
Oh, no.
I have known shameema
since I was nine years old.
There's absolutely
nobody else in this world
that I can imagine
doing this trip with.
I think shameema would describe
me as somebody who just goes
and does something
and then thinks about it,
and she's more considered.
But I think we
balance each other out.
And I think that's from
decades of friendship.
We have English money.
No.
If you exchange this
money, you get more euro.
But
they're short of Euros.
And the last train north
is due in 15 minutes.
I think we should
just get a train to pay
for it to go to.
I was willing to give
them 30 pounds.
I know.
Is that you throwing a strop?
The girls take a risk
and board the train with a fare
paid for only half the journey.
This is cozy.
Piraeus,
Athens, the largest
passenger port in Europe.
Darron and Alex have booked
an evening ferry to Turkey
and won't be alone.
Oh, whoa!
Seen who's there?
Oh!
Yeah.
Yay.
Hello.
We knew you were
going to be on our ferry.
You getting the ferry?
Yes.
I just said to Josh, I was like,
they're going to
be on our ferry.
Nice to see you, man.
We're closing it up now, eh?
Yeah.
Looking very smart.
We closed the gap.
Three-hour gap and it's
closed like that ..
The crazy thing is we
have the same strategy
as Josh and Felix,
which is quite scary.
I think it's going to be close
between us all the way up
because they have
the same strategy,
the same mentality, the same...
Like traveling
overnight to save costs.
I'm not going to change it
because it's too like theirs.
No, obviously not.
We're still going
to be the same.
Because we believe it's a
winning way to go about it.
an inspector calls.
Hello.
Your ticket, please.
Yes?
We can buy a ticket?
If you've money.
We have pounds, English pounds.
No pounds.
It's a problem for me.
It's a problem for me, as well.
So we need to go to thesso...
What?
Thessaloniki?
Do you have money?
No euro.
About... no euro?
No euro. Pound.
Oh, that's a problem.
You stop traveling now.
We get off next stop?
Yes.
To date, Natalie
and shameema have relied
on the kindness of strangers.
And they are in
dire need of it now.
Hi, can you speak English?
What is your name?
Constantina.
I'm Natalie.
Shameema.
The train inspector's coming.
He's trying to Chuck
us off the train.
Do you have any Euros that,
when we get to thessaloniki,
we will give you Euros?
Can you come to
the ticket inspector
and explain to him, maybe?
How much do you have?
I think that will be enough.
Yeah, that'll be ok.
And then when we
get off the thingy,
we'll get the money back.
One from you, one
from you, the same price.
Yes.
We got tickets to thessaloniki.
This has been an interesting
evening for you, yes?
Yeah, actually
Not your normal evening.
Uh, no.
Natalie and
shameema's risky train strategy
has paid dividends,
catapulting them
right back into
contention, as they've
made it to thessaloniki.
A seven-hour wait for the
ferry connection from piraeus
has dragged back
the leading two teams.
But they've now set
sail across the aegean,
heading for cesme in Turkey.
The remaining teams
are about to leave delphi.
Kalimera.
The first
are best friends of over 40
years, sue and Clare.
The team that reaches there
in fifth place will be eliminated.
Oh, god.
Three teams have already gone.
I know.
We're going to have
to get a move on.
And they're five
minutes behind us.
I know. I know.
Thank you.
It would be so wonderful to get
to Singapore because of my dad.
He was based there when he
was in the raf from 1946 to 1948.
We're here.
Wow.
That's a way.
I'm just thinking maybe stick
to land and get the miles in.
I'm wondering
if there's a train.
I don't want to go home
when we get to Azerbaijan.
We can't afford to make any
mistakes this time, can we?
Nope.
The sword of doom
hanging over our heads
now with the elimination.
We're in fourth place, but
we're only five minutes ahead
of the other team.
Last
to arrive, and therefore
last to leave, Tony
and Elaine, retired
teachers from Yorkshire.
We've got to keep our stride up
because we've just
got six or seven minutes.
Well, as long as
you get there in time.
Just don't go tripping up.
Why would I do that?
I think most people think of
retirement as the last phase
of your life, the bit where
you watch telly all day
and wait to die.
But for us, we really do
want to travel, see parts
of the world we
haven't seen before
and just not be
somebody else's mother,
somebody else's grandma.
We just want to be ourselves.
There they are.
We thought you
weren't coming, then.
I'm quite anxious and also
quite keen to lose the ladies
because it's a bit disconcerting
when you're in a race to have
them traveling alongside you.
This bit is like chicken
because they're...
I don't want to...
Well, it's not, though.
We can talk without
discussing where we're going,
just have a conversation.
In a minute.
We're going different
ways, anyway.
We've got loads of...
How do we know they're
not doing the same thing?
Don't know.
Well, if we get off
together, then it'll be a laugh,
won't it?
If we don't, we'll say goodbye.
That's it.
And we'll see them
at the next destination.
Ok?
Two teams
have docked in the port of cesme
at the western tip of
Turkey, frontier to Asia
and home of the Turkish lira.
See you at the next checkpoint.
Excuse me.
Bus station?
300 meters.
300 meters on the left.
Are you tickets?
Izmir-Ankara.
Two tickets, please?
Ok.
You've got Turkish?
Yeah, it's fine.
They've got it.
We want to get to Ankara.
Do you accept Euros?
We've got no
Turkish money on us.
Where can we change currency?
Where around here
can we change currency?
Cesme central.
Where's that, please?
Minibus departing from here.
Oh, we've got to get...
We need to change some
money so we can get a bus.
Yeah.
We don't have any Turkish
money, and the boys do.
So I'm a bit pissed
off, to be honest.
I don't want them
to get the lead now,
but I think they are going to.
Got our bags?
In the back, maybe.
The fact is that we have to
take an hour out of our time
and then come back.
And they'll be
already on their way.
Stupid.
And then we're going to
have to wait 40 minutes.
What's the point?
Sad to see the guys...
Getting stressed.
Getting into a
difficult situation.
No, because I was
telling you in Greece
we should have changed money.
I was telling you.
Well, why didn't you?
Because obviously,
it's a mutual decision.
I can't just go
spend money, can I?
Piss off, man.
I'm just sick of this.
Every time there's a slight
hiccup, he goes into a mood
like, oh, it's the
end of the world.
British pounds to Turkey.
We can't get beaten down at
the slightest bump in the road.
It's just... you
just can't do that.
On the
other side of the aegean sea,
sue and Clare,
and Tony and Elaine
have both chosen to head
north using road and rail,
entering Turkey
via the land bridge.
With elimination
on everyone's mind,
Tony and Elaine are desperate
to lose their nearest rivals
and set about quizzing locals
to gain any kind of advantage.
I'm trying to get to Istanbul.
Any idea of how we could
find the times of trains?
Oh, thank you.
Thank you.
6001, you will arrive at 22:36.
22:36?
Yes.
Wow.
That is a long time.
We presumed the onward
journey would be by train.
But when the guy
looked it up on his phone,
the bus took half the time.
Three and 1/2 hours.
So the bus is
quicker than the train?
What time do we get in?
12:45.
Maybe 1 o'clock.
1 o'clock.
5 o'clock.
Do you think we could
catch this 1 o'clock bus?
We don't have enough time?
It's very tight, very close.
The obvious route in
this scenario was longer.
I'm so pleased we
had that conversation
because that might
make a difference
of getting to Istanbul tonight.
We're in a race.
Across the world.
We have to go
really, really quick.
Yeah, really quick.
With sue
and Clare in the dark,
Tony and Elaine
plot their escape.
Ready to go.
What?
I just hope it works out.
Been married 40 years.
Basically, I do
what Tony tells me.
I only wish that was the
bloody case, I tell you what.
Bus goes in 24 minutes.
We're both quite
stubborn, we've determined.
When the going gets tough...
Yeah.
Me and Tony get going.
They only
have 10 minutes until the 1:00
pm express bus departs.
And the terminus is
over 3 kilometers away.
So we can go straight
to the bus station?
Yeah.
Another taxi.
Yeah, they're in.
They're following us.
Good god.
I swear to god, the women!
They're behind us in a taxi.
I am desperate to
shake them off now.
Desperate.
They were in a very big rush,
so I'm wondering whether they
know something more than we do.
I don't know.
Well done. Good, good.
Thank you, thank you.
Fast, fast, fast.
Fantastic.
Yes.
But if we hadn't
done the similar...
Well, almost the same thing,
then we would have been behind.
We wouldn't have
been able to do this.
Let's hope that taxi driver
behind us lost us about now.
I can't see because my
neck won't turn that far round.
This one here?
Oh, there's
people waiting still.
Excellent.
Ticket before?
Do you need to get a ticket?
Cheers, thank you.
Us, where do we go?
Alexandroupoli?
1 o'clock?
Where is it?
Platform 18?
Ok.
Alexandroupoli?
This one.
Excuse me?
Are you this bus?
Where you going?
Alexandroupoli.
Ok.
This one.
Jesus.
Bless me.
We made it.
Oh, god.
Excellent.
Woman possessed in bus station.
Unaware they've just
missed the 1:00 pm express
bus, sue and Clare opt for a coach
to Istanbul.
At what time is the next bus?
There's not one before?
No, there's
only one, 10:00 in the morning
or 10:00 in the evening.
But it doesn't
depart for another nine hours.
At least we're in
a place that we
can buy a little bit of
food, sit and relax, maybe
have a cup of tea, coffee.
I can't see the other team,
and that's what's on my mind,
I have to say because
they're not saying.
Sue, we're here...
I'm just talking.
That's what concerns
me is that they're not here.
Yeah, so they get there, right?
Listen.
Listen, calm.
They get there, get an
overnight accommodation
and we'll still be
there at the same time.
So don't worry. It's fine.
Ok.
Won't we?
Well, no because we're sitting
around here for nine hours
till 10 o'clock.
- So?
So what?
What a game.
What a rush.
That is a proper race.
But we'll do anything to
get through to the next stage,
if possible.
I'm going to
start playing dirty.
And you are, too.
What do you mean?
You can't do that.
Why not?
I've never played
dirty all my life.
It's the taking
part that counts.
It's not the winning.
That's what you
said to me all my life.
Why change it now?
Yeah, because I'm older
and wiser now, Tony.
It's about the winning.
Trust me.
370 miles ahead
are Natalie and shameema.
Istanbul, the only city in the
world spanning two continents.
Where Europe meets
Asia, east meets west.
And over 12 million tourists
meet the locals each year.
So we need to go to
kapali carsi ..
We're having to spend
money to move as
quick as we can through Turkey.
So we really need to be able to
work to make that money back.
The
farther the teams
head east, the chance of
earning good money diminishes.
Natalie and shameema
have already spent
over 30% of their total budget.
So they take decisive action.
We are trying to get
a job in the bazaar.
And we have two telephone
numbers that we can call,
but we don't have a phone.
Would it be
possible if you could
call the number for us, please?
All teams have
been provided with a travel guide
for each leg, complete
with classified job adverts.
Yeah, he's waiting for you.
Yeah!
Yay!
They've secured work
in a cafe in one of the
world's most popular tourist
destinations, the grand
bazaar, which attracts
up to 400,000 people a day.
This is it.
I'm shameema.
Hi, I'm Natalie.
What would
you like us to do today?
- Working.
- Working.
Yes.
Hello, guys.
Want to come for
a team or coffee?
Oh!
- No problem.
No problem.
Yes, they have English tea here.
Do you want a drink?
I don't want to do this anymore.
I know we need money.
I'm washing the cups.
Don't slam the cutlery.
God's sake.
Ankara,
the capital of Turkey
and its second largest city.
Home to over 5 million people.
Still 1,200 miles from
the Baku checkpoint,
Josh and Felix have
just arrived and are
looking for a direct bus
east to Tbilisi, in Georgia.
Maybe we should get the train.
I just don't want to spend 23
hours in a coach at the moment.
I'd rather spend
24 hours on a train.
Let's just go.
Like, literally.
Unable to face
another marathon coach journey,
and confident in their
position in the race,
the boys opt to take
the eastern express
railway, a slower, but more
scenic, route across Turkey.
Also awaiting the same
evening train are darron and Alex.
We're heading
to an art gallery.
Which is supposed to have
amazing views over Ankara.
We'll get to work
with some locals,
do something we've
never done before.
It's going to be
good fun, isn't it?
Yeah, of course.
I'm looking forward to it.
There's
a really, really fine
balance between racing and
having a really tight budget.
It's no good
avoiding elimination
if you don't got no
money to carry on.
Please.
Oh yes, we'll come up.
Please.
Father and son will be
working for a renowned
local art dealer, Mr. Terzioglu.
Come, come, come.
Come in.
Chop, chop.
Come, Alex.
I'm coming.
Come in. Come on.
Come in.
Tough boss, shouting and
ordering Alex about already.
I like it.
I'm just surprised
Alex is listening.
I don't really know
my plans in life.
I've been applying
for jobs a lot,
and you go on hundreds
of job interviews,
but you just don't get anywhere.
Come, Alex.
Bloody hell, why me?
This trip is about proving to
myself that I can do something,
like I can probably get
out of my comfort zone.
Alex!
Alex, come on.
Come on.
Not england.
This is Turkish.
Ok.
Two tea, please.
Two tea?
Two tea.
Yes, please.
Can I have a drink?
No drink.
I think Alex has
got in a bit of a rut.
He always takes the easy option.
One other challenge will be
for me to step back and go,
no Alex, you need to do this.
And I'm going to try to let
Alex do as much as he can
because he will benefit.
Pissing me off, man.
This is a joke.
I asked for a drink, and
I can't even get a drink.
Alex is basically
having a bit of a culture
shock at the moment.
Alex!
, Alex.
Fuck off.
Patience, remember.
Patience.
I'm going to walk off soon.
Just can't cope with him.
Respect.
Give respect?
I just want a drink.
That's all I want.
Finish, finish, finish,
finish, finish, please.
Please.
You're mad.
Yes, yes.
and Tony and Elaine have
arrived in Istanbul, having spent
the last 18 hours on a bus.
After bringing up the
rear in the first leg,
the retired teachers know
that, should history repeat itself,
they would be eliminated.
Depends how long and how...
Georgia, 24 to 25 hours.
Determined
not to let this happen,
they're planning to get
straight back on another bus,
traveling a mammoth 1,100
miles across the whole of Turkey
and into neighboring Georgia,
a journey of over 24 hours.
Even the express
train that is full...
That we know is full...
Takes longer than 24 hours.
So clearly this is the quickest
we are going to get there.
We need to know the price.
How much?
Price is 40 euro.
Let's just get the
ticket. Get the money.
Get the ticket.
Done.
We'll be in Georgia tomorrow.
That journey is 24 hours.
For me, that...
I'm going to get upset now.
That journey could be a week,
but if that's the fastest way
to do it, we're going to do it.
As Tony and
Elaine await their connection,
Natalie and shameema are
cashing out after their long shift
at the cafe.
This money is for you.
Oh, thank you!
Thank you.
That's very nice of you.
Thank you very much.
Great.
50 Turkish lira, 6 pounds 42
is what we've earned today.
I think we've really
felt the difference
in the value of money in
Turkey in comparison to Europe.
It was a whole six hours.
We've earned 6 pounds each.
That's like a pound an hour.
I think going across Turkey
probably will be quite cheap.
I hope so.
Meanwhile,
in Ankara, Josh and Felix,
and darron and
Alex are still neck
and neck as they board the
eastern express bound for kars.
The eastern express
takes a long and winding
route across Turkey.
And though it has an estimated
journey time of 24 hours,
it rarely runs on schedule.
Do these pull down?
Got a bed.
Now in
the lead despite being
last to leave delphi,
Tony and Elaine,
who are on the
direct bus to Tbilisi.
Yeah, 25 hour, 26
hour coach journey.
It's a state of mind.
It'll be fine.
It'll be good.
We've got the cards.
Natalie and
shameema are still in Istanbul,
and sue and Clare
have also just arrived.
This place is amazing.
Wow.
Absolutely amazing.
Caviar.
But their nine-hour
wait back in the thessaloniki
bus station has taken its toll.
I think it's more than
36 hours now since I've
really had any sleep.
And I'm feeling it.
I'm not making sense.
I'm functioning
at a very low level.
We've got to be off
by 9 o'clock tomorrow
morning to get the bus.
It's going to take us
to Tbilisi in Georgia.
Which is a 24-hour bus ride.
Which I'm not really
looking forward to,
but we've got to do it.
We've got to power on through.
Having stopped
racing in order to earn money,
shameema is still keen to
make the most of the remaining
time in Istanbul.
I would really still like to go
and have a bit of chill time.
So let's go to the
blue mosque, then.
I really want to go
to the blue mosque.
And then?
Then we can do
whatever you want to do.
If you want to really
go to the blue mosque,
let's make that a priority.
- Right.
Ok.
And then we can sort
everything out after.
Because now it's getting
late to go to the blue mosque.
Don't put that on me.
I'm not putting it
on you, Natalie.
We're trying to make...
- Ok.
So let's go to the blue mosque.
The sultan
Ahmed mosque, one of Istanbul's
most famous landmarks.
Built in the 1600s,
its walls are adorned
with hand-painted tiles,
which, at night, bathe
the mosque in a soft blue
light, giving it its more widely
known name, the blue mosque.
It's a shame we didn't
get here before it closed.
Life's definitely
changed at the moment.
I've been married for 19 years.
And we've decided as a family
that it's come to a point where
me and imran are separating.
It's still quite taboo
in the community
that I'm from, the south
Asian communities.
And although imran and I have
been separated for a while now,
it's not something that I've
been able to openly talk about.
And so it's almost like
I've almost been living a lie.
And it feels really
peaceful around here.
It would have been awesome
if we were able to go in.
Everyone's got their own ideas
about what faith means to them.
For me, it's just kind of
calming, gives me direction.
Having this time
to myself and just
being away from
responsibility will
allow me to think about
what it is that I actually want.
My children, they'd love it.
I'm going to do
a trip with them.
Come here.
It'd be amazing.
Maybe that's why
I didn't get to go in.
I get to go in with my children.
I love
traveling by train.
On an airplane,.
Five, 10 seconds where I
know this area, and it'd be gone.
I think because everyone's
in such a rush all the time,
they sort of like
forget to stop.
And then, when you
do and you look out,
you think, wow, this is amazing.
Initially
running in 1936,
the eastern express has
been expanded over the years
to stop at 11 provincial cities
between Ankara and kars.
It covers a total
of 1,208 miles,
almost double the distance
of the equivalent road journey.
Not so much
express, either, really.
Very slow.
It's very slow.
I'd call it the
eastern trundle if I
was going to call it something.
The eastern local train.
Yeah.
When we get off at kars
and try and make our transfer
as quickly as
possible to Tbilisi,
the feeling of
imperative will return
because the decisions
we make will affect
how quickly we get there.
Whereas for now,
it's a good time
to just sit back,
watch it slide by,
and try and recharge
slightly because we
can't make it go any faster.
I think, within the
context of the race,
the most pertinent thing
is the fact that darron
and Alex are next door.
I'm not saying I don't ever cry.
I don't think I've
ever seen you cry.
It's not something
I do very often.
I cry every time I watch "et".
I've seen it about
a hundred times,
and every single
time I choke up.
"Et" is the thing in
which you cry for,
and it's not even human.
I'm improving.
It's your turn to improve.
You always send digs and stuff.
I don't intentionally dig.
I think sometimes I can say
things without fully thinking
about the consequences.
And piss me off.
Yes.
But also, you get really,
really wound up and peeved
exceptionally quickly.
Generally...
I'll agree with you there.
Over the most
innately dull things.
That's something you
need to heavily deal with.
Yeah.
So we've both still got
a lot more work to do.
To
get into Azerbaijan,
the teams must all travel
through Georgia, as Armenia
remains a closed border.
Sue and Clare are
on the direct bus
to Tbilisi, making
rapid progress.
Picking up the same
route as the new race
leaders, Tony and
Elaine, who have made
it to the Georgian capital.
Natalie and shameema
are making good progress
as they pass through trabzon.
And just arriving into kars
on the eastern express
are darron and Alex,
and Josh and Felix.
After their marathon train ride,
darron and Alex ought to look
for a bed for the night.
But Josh and Felix
have other plans.
Let's go.
Taxi.
How much to Tbilisi in Georgia?
- Today or tomorrow?
- Now.
Today. Now.
Are they
seriously thinking
of getting a taxi to Tbilisi?
We can't go to the
border without having a lift
arranged from the other side.
So could you...
Can you phone Georgia?
Phone a Georgian cab?
No.
No?
Georgian taxi wait at borders.
- They wait at the border?
- Yeah.
Sorry, looking for hotel.
Straight down?
Thank you.
Oops.
Plans
thwarted, Josh and Felix
discover they must also
stay in kars overnight.
I'm spitting fucking balls, man.
Hey!
Due to poor
road conditions and the time
of night, it's too dangerous
to get through the border,
and it's not possible
for any teams to cross.
Bet it will be a dry town.
We have... oh, that is so nice.
Alex, you'll be happy.
We've got a TV.
Ooh, that's a bit weird.
We've got a normal toilet.
It's morning in
the east Turkish town of kars.
Darron and Alex have a few
hours until the connecting bus
into Georgia.
Keeping with the
cutthroat nature of this leg,
they're off to sample a
traditional Turkish barber's.
I'm getting
my ears waxed.
I don't know what it entails,
but I hope it's not painful.
God darn it, that hurt!
Wow.
Yesterday's
not-so express train
journey has left Josh and
Felix anxious and eager
to get out of kars.
We know at least one team
is on the same schedule
as us, darron and Alex.
Let's see if there's a way
we can get a jump on them.
The coach is the quickest way.
And I think if any other teams
have caught on to that fact,
then they'll be overtaking us.
One team
who have indeed overtaken
is Natalie and shameema.
Their strategy of
back-to-back buses
is paying off, as they're
fast approaching Tbilisi.
We focus on speed.
Yeah.
We've got a good
chance, but it's...
It's still everybody's race.
It's just one missed
train connection,
one missed bus connection,
and everything could change.
Tbilisi, derived
from the Georgian for "warm."
It is the country's capital
city with a population
of 1.5 million.
Elaine and Tony
arrived late last night
and have decided to cool
off from the heat of the race.
Travel plans mean we can
spend the afternoon here.
I feel really lucky because I've
always wanted to come here.
And now we have.
And we're looking
around, and it's amazing.
The view of the top
is just quite incredible.
Fancy a shower?
Would you love to
stand underneath that?
Yeah.
I think the excitement of
going somewhere totally new
is just so, so refreshing.
Oh, wow.
It's nice.
Tony's
Yorkshire charm
has proved a hit
with the locals,
particularly the
hotel owner, Tanya.
Tomorrow, we get eliminated.
One of you?
Yeah, on the race, we get...
We don't think
we'll get through.
Then on the way home,
we've come back to Georgia,
and we have our holiday.
Yeah.
As the
day draws to a close,
sue an Clare have
also made it to Tbilisi.
We knew it was going to be hard,
but when you're
actually in the middle of it,
I think it's harder
than we thought.
The relentless moving on
and moving on and moving on,
and the toll it takes on you,
and not being able to sleep
properly and eat properly.
I think once we're past
this leg and we're safely in
and we're not eliminated,
things will change.
I think the pressure
has been enormous.
You can't keep going
without stopping.
And we've had to
stop here for our sanity.
And I think maybe some
of the other teams don't.
Maybe they just
keep flying through.
As sue and Clare
recoup in the Georgian capital,
Elaine and Tony are
heading out, this time
taking a taxi to the border.
Bye-bye.
Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan.
I reckon it'll be one,
two, three buses.
Six hours.
I think we've worked
really hard on this leg
because we thought
carefully about the route.
We thought carefully about
maximizing all long journeys.
Hello.
We come?
Baku?
Start in last place only
to kick up the pants of...
You've got to get
on with it and...
Get going.
You don't want
to be going home first.
Tony
and Elaine's persistence
has paid off, as
they are the first team
to cross into Azerbaijan.
We spotted a
bus immediately to Baku.
I like operating like that.
You can't really
presume that you've
got through to the next stage
because sue and Clare could
have just thought,
well, let's go all out
and hire a private taxi.
They could be there.
You just do not know.
Back
in Tbilisi, sue and Clare
head for breakfast.
Hello.
In what
appears to be the city's most
popular hot spot for tourists.
We'd like some tea, please.
- English?
- Yes!
English.
- Azerbaijan?
- Yes.
Yes. You know?
I've seen couple.
Tony, Helen.
Tony and Helen?
Elaine.
They go to Azerbaijan.
They get there.
- When?
They went today?
Seven.
5 o'clock today.
Ok.
Take a picture?
Wonderful.
Oh!
Excellent.
Tony.
Azerbaijan.
Yeah.
Ok.
They're the team that we
were neck and neck with,
and they're ahead of us.
We've got to get cracking.
Ok, we need to go.
All right, let's get sorted.
Bye!
We don't know
about the other three teams.
We're going to get there
hopefully into third place,
maybe even second.
Sue and Clare
make moves to get out of Georgia,
just as the two teams that
started this leg at the front
of the pack are arriving.
Baku, 6:30?
Were?
There, that bus.
Is it leaving at 6:30?
Yeah?
Excellent.
But to get
ahead, rivals Josh and Felix
are opting for the
quicker, more expensive
route all the way to Baku.
How much to go to Baku?
40.
Yes? Should we do that?
Yeah, let's do that.
50 miles ahead,
Natalie and shameema's tactic
of nonstop travel
from Istanbul means
they are the
second team to cross
the border into Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan!
Azerbaijan!
Everybody wants
to get to Azerbaijan.
But a farther 320
miles ahead, Tony and Elaine.
The last team to leave
the delphi checkpoint
are the first team
to arrive in Baku.
The capital and largest
city in Azerbaijan.
Sitting 28 meters
below sea level,
it's the lowest-lying
capital in the world.
The lowest-lying team
at the start of this leg
were Tony and Elaine.
Having made it to
Baku, they receive details
of the checkpoint location
on the only piece of technology
permitted in the race...
Their GPS tracker.
Please proceed to heydar.
Heydar aliyev center.
Right, ok.
Can't wait to get to that hotel.
I'll be straight in that
pool if there is one.
There will be one.
I'll tell you what.
A taxi would have
been expensive.
We've got this train that's
going a million miles an hour,
and there's seven stops.
Do you know
heydar aliyev center?
Come on.
Oh!
That's it.
Oh, we're really here.
What do you think it is?
- I don't know.
No idea.
That is something else.
Come on.
Come on, then.
Let's read this message.
It should be here now.
Yeah, let's have a look.
Let's have a look.
Look directly in
front of you and you
will see your next checkpoint,
the flame towers hotel.
Which is in front?
That way?
Or that... could it be this?
Yeah, this is it.
This is it. Come on.
Come on. Come on.
Entrance, flame tower hotel.
Reception?
Shit.
There's definitely more.
Welcome
Thank you.
Can I ask you to sign here.
And you're first.
Oh, my lord.
I'm just so, so relieved
that we're still in this race.
And I just want now to maintain
that pace and that energy
all the way through now.
They will be absolutely
floored when they come in.
I think they'll be quite
shocked that we came in first.
Quite shocked.
- Yeah.
Where are they? Come on.
Where are they?
The
remaining teams are closing in
on the second checkpoint,
all too aware the last ones
to arrive will be eliminated.
Never give up.
Excuse me.
Three towers?
Three flames?
Ok.
My heart's staying
at 400 to the dozen.
If Alex and darron
have beaten us here,
leaving at the same
time, then credit
to them because I
don't think we could
have done that any quicker.
I've seen some amazing things.
I've done some amazing things.
But I'm not ready to finish yet.
I want to carry on.
I don't want to finish in Baku.
I'm not ready to
go home tomorrow.
The flame towers.
Fantastic, man.
That's it! That's it!
Let's go.
Flame towers.
That way.
Go that way.
Hello.
Wow!
Sign us in, baby!
Wow.
How did they get here first?
That's amazing.
How the hell have
they done that?
I think we're just so
shocked that Tony
and Elaine have come in
first because they left last.
Yeah.
I don't know how
they've done it,
but it's actually amazing
that they've done that.
Anyway, forget that.
We've beat both people
that were ahead of us.
And we improved our position.
Oh my god.
It shows that we're improving
on our strategy and logic
in the journey as well
as continuing to have fun.
It feels amazing.
Just we're still in it.
We're here for
another week at least.
- Nice to meet you, sir.
- Nice to meet you.
Hi.
- How are you?
We just hope we're not
the last ones to check in.
Thank god.
- Ok, great.
- Sign us in.
Sign us in.
I don't think it's
quite sunk in yet,
the kind of like anticipation
of the journey, all
of the kind of
recalculations and everything
that happens along the route.
And then to get here
and not be going home
feels absolutely fantastic.
But definitely... yeah, a
bit of recalculating today.
The race
continues for the final two teams.
But whoever checks in
last will be going home.
I don't feel like we
are fighting for last place.
I feel like we might be second,
maybe third, maybe even first.
But I don't think, oh my
god, we're going to be last.
As far as we're
concerned, the race is still on.
We both have reasons for
getting to the end of this race.
I want to get to Singapore.
I want to see where my
dad was based when he
was in the raf in 1946 to 1948.
It's really important to me.
It means a lot to me.
So that's my motivation
for just not giving up.
We're not giving up yet.
I think we're nearly there.
Downhill is better than up.
Welcome to Baku.
Thank you.
You would like the check in?
Yes, please.
Oh.
Oh my god.
That's what we thought.
Yeah, I know.
That's what we thought.
Oh, crikey.
We are fourth.
We were so close to being last.
Wow.
Well, we did everything
we could, sue.
We're last.
We said from
the start of this leg
that we needed to get to
this checkpoint in a good time.
Good advantage.
And if I'm honest, I feel
like we let ourselves down.
Skin of our teeth.
We're a bit worried now
for the next checkpoint.
But at least, on
the positive side
is we're not going
home tomorrow.
That is what I'm happy about.
The journey continues.
This has been brilliant.
It has.
And we never
would have had that time.
No.
Never would
have heard that time.
We're always snatching the
odd day here, the odd day there.
And never having a chance
to actually be together.
No.
And get back to where we
were all those years ago.
So for me, I think
that's probably more
important than the whole thing.
Yeah, that we've been together.
Yeah.
Tony
and Elaine have
tipped the race entirely on
its head, and it's all to play for.
But with over 8,000 miles
still to travel, how much will
dwindling budgets play a
part, as "race across the world"
continues.
Next time.
Stepping into the unknown.
The teams
head across the caspian sea.
The storm is coming.
To the wilds of
Central Asia, where the teams
are pushed to their limits.
I'm waiting for the
tough part of the journey.
This may well be it.
As they
reach the halfway point.
Come on.
In the
race across the world.