When the status of the world becomes irredeemably gloomy, there is nothing better than shutting everything out for a little respite with some comfort TV.
Fortunately, the BBC has us covered–at least for the next eight weeks–with their travel series Race Across the World.
The ‘greatest programme on TV’ returns for season four, bigger, better, and even more needed than ever.
For the uninitiated, it involves pairings zapping from one site to another hundreds of kilometres distant without phones, internet access, or the cost of a plane ticket. Only planes are entirely out of bounds.
Instead, they must rely on strangers’ charity to assist them traverse foreign places, as well as the goodwill of residents, who provide them with employment in exchange for housing.
Given that it has all of the components for great television – ‘regular’ competitors who aren’t out for a Boohoo discount, relationships strained, acts of goodwill, moments of pure fear, wanderlust – there has only been one relatively poor season.
It was not even Race Across the World’s fault.
The final series was impeded by Covid, and it was a miracle (much appreciated) that it was made at all.
But hear me out. Unlike seasons one and two, which took participants from London to Singapore and Mexico to the depths of Argentina, the third season took place solely in Canada.
While it was necessary because to harsher travel limitations during the epidemic, it did diminish some of the attractiveness.
I missed witnessing many cultures and radically changing scenery as participants raced across numerous nations, but it was still a definite dopamine rush.
Happily, season 4 returns to the original formula. This time, they were challenged to sprint from Sapporo, Japan to Lombok, Indonesia, and I’m already fantasising about travelling a similar trip.
The good news is, the missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle is back.
And, with airline fares continuing to rise as firms try to recuperate losses from the epidemic (yeah, that’s right), for many, TV is the closest they’ll come to an exotic getaway.
So, why not compress five years’ worth of vacation and numerous locales into Race Across the World in less than ten hours? If we can’t do it, someone else should.
It’s the escape we all require.
Race Across the World is on Wednesday at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.