Race Across The World viewers were pleased when the BBC series returned yesterday night, as the racers embarked on their long and difficult trips.
During the first show, which began in northern Japan, fans characterised a key rule modification as’savage’ and ‘brilliant’.
This year’s event has five duos racing across 15,000 km in many countries without smartphones, internet connection, or bank cards. The winner will get a cash reward of £20,000.
In the first installment, the teams had to travel from Japan to Lombok against the time, starting in Sapporo and ending in Nara City.
They were, however, informed that they could not travel on Japan’s bullet trains, which greatly disappointed them.
Reacting to the news, one fan called Jonny wrote on X: ‘Banning them from using Bullet Trains is a bit genius.’
Banning them from using Bullet Trains is a bit genius. 😏#raceacrosstheworld pic.twitter.com/cz4UsUokHh
— Jonny 🏴🕺🏻 (@jonnymgdraws) April 10, 2024
Love that bullet trains are banned! #RaceAcrossTheWorld
— Amisha (@amisha1982) April 10, 2024
Oh man extra rules in Japan…no Bullet Trains 😳#RaceAcrossTheWorld
— Lindsay Robertson💙💛 (@linzirob) April 10, 2024
‘Obsessed with the producers banning bullet trains,’ Alex added, while Anastazia wrote: ‘Banning the bullet train is savage.’
Blaynos sympathised with the contestants, sharing: ‘In fairness, I’d be pretty gutted to not be able to go on the bullet trains.’
In just the first leg of the competition, one team blew more than 30% of their budget, leaving viewers predicting that this season will be the ‘most chaotic series yet’.
Mother-daughter team. Eugenie and Isabel seemed to forget that they did not have a limitless amount of money.
Eugenie and Isabel spent £40.75 on an hour-long cab ride rather than saving money for the rest of their vacation, which will take them to countries such as South Korea and Vietnam.
Overall, they hammered through a whopping 32% of their budget in five days and it rang alarm bells for viewers.
On X, Dan exclaimed: ‘80% LEFT ALREADY? Gosh this series will be the most chaotic yet #RaceAcrossTheWorld.’
Roddy Graham quipped of their spending: ‘Eugenie and Isabel just wanted a 5 day holiday to Japan and have managed to get the BBC to pay for it. Fair play to them tbh. #RaceAcrossTheWorld’
X account Flopsy Pickle, however, shared more concern and lamented: ‘Jeeze their haemorrhaging money #RaceAcrossTheWorld.’
80% LEFT ALREADY? Gosh this series will be the most chaotic yet #RaceAcrossTheWorld
— Dan (@danlit11) April 10, 2024
"Let's avoid Tokyo as it's expensive"
*Takes the most expensive detour and experiences across the other side of Japan*#RaceAcrossTheWorld
— Blaynos (@Blaynos14) April 10, 2024
Eugenie and Isabel just wanted a 5 day holiday to Japan and have managed to get the BBC to pay for it. Fair play to them tbh. #RaceAcrossTheWorld
— Roddy Graham (@MrRoddyGraham) April 10, 2024
Jeeze their haemorrhaging money #RaceAcrossTheWorld
— 🐈🪴🍄✨Pickle✨🍄🪴🐈 (@FlopsyPickle) April 10, 2024
Eugenie and Isabel #RaceAcrossTheWorld pic.twitter.com/bUztdWy2tV
— Remy S (@Rambo_0784) April 10, 2024
At the rate Eugenie and Isabel won’t be able to afford to leave Japan… 🤦🏻♂️ #RaceAcrossTheWorld
— Swindonian (@SouthCoastRed) April 10, 2024
Just wondering if Eugenie and Isabel are even going to make the end of this episode 🤔 #RaceAcrossTheWorld
— Dave Irons (@David_Irons65) April 10, 2024
80% left already
Oh dear#raceacrosstheworld
— Paul Brownbill (@Paully232000) April 10, 2024
8 episodes to go after this and already 20% of the budgets have been spent. #RaceAcrossTheWorld pic.twitter.com/MrOzIzPPDm
— Matthew Chapman (@Matt528chap) April 10, 2024
TAXI KLAXON #RaceAcrossTheWorld pic.twitter.com/yNrWJfx0kz
— Alex (@alexr_241) April 10, 2024
Agreeing, Dave James remarked: ‘Just wondering if Eugenie and Isabel are even going to make the end of this episode #RaceAcrossTheWorld.’
Many others compared Claudia and Kevin, the parent and daughter combination from the previous season of Race Across The World.
Claudia and Kevin frequently made viewers rip their hair out with their excessive usage of cabs as they journeyed from one end of Canada to the other.
However, Eugenie and Isabel may have had the last laugh because they were the first candidates to arrive at the checkpoint.
Isabel even admitted their extravagant spending and stated that they will focus on recouping their expenses with a job on the following leg.
Along with Eugenie and Isabel, other contestants include mother and daughter Brydie and Sharon, best friends Alfie and Owen, married couple Stephen and Viv, and brother-sister duo Betty and James.
Season 4 of Race Across the World follows the BBC’s first celebrity spin-off, with stars travelling from Marrakesh, Morocco to Tromso, Norway.
The show included Harry Judd and Emma from McFly, Melanie Blatt and Helene from All Saints, Billy Monger and Bonnie from F1, and Alex Beresford and his father Noel from Good Morning Britain. The latter won.
Race Across the World continues on Wednesday at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.