- 16 hours ago
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00Reaching the other side of the world has never been easier.
00:06But by flying over, are we forgetting how to travel through?
00:13Singapore.
00:14The furthest point from the UK by road and rail.
00:19Normally a 12-hour plane journey.
00:22But could you get there for just the price of the airfare
00:26without taking a single flight?
00:30What am I doing? Holy moly, that's going to be tough.
00:32Five pairs of ordinary Brits are about to attempt just that.
00:36Most people would go from A to B on a plane, but then they'd miss all this.
00:41In an extraordinary race.
00:44Come on, come on.
00:45At ground level, they'll cover over 12,000 miles.
00:49Oh, man. Look at that!
00:50That's amazing.
00:50Everybody wants to get to Azerbaijan!
00:55Who will finish first as they leave behind the trappings of modern day life?
00:59It's 34 hours on one bus.
01:02Without their bank cards.
01:04We're going to run out of money at some point.
01:05And their smartphones.
01:07I don't want to argue about it.
01:08Time's ticking off.
01:09It will test them physically.
01:12This is where you find out about yourself.
01:14Sleep.
01:14Sleep where?
01:15You can't finish the race if you're dead.
01:17And emotionally.
01:18It's almost like I'm questioning my purpose.
01:20What is it that I want?
01:22It's just a bit much at my breaking point.
01:27The reward is great.
01:31It's about recapturing the little bit of maybe.
01:34As the first team to Singapore will claim the prize of £20,000.
01:42In a race across the world.
01:45Shift your boats.
01:46Come on.
01:4850 days.
01:50Blood, sweat, singers.
01:58Previously, the teams set off on their epic journey to Singapore.
02:03Oh, for God's sake.
02:05Best mates Josh and Felix worked hard and raced fast to make it to Delphi in Greece.
02:10Yes.
02:11The first checkpoint in first place.
02:15Claiming a three and a half hour lead over their closest rivals, father and son Darren and Alex.
02:21Thought we'd give you a chance at first leg.
02:23A tragedy at home.
02:25My mum's in hospital.
02:26She's taken a slight turn for the worse.
02:29Meant an early exit for husband and wife, Jinda and Bindu.
02:32We're going to head back, OK?
02:35Taking up the baton Yorkshire couple, Tony and Elaine.
02:37I can't believe it, we're here and we're doing it.
02:42Lifelong friends Natalie and Shamima.
02:45We're in Starbucks, brushing our teeth.
02:47Relied on the kindness of strangers.
02:49Could I hug you?
02:50To take third place.
02:53Leaving the two remaining teams, best friends Sue and Claire and husband and wife Tony and Elaine.
02:59We're trying to get to Delphi.
03:01All at sea.
03:02No, no.
03:07On the slope of Mount Parnassus.
03:11Delphi.
03:12In ancient times considered to be the centre of the world.
03:17At each checkpoint, the teams have a 36 hour break before heading to their next destination.
03:24So the earlier they get there, the sooner they can leave.
03:29Three teams reached the checkpoint yesterday.
03:31But two have yet to arrive.
03:35Sue and Claire.
03:37Yeah, look, Hotel Amalia.
03:39OK.
03:40Hotel Amelia.
03:41And Tony and Elaine.
03:43Thank you, thank you, good.
03:45Come on, Sue.
03:46Amalia Hotel.
03:48Amalia Hotel.
03:49How far now?
03:50Oh, it's there.
03:51It's there, it's there.
03:52Crikey.
03:53Hello.
03:54Welcome to Amalia Hotel.
03:56Calisfera.
03:57Three other teams are in before us.
03:59Sue and Claire take fourth spot, almost 24 hours behind the race leaders.
04:04Can we just do this?
04:05Fantastic.
04:06We got here.
04:08A little bit disappointing, but not far behind.
04:11Not far behind.
04:12Just five minutes behind.
04:15Here we go, come on, last little bit.
04:17Tony and Elaine arrive in last position.
04:21Come on.
04:22This is the first time they'll meet the other competitors.
04:25We're the newbies.
04:28Having replaced Jinda and Bindu.
04:31Hi there, good to meet you.
04:32We took their place.
04:34We're the reserves.
04:36I'm sure we all extend our well wishes to them.
04:38Yeah, but also lovely to meet you as well.
04:40Yeah, it's super.
04:41It really is a great, great experience.
04:45It's been great meeting everybody else and we've heard really lovely people,
04:49but it changes things a little bit.
04:51You know, you see the whites of people's eyes and their experience they've had.
04:56We're 15 minutes into a game of football and we've got extra time and penalties,
05:00so it'll pick up from now on.
05:095.35am.
05:10Would you like to check out, please?
05:13I have a break here.
05:16The next checkpoint is Baku.
05:19Okay.
05:20Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, a city of fire, with its historic Atishgar temple and ultra-modern flame towers, celebrating
05:32the nation's vast oil and gas reserves.
05:37I think we had our suspicions that it was going to be somewhere on the Caspian Sea.
05:42Azerbaijan's meant to be beautiful as well.
05:44The second checkpoint is 1,447 miles east of Delphi and there will be a need for speed on this
05:52leg.
05:52The team that reaches there in fifth place will be eliminated.
05:56Okay.
05:57When we get to Singapore, first or fourth, I really don't mind.
06:00But if we have to go home at Baku, that'll suck.
06:04Racing across the world is all about travelling smart, displaying speed and adaptability.
06:11The threat of elimination means every decision counts.
06:16The first, how to get out of Greece.
06:19They could head south to the capital, Athens, and its port, Piraeus, gateway to the Aegean and the Med,
06:26or head north through Thessaloniki, using road and rail, crossing the land bridge between Europe and Asia.
06:36Yeah.
06:36To the bus stop.
06:37Yeah, let's go.
06:40We're going to go to Athens on the bus and then we want to get the ferry over to Sezmi.
06:44I think the added sense of jeopardy that the elimination brings, there's definitely an added urgency.
06:49No one wants to be last. No one wants to go home. We've all put too much into this.
06:55We were planning on a nice layover in Istanbul, taking our foot off the gas, taking the scenic route, maybe
07:00visiting some sites.
07:01No, now it's a real kick up the bum. Need to get there.
07:07What a lovely little town.
07:10Without smartphones, Josh and Felix are unaware that the first bus to Athens isn't until 10am.
07:17Great.
07:24Time for Plan B.
07:27There's a good chance that we could do well in this competition. Over a journey of such epic proportions, there's
07:33probably a thousand things that could go wrong.
07:36Felix and I's ability to rely on each other is one of the strengths that we'll have. Our openness to
07:42talk to people and our ability to take risks.
07:46Hopefully that'll stand us in really good stead.
07:49No one's going there.
07:50No.
07:51After two hours, some divine intervention from a tour guide and oracle named Nicholas.
07:57If you want, she will allow Nick to zip you to Athens right after breakfast.
08:02Would you be up for that, Nick?
08:03He'd love to adventure.
08:04As long as I get a nice breakfast before him.
08:06Absolutely, man.
08:12This is exactly how the universe works.
08:15We're having breakfast in a hotel with these lovely people who have invited us to join them.
08:20This is Nick and he's very kindly agreed to take us to Athens.
08:24Your health.
08:26Cheers.
08:299.25am.
08:31The next team to leave the checkpoint, Darren and Alex.
08:36Yeah, Nick's trying to checkpoint his back here.
08:39Cranking up the pressure with an elimination.
08:41Yeah, definitely.
08:43Well, on the plus side, at least we know where this is.
08:46Exactly. It's right there.
08:49Since the age of 15, I've lived with my mum.
08:52He's still my dad at the end of the day.
08:55I just don't know him as well as I should.
08:58So this trip, we should get to know each other a lot better than what we do now.
09:03First thing, definitely.
09:05Athens.
09:06I think that opens up more possibilities for us.
09:10I don't know Alex as a man.
09:12I know him as a child.
09:14It's going to be difficult to get balance because I need Alex to make mistakes so he can grow as
09:20a person.
09:22That balance of him growing, him becoming a more rounded individual and still winning.
09:28It's going to be a tough balance at times.
09:32We just need to take as much advantage lead as we can, closing the gap and hopefully catching up to
09:38Josh and Felix.
09:42I wonder what Josh and Felix have done.
09:46I wonder what Josh and Felix have done.
10:06While Josh and Felix hold hands, they lose their grip on the race lead as Darren and Alex catch the
10:14first bus to Athens.
10:21Eventually, Josh and Felix hit the road.
10:24What's your background then?
10:26I am a professional psychic.
10:27No way.
10:28Actually, yeah.
10:28We were saying on our way here that the gods were looking down on us smiling.
10:31When we arrived, it was at sunset and the piercing sun was through the clouds.
10:36It just couldn't have looked more...
10:38It was mythic.
10:39It was mythic.
10:40Yeah, it was.
10:41This is Apollo is greeting you.
10:42Yeah, exactly.
10:43Yeah, exactly.
10:45Athens.
10:46Birthplace of democracy and Western philosophy.
10:50With over 3,000 years of history.
10:54The city's patron deity, Athena, was goddess of courage, strength, strategy and wisdom.
11:03And a new found wisdom is about to be bestowed on Josh and Felix.
11:09This will help you both.
11:11If you put it right here, you see?
11:14Right here, you're on the third eye.
11:16This will help you to open up your psychic awareness, relax the mind and tune in so you know which
11:24way to go, which decision to make, which path.
11:29The path each team chooses is their own, but they must pass through five checkpoints on the way to Singapore.
11:37Each team began the race with the cash equivalent of two economy airfares to Singapore and pounds sterling.
11:44This must cover all expenditures.
11:48Hello.
11:49Hi.
11:49We want to go to Sesmi in Turkey.
11:51What time does it leave?
11:53PM?
11:55Yes.
11:56Thank you very much.
11:58Well, we got to Athens in record time and then the ferry isn't until 9pm.
12:02So, we're going to hang out.
12:04Hello. No, we're all right actually. Yeah, we don't need phones.
12:07We're going to E7 to get some money.
12:09It's a little bit of a shame that there isn't a ferry till the evening.
12:11But we have the power of Hermes and Apollo on our side.
12:19200 Turkish lira.
12:22No, 200 pounds in Turkish.
12:23Yeah.
12:267pm.
12:28Eleven and a half hours behind Josh and Felix, Natalie and Shamima leave Delphi.
12:33It's ten past seven.
12:35What?
12:36The train is coming.
12:38Heading north, they're aiming to catch the last train to Thessaloniki, then push on through to Istanbul.
12:46Hi, you speak English?
12:49Oh, no.
12:51I've known Shamima since I was nine years old.
12:54There's absolutely nobody else in this world that I can imagine doing this trip with.
12:59I think Shamima would describe me as somebody who just goes and does something
13:02and then thinks about it and she's more considered.
13:07But I think we balance each other out and I think that's from decades of friendship.
13:13We have English money.
13:14No.
13:16If you exchange this money, you get more euro.
13:19But they're short of euros.
13:22And the last train north is due in 15 minutes.
13:26I think we should just get a train to pay for it to go to Larissa.
13:33I was willing to give them 30 pounds.
13:35I know.
13:43It's like you're throwing a strap.
13:47The girls take a risk and board the train with the fare paid for only half the journey.
13:53This is cosy.
14:00Piraeus, Athens.
14:01The largest passenger port in Europe.
14:04Darren and Alex have booked an evening ferry to Turkey.
14:07And won't be alone.
14:09Hello.
14:11Team who's there?
14:14Yeah.
14:15Yeah.
14:18Hello.
14:18We knew you were going to be on our ferry.
14:20Are you getting there?
14:22Yes.
14:23I just said to Josh, I was like, they're going to be on our ferry.
14:26I want to see you, man.
14:26Yeah, yeah, yeah.
14:27We've closed the gap now, eh?
14:28Yeah.
14:29We've closed the gap.
14:30Look how happy he is.
14:31Are you taking the tank?
14:32Are you taking the tank gap?
14:36Looking very smart.
14:38We've closed the gap.
14:39Three-hour gap and it's closed like that.
14:41We're all the same ferry.
14:46The crazy thing is we have the same strategy as Josh and Felix, which is quite scary.
14:51I think it's going to be close between all the way up because they have the same strategy,
14:57the same mentality, the same sort of like travelling overnight to save costs.
15:01I'm not going to change it because it's too like theirs.
15:04No, obviously not.
15:06We're still going to be the same.
15:06Because we believe it's a winning way to go about it.
15:17One hundred and three miles from Thessaloniki, an inspector calls.
15:22Hello.
15:23Can you have a ticket, please?
15:25Yes.
15:25We can buy a ticket.
15:27You have money.
15:28We have pound, English pound.
15:30No pound.
15:31So when I bought...
15:32It's a problem.
15:33Yes.
15:33For me.
15:34It's a problem for me as well.
15:37So we need to go to Thessalon...
15:40Thessalon...
15:41What?
15:43Thessaloniki.
15:43Don't have money.
15:44No euro.
15:46About...
15:47No euro.
15:48No euro.
15:49No euro.
15:49Pound.
15:50No, it's a problem.
15:51You stop travelling now.
15:53You get off next stop?
15:55Yes.
15:56To date, Natalie and Shamima have relied on the kindness of strangers,
16:00and they are in dire need of it now.
16:02Hello.
16:03Hi, can you speak English?
16:05Yes.
16:05What is your name?
16:06Constantina.
16:07Constantina.
16:08I'm Natalie.
16:09Nice to meet you.
16:10Nice to meet you.
16:10Shmima.
16:12The train inspector has come.
16:14He's trying to chuck us off the train.
16:15Do you have any euros that when we get to Thessaloniki we will give you euros?
16:22Can you come to the ticket inspector and explain to him maybe?
16:25How much do you have?
16:26How much do you have?
16:26Yeah.
16:27I think that'll be enough.
16:30I think that'll be enough.
16:31Yeah, that'll be okay.
16:32And then when we get off the thingy we'll get the money back.
16:35Yes.
17:00One from you, one from you.
17:02The same price.
17:03Yes.
17:04Yes.
17:05I think.
17:08We've got tickets to Thessaloniki.
17:13This has been an interesting evening for you, yes?
17:16Yeah, I tell you what it is.
17:19Not your normal evening?
17:20No.
17:24Natalie and Shmima's risky train strategy has paid dividends, catapulting them right back
17:30into contention as they've made it to Thessaloniki.
17:33A seven-hour wait for the ferry connection from Piraeus has dragged back the leading two teams,
17:39but they've now set sail across the Aegean, heading for Cesme in Turkey.
17:45The remaining teams are about to leave Delphi.
17:52Calimera.
17:54The first are best friends of over 40 years, Sue and Claire.
18:01The team that reaches there in fifth place will be eliminated.
18:04Oh, God.
18:06The three teams have already gone.
18:07I know.
18:08We're going to have to get a move on soon.
18:09And they're five minutes behind us.
18:11I know.
18:11I know.
18:12I know.
18:13I know.
18:15It would be so wonderful to get to Singapore because of my dad.
18:20He was based there when he was in the RAF from 1946 to 1948.
18:25We're here.
18:26Wow.
18:26That's a way.
18:27I'm just thinking maybe stick to land and get the miles in.
18:32I'm wondering if there's a train.
18:34Mm.
18:37I don't want to go home when we get to Azerbaijan.
18:40We can't afford to make any mistakes this time, can we?
18:43Nope.
18:45The sword of doom hanging out of our heads now with the elimination.
18:49Yeah.
18:49We're in fourth place, but we're only five minutes ahead of the other team.
18:57Last to arrive, and therefore last to leave, Tony and Elaine, retired teachers from Yorkshire.
19:04We're gay stride out because you've just got six, seven minutes.
19:07Yeah, yeah.
19:07Well, as long as you get there, Tony, just don't go tripping up.
19:11Why would you do that?
19:12I think, you know, most people think of retirement as the last phase of your life, the bit where you
19:18kind of watch telly all day and wait to die.
19:21But for us, we really do want to travel, see parts of the world we haven't seen before, and just
19:29not be somebody else's mother, somebody else's grandma.
19:32We just want to be ourselves.
19:34There they are.
19:37We thought you weren't coming then.
19:42We're quite anxious and also quite keen to lose the ladies because it's a bit disconcerting when you're in a
19:48race to have them travelling alongside you.
19:52This bit is, like, tricky because they're...
19:55We don't want to...
19:56Well, it's not me.
19:58We can talk without discussing where we're going.
20:01In a minute, in a minute.
20:03We're going different ways anyway.
20:06We've got loads of...
20:07How do we know?
20:08I don't know.
20:09Well, if we get off together, then it'll be a laugh, won't it?
20:12If we don't, we'll say goodbye.
20:14That's it.
20:14And we'll see them at the next destination, OK?
20:22Two teams have docked in the port of Cezmay at the western tip of Turkey, frontier to Asia and home
20:29of the Turkey.
20:30Turkish lira.
20:31Can I get the next checkpoint?
20:32Excuse me?
20:34Uh, bus station?
20:37Uh...
20:37300 metres.
20:39300 metres on the left.
20:41Are you tickets?
20:42Uh, Ankara.
20:44Ankara.
20:44Two tickets, please.
20:46OK.
20:47You've got Turkish.
20:49Yeah, it's fine.
20:52They've got it.
20:53We want to get to Ankara.
20:55Yeah.
20:56Do you accept euros?
20:57We've got no Turkish money on us.
20:59Where can we change currency?
21:01Yeah.
21:02Where, around here?
21:03Can we change currency?
21:04Uh, there are, uh, CheÅŸme, uh, centre, central.
21:08Where's that, please?
21:09Uh, minibus departing from here.
21:12Ah, so we've got to get...
21:13We need to change some money so we can get a bus.
21:15Yeah, yeah, yeah.
21:17We don't have any Turkish money, so...
21:20And the boys do, so I'm a bit pissed off, to be honest.
21:24I don't want them to get the lead now, and I think they are going to.
21:29Get on the back.
21:29Get on the back.
21:30Maybe.
21:31The fact is that we have to take an hour out of our time
21:35and then come back and they'll be already on the way.
21:39Stupid.
21:40And then we're going to have to wait 40 minutes.
21:41I won't dare.
21:43What's the point?
21:47Sad to see the guys, um...
21:49Getting stressed.
21:50...getting in a difficult situation.
21:53I know, cos I was telling you in Greece we should have changed money.
21:56I was telling you.
21:57Well, why didn't you?
21:58Because, obviously, it's a mutual decision.
22:00I can't just go spend money, can I?
22:02Pissed off, man.
22:05I'm just sick of this.
22:07Every time there's a slight hiccup, it goes in there.
22:10They're in a mood like, oh, it's the end of the world.
22:13British ponds to Turkey.
22:15We can't get beaten down at the slightest bump in the road.
22:20It's just...
22:22You just can't do that.
22:26On the other side of the Aegean Sea, Sue and Claire and Tony and Elaine
22:30have both chosen to head north, using road and rail,
22:35entering Turkey via the land bridge.
22:43With elimination on everyone's mind, Tony and Elaine are desperate
22:48to lose their nearest rivals and set about quizzing locals
22:51to gain any kind of advantage.
22:54I'm trying to get to Istanbul.
22:58Any idea of how we could find the times of trains?
23:02Oh, thank you.
23:0416.01.
23:05It will arrive at 22.36.
23:0822.36?
23:10Yes.
23:10Wow.
23:11That is a long time.
23:13Long time.
23:13We presumed the onward journey would be by train,
23:17but when the guy looked it up on his phone,
23:20the bus took half the time.
23:23Three and a half hours.
23:24So the bus is quicker than the train.
23:27What time do we get in?
23:2812.45.
23:2912.45.
23:30Maybe one o'clock.
23:31One o'clock.
23:32Five o'clock.
23:33Do you think we could catch this one o'clock bus?
23:35No, no.
23:36You don't have so much time.
23:38We don't have enough time.
23:39Unless you get a taxi.
23:41It's very tight.
23:42Very close.
23:44The obvious route in this scenario was longer.
23:48I'm so pleased we had that conversation
23:50because that might make the difference
23:51of getting to Istanbul tonight.
23:54We're in a race.
23:55Across the world.
23:55We have to go really, really quick.
23:58Yeah, really quick.
24:01With Sue and Claire in the dark,
24:04Tony and Elaine plot their escape.
24:07Ready to go.
24:09What?
24:10I just hope it works out.
24:12Been married 40 years.
24:13Basically, I do what Tony tells me.
24:15I only wish that was the bloody case,
24:18I tell you what.
24:20The bus goes in 24 minutes.
24:24We're both quite stubborn.
24:25We're determined.
24:26When the going gets tough,
24:28me and Tony get going.
24:29No, yeah.
24:30They only have 10 minutes
24:32until the 1pm express bus departs.
24:36And the terminus is over three kilometres away.
24:43So we can go straight to the bus station?
24:45Yeah.
24:46Yeah.
24:47Another taxi.
24:53Fantastic.
24:56Yeah, they're in.
24:57They're following us.
24:59Good God.
25:00I swear to God.
25:01The women!
25:01They're behind us in a taxi.
25:03I am desperate to shake them off now.
25:05Desperate.
25:06They were in a very big rush.
25:08So I'm wondering whether they know something more than we do.
25:12I don't know.
25:18Well done.
25:19Good, good, good.
25:20Thank you, thank you.
25:20Fast, fast, fast.
25:23Fantastic.
25:24Yes.
25:26But if we hadn't done the similar, well, almost the same thing,
25:31then we would have been behind.
25:32We wouldn't have been able to do this.
25:34That's how that taxi driver behind us lost us well now.
25:38I can't see because my neck won't turn that far round.
25:41This one here?
25:42Oh, there's people waiting still.
25:45Excellent.
25:47Ticket before.
25:48Do you need to get tickets?
25:50Yes, thank you.
25:50Ah, Prius.
25:51Where we go?
25:54Alexandra Polly, one o'clock.
25:56Where is it?
25:58Platform 18.
25:59Platform 18.
25:59Okay.
26:04Alexandra Polly.
26:06This one.
26:08Excuse me, are you this bus?
26:09Where is that?
26:10Alexandra Polly.
26:13Okay.
26:14This one.
26:15Jesus.
26:17Where's my wine?
26:18It's here.
26:20We're out here.
26:22Oh, God.
26:23Excellent.
26:26Woman possessed in bus station.
26:31Unaware they've just missed the 1pm express bus, Sue and Claire opt for a coach to Istanbul.
26:38What time is the next bus?
26:4010 o'clock is the next bus.
26:41There's not one before.
26:43No, it's only one 10 in the morning or 10 in the evening.
26:46But it doesn't depart for another nine hours.
26:49At least we're in a place that we can buy a little bit of food, sit and relax, maybe have
26:54a cup of tea, coffee.
26:56I can't see the other team.
26:58And that's what's on my mind, I have to say, because they're not here.
27:02Sue, we're here.
27:03I'm just talking.
27:04I know.
27:05That's what concerns me, is that they're not here.
27:08Yeah.
27:08So they get there.
27:09Right.
27:09Listen.
27:10Listen.
27:11Calm.
27:12They get there, get an overnight accommodation and we'll still be there at the same time.
27:17So don't worry.
27:18It's fine.
27:18Okay.
27:20Don't we?
27:20Well, no, because we're sitting around here for nine hours till the 10 o'clock.
27:26So what?
27:31What a game.
27:33What a rush.
27:34That is a proper race.
27:36But we'll do anything to get through to the next stage if possible.
27:40I'm going to start playing dirty.
27:42Are you?
27:43And you are too.
27:45What do you mean you can't do that?
27:48Why not?
27:49It's a taking part that counts.
27:52It's not the winning.
27:54That's what you've said to me all my life.
27:56Why change it now?
27:57Yeah, because I'm older and wiser now, Tony.
28:00It's about the winning.
28:01Trust me.
28:05370 miles ahead are Natalie and Shamima.
28:11Istanbul.
28:12The only city in the world spanning two continents.
28:15Where Europe meets Asia.
28:17East meets West.
28:19And over 12 million tourists meet the locals each year.
28:23So we need to go to Kapali Garci.
28:26Closed Moor.
28:29We're having to spend money to move as quick as we can through Turkey.
28:34So we really need to be able to work to make that money back.
28:38The further the teams head east, the chance of earning good money diminishes.
28:44Natalie and Shamima have already spent over 30% of their total budget.
28:48So they take decisive action.
28:50We are trying to get a job in the bazaar.
28:53And we have two telephone numbers that we can call.
28:56But we don't have a phone.
28:58Would it be possible if you could call the number for us please?
29:02All teams have been provided with a travel guide for each leg.
29:05Complete with classified job adverts.
29:16They've secured work in a cafe in one of the world's most popular tourist destinations.
29:21The Grand Bazaar.
29:24Which attracts up to 400,000 people a day.
29:30This is it.
29:31I'm Shamima.
29:32Hi. I'm Natalie.
29:33Jen, what would you like us to do today?
29:38Working.
29:38Working.
29:38Yes.
29:41Hello guys.
29:42Want to come for a tea or coffee?
29:47No problem, no problem, no problem.
29:52Yes, they have English tea here.
29:58Do you want a drink?
30:00I don't want to do this anymore.
30:05I know we need money.
30:07I'm washing the cups.
30:10Don't slam the cutlery.
30:13For fuck's sake.
30:17Ankara, the capital of Turkey and its second largest city.
30:21Home to over five million people.
30:24Still 1,200 miles from the Baku checkpoint, Josh and Felix have just arrived and are looking for a direct
30:31bus east to Tbilisi in Georgia.
30:35I think we should get the train.
30:37I just don't want to spend 23 hours on a coach and I don't want to spend 24 hours on
30:40a train.
30:40Let's just go.
30:41Yeah, like literally.
30:43Unable to face another marathon coach journey and confident in their position in the race, the boys opt to take
30:50the Eastern Express Railway, a slower but more scenic route across Turkey.
30:56Also awaiting the same evening train are Darren and Alex.
31:00We're heading to an art gallery.
31:03Which is supposed to have amazing views over Ankara.
31:06We get to work with some locals, do something we've never done before.
31:11It's going to be good fun, isn't it?
31:12Yeah, of course.
31:13I'm looking forward to it.
31:15There's a really, really fine balance between racing and having a really tight budget.
31:20It's no good avoiding elimination if you've then got no money to carry on.
31:25Please.
31:25Oh, yes, we'll come up.
31:27Please.
31:29Father and son will be working for a renowned local art dealer, Mr Teziolu.
31:37Come, come, come.
31:38Come in.
31:39Chop, chop.
31:40Come, Alex.
31:42I'm coming.
31:43Come in, come in, come in.
31:48Tough boss shouting an order and Alex about already.
31:51I like it.
31:52I'm just surprised Alex is listening.
31:55I don't really know, like, my plans in life.
31:58I've been applying for jobs a lot and you go to hundreds of job interviews, but you just don't get
32:03anywhere.
32:04Come on, my legs.
32:06Bloody hell.
32:07Why me?
32:07This trip is about proving to myself that I can do something, like, I can properly get out of my
32:13comfort zone.
32:15Alex, Alex, come on, come on.
32:17No England.
32:19This is Turkish.
32:19I don't care.
32:22Two tea.
32:23Please.
32:24Two tea.
32:26Two tea?
32:27Can I?
32:29Yes, please.
32:30Yes.
32:31Can I have a drink?
32:32No drink.
32:34I think Alex has got into a bit of a rut.
32:38He always takes the easy option.
32:41One of the challenges will be for me to step back and go, no, Alex, you need to do this.
32:47And I'm going to try to let Alex do as much as he can because he will benefit.
32:52He's pissing me off, man.
32:55This is a joke.
32:56I asked for a drink and I can't even get a drink.
32:57Are you mad?
32:58Alex is basically having a bit of a culture shock at the moment.
33:01Alex, come on, Alex.
33:03You can fuck off.
33:05Patience, remember.
33:06Patience.
33:07I'm going to walk off soon.
33:09Just can't cope with him.
33:10Respect.
33:12Yeah, respect.
33:14I just want a drink.
33:15That's all I want.
33:16Finish, finish, finish, finish.
33:17Please.
33:19Are you mad?
33:19Yes, yes.
33:22270 miles northwest.
33:25And Tony and Elaine have arrived in Istanbul, having spent the last 18 hours on a bus.
33:31After bringing up the rear and the first leg, the retired teachers know that should history repeat itself, they would
33:38be eliminated.
33:39Depends how long and how much.
33:4324 hours, 25 hours.
33:45Determined not to let this happen, they are planning to get straight back on another bus, travelling a mammoth 1
33:52,100 miles across the whole of Turkey and into neighbouring Georgia.
33:57A journey of over 24 hours.
34:01Even the express train that is full, that we know is full, takes longer than 24 hours, so clearly this
34:10is the quickest we are going to get there.
34:12We need to know the price.
34:14How much?
34:1540 euro.
34:16Let's just get the ticket, get the money, get the ticket, done.
34:19We'll be in Georgia tomorrow.
34:21That journey is 24 hours.
34:23For me, that...
34:23I'm going to go.
34:25That journey could be a week, but if that's the fastest way to do it, we're going to do it.
34:32As Tony and Elaine await their connection, Natalie and Shamima are cashing out after their long shift at the cafe.
34:43Oh, thank you.
34:44Oh, thank you.
34:46That was very nice of you, thank you very much.
34:49Great.
34:5150 Turkish lira, £6.42 is what we've earned today.
34:56I think we've really felt the difference in the value of money in Turkey in comparison to Europe.
35:02For a whole six hours, we've earned £6 each.
35:06That's like a pound an hour.
35:08I think going across Turkey, it probably will be quite cheap.
35:11I hope so.
35:15Meanwhile in Ankara, Josh and Felix and Darren and Alex are still neck and neck as they board the Eastern
35:22Express bound for cars.
35:25The Eastern Express takes a long and winding route across Turkey, and though it has an estimated journey time of
35:3124 hours, it rarely runs on schedule.
35:35At least pull down.
35:37Got a bit?
35:39Now in the lead, despite being last to leave Delphi, Tony and Elaine, who are on their direct bus to
35:46Tbilisi.
35:47But yeah, a 20, 25 hour, 26 hour coach journey.
35:52It's a state of mind, it'll be fine, it'll be good.
35:55We've got the cards.
35:57Natalie and Shamima are still in Istanbul.
36:00And Sue and Claire have also just arrived.
36:03This place is amazing.
36:05Wow.
36:07Absolutely amazing.
36:10But their nine hour wait back in Thessaloniki bus station has taken its toll.
36:17I think it's more than 36 hours now since I've really had any sleep.
36:23And I'm feeling it.
36:25I kind of, I'm not making sense.
36:28I'm functioning at a very low level.
36:31We've got to be off by nine o'clock tomorrow morning to get the bus.
36:37It's going to take us to Tbilisi in Georgia.
36:42It's a 24 hour bus ride, which I'm not really looking forward to, but we've got to do it.
36:51We've got to power on through.
37:02Having stopped racing in order to earn money, Shamima is still keen to make the most of the remaining time
37:08in Istanbul.
37:14I would really still like to go and have a bit of chill time.
37:17So let's go to the Blue Mosque then.
37:20And then?
37:21Then we can do whatever you want to do.
37:23If you want to really go to the Blue Mosque, let's make that a priority.
37:25OK.
37:27And then we can sort everything else out after.
37:30Because now it's getting late to go to the Blue Mosque.
37:32I don't want that, don't put that on me.
37:34It's not putting it on you Natalie.
37:35OK, so let's go to the Blue Mosque.
37:38The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, one of Istanbul's most famous landmarks.
37:44Built in the 1600s, its walls are adorned with hand-painted tiles, which at night bathe the mosque in a
37:51soft blue light, giving it its more widely known name, the Blue Mosque.
38:00It's a shame we didn't get here before it closed.
38:06Life's definitely changed at the moment.
38:08I've been married for 19 years and we've decided as a family that it's come to a point where me
38:17and Imran are separating.
38:18It's still quite taboo in the community that I'm from, so the South Asian communities.
38:23And although Imran and I have been separated for a while now, it's not something that I've been able to
38:29openly talk about.
38:30And so it's almost like I've almost been living a lie.
38:36It feels really peaceful around here.
38:39It would have been awesome if we were able to go in.
38:43Everyone's got their own ideas about what faith means to them.
38:47For me it's just kind of calming, gives me direction.
38:53Having this time to myself and just being away from responsibility will allow me to think about what it is
39:01that I actually want.
39:03My children, oh they'd love it. I'm going to do a trip with them. Come here, it'd be amazing.
39:10Maybe that's why I didn't get to go in. I get to go in with my children.
39:31I love travelling by train. On an aeroplane. This would be five, ten seconds flying over this area and it
39:42would be gone.
39:42I think because everyone's in such a rush all the time, they sort of like, forget to stop.
39:53And then when you do, and you look out and you think, wow, this is amazing.
40:02Initially running in 1936, the Eastern Express has been expanded over the years
40:08to stop at 11 provincial cities between Ankara and Kars.
40:12It covers a total of 1208 miles, almost double the distance of the equivalent road journey.
40:19Not so much Express either really. Very slow. Very slow.
40:23I call it the Eastern Trundle. I was going to call it something.
40:27The Eastern Local train.
40:28When we get off at Kars and try and make our transfer as quickly as possible to Tbilisi,
40:34the feeling of imperative will return because the decisions we make will affect how quickly we get there.
40:40Whereas for now, it's a good time to just sit back, watch it slide by and try and recharge slightly
40:45because we can't make it go any faster.
40:47I think within the context of the race, the most pertinent thing is the fact that Darren and Alex are
40:51next door.
40:53I'm not saying I don't ever cry.
40:55I don't think I've ever seen you cry.
40:57It's not something I do very often. I cry every time I watch ET.
41:02I've seen it about a hundred times and every single time I choke up.
41:09ET is the thing which you cry for and it's not even human.
41:14I'm improving. It's your time to improve.
41:16You always send digs and stuff.
41:18I don't intentionally dig. I think sometimes I can say things without fully thinking about the consequences.
41:26It doesn't piss me up.
41:27Yes, but also you get really, really wound up and peeved exceptionally quickly.
41:34Generally, all they're the most innately dull things.
41:40That's something you need to heavily deal with.
41:42Yeah.
41:44So we've both still got a lot more work to do.
41:48To get into Azerbaijan, the teams must all travel through Georgia as Armenia remains a closed border.
41:56Sue and Claire are on the direct bus to Tbilisi, making rapid progress.
42:02Picking up the same route as the new race leaders, Tony and Elaine, who have made it to the Georgian
42:08capital.
42:10Natalie and Shamima are making good progress as they pass through Trabzon.
42:14And just arriving into cars on the Eastern Express are Darren and Alex and Josh and Felix.
42:22After their marathon train ride, Darren and Alex opt to look for a bed for the night.
42:26But Josh and Felix have other plans.
42:29Let's go.
42:32Taxi?
42:33Yeah.
42:33How much to Tbilisi?
42:34To Tbilisi in Georgia?
42:36Today, tomorrow.
42:36Today, now.
42:37I see.
42:38I think I'm getting a taxi to Tbilisi.
42:40We can't go to the border without having a lift arranged from the other side.
42:45So could you...
42:45Can you phone Georgia?
42:47Phone the Georgian capital?
42:48No.
42:48No.
42:49Wait.
42:50The Georgian taxi wait at the border?
42:51They wait at the border?
42:52Yeah.
42:53Sorry.
42:53Looking for hotel.
42:55Straight down.
42:55No.
42:58Oops.
43:00Plans thwarted.
43:02Josh and Felix discover they must also stay in cars overnight.
43:06I'm spitting fucking balls, man!
43:11Due to poor road conditions in the time of night,
43:14it's too dangerous to get through the border,
43:16and it's not possible for any teams to cross.
43:23Better not be a dry town.
43:30We have...
43:31Oh, that is so nice.
43:32Oh, Alex, as well.
43:33You'll be happy.
43:34We've got a TV.
43:35Oh.
43:37Oh.
43:39Oh, that's a bit weird.
43:40We've got a normal toilet.
43:46It's morning in the East Turkish town of Cars.
43:49Darren and Alex have a few hours until they're connecting bus into Georgia.
43:54Keeping with the cut-throat nature of this leg,
43:57they're off to sample a traditional Turkish barber's.
44:06I'm getting my ears waxed.
44:08I don't know what it entails, but I hope it's not painful.
44:11Oh!
44:12Oh!
44:13Shhh!
44:14Oh!
44:15Oh!
44:16God, dang it!
44:17That hurt!
44:17Oh!
44:19Oh!
44:20Wow!
44:23Yesterday's not-so-expressed train journey has left Josh and Felix anxious and eager to get out of cars.
44:30We know at least one team is on the same schedule as us.
44:35Darren and Alex, let's see if there's a way we can get a jump on them.
44:39The coach is the quickest way, and I think if any other teams have cottoned on to that fact, then
44:43they'll be overtaking us.
44:46One team who have indeed overtaken is Natalie and Shamima.
44:50Their strategy of back-to-back buses is paying off as they're fast approaching Tbilisi.
44:58We focus more on speed.
45:00Yeah.
45:01We've got a good chance, but it's...
45:03It's still everybody's race.
45:04Yeah.
45:04It's just one missed train connection, one missed bus connection, and everything could change.
45:12Tbilisi, derived from the Georgian for warm.
45:15It is the country's capital city, with a population of one and a half million.
45:22Elaine and Tony arrived late last night, and have decided to cool off from the heat of the race.
45:29Travel plans mean we can spend the afternoon here.
45:32I feel really lucky, because I've always wanted to come here, and now we have, and we're looking around, and
45:36it's amazing.
45:38The view off the top is just quite incredible.
45:46Can I just show her? Can I stand in? Because we love to stand in the heat, right?
45:49Yeah.
45:51I think the excitement of going somewhere totally new is just so, so refreshing.
46:00Oh!
46:03Oh, wow.
46:04It's nice.
46:05Tony's Yorkshire charm has proved a hit with the locals, particularly their hotel owner, Tanya.
46:11On tomorrow, we get eliminated.
46:14Yeah, on the race, we get eliminated.
46:16We don't think we'll get through.
46:18Then, on the way home, we come back to Georgia, and we have our holiday.
46:24Yeah.
46:27As the day draws to a close, Sue and Claire have also made it to Tbilisi.
46:32We knew it was going to be hard, but when you're actually in the middle of it, I think it's
46:42harder than we thought.
46:43Yeah.
46:44The relentless moving on and moving on and moving on and the toll it takes on you and not being
46:50able to sleep properly and eat properly.
46:52I think once we're past this leg and we're safely in and we're not eliminated, things will change.
47:00I think the pressure has been enormous.
47:03You can't keep going without stopping, and we've had to stop here for our sanity.
47:10And I think maybe some of the other teams don't.
47:13Maybe they just keep flying through.
47:16As Sue and Claire recoup in the Georgian capital, Elaine and Tony are heading out, this time taking a taxi
47:23to the border.
47:24Bye-bye.
47:25I see the Bajan.
47:27I see the Bajan.
47:27I see the Bajan.
47:28And I reckon it'll be one, two, three buses.
47:33Yeah.
47:34So, top work, six hours.
47:36I think we've worked really hard on this leg because we've thought carefully about the route.
47:41We've thought carefully about maximising all long journeys.
47:47Hello, we come. Baku.
47:50Starting last is, well, it's a kick up the pants of you've got to get on with it.
47:55Get going.
47:56And you don't want to be going home first.
47:59Tony and Elaine's persistence has paid off as they are the first team to cross into Azerbaijan.
48:07Spotted up us immediately to back home.
48:10I like operating like that.
48:12You can't really presume that you've got through to the next stage,
48:17because Sue and Claire could have just thought,
48:20well, let's go all out and hire a private taxi.
48:23They could be there.
48:24You just do not know.
48:27Back in Tbilisi, Sue and Claire head for breakfast.
48:31Hello.
48:32At what appears to be the city's most popular hotspot for tourists.
48:35Would you like some tea, please?
48:37It's English.
48:38Yeah, it's English.
48:39Yeah.
48:40Yes.
48:41You know.
48:42Tommy.
48:43Yeah.
48:45Tony and Helen.
48:46Elaine.
48:47They went to Azerbaijan.
48:48When?
48:49They've got today.
48:51Oh, they've got today.
48:52Five o'clock today.
48:53Oh.
48:55They've got a picture.
48:59Wonderful.
49:00Oh.
49:01Oh.
49:03Excellent.
49:04Tony.
49:05Azerbaijan.
49:06Yeah.
49:07OK.
49:09They're the team that we were neck and neck with,
49:11and they're ahead of us.
49:12I mean, we've got to get cracking.
49:13OK.
49:14We need to go.
49:14Right.
49:15Let's get sorted.
49:16Bye.
49:17We don't know about the other three teams.
49:19We're going to get there.
49:20Hopefully into third place.
49:23Maybe even second.
49:25Sue and Claire make moves to get out of Georgia,
49:28just as the two teams that started this leg
49:31at the front of the pack are arriving.
49:34Baku, 6.30.
49:37Where?
49:37There, that boat.
49:39Is it leaving at half six?
49:41Yeah.
49:41Excellent.
49:43But to get ahead, rivals Josh and Felix are opting
49:47for the quicker, more expensive route all the way to Baku.
49:50How much to go to Baku?
49:53Yes?
49:54Should we do that?
49:55Yeah, let's do that.
49:5850 miles ahead.
49:59Natalie and Shamima's tactic of non-stop travel from Istanbul
50:03means they're the second team to cross the border into Azerbaijan.
50:07Azerbaijan!
50:09Azerbaijan!
50:11Everybody wants to get to Azerbaijan!
50:14But a further 320 miles ahead, Tony and Elaine,
50:18the last team to leave the Delphi checkpoint,
50:21are the first team to arrive in Baku.
50:26The capital and largest city in Azerbaijan.
50:30Sitting 28 metres below sea level,
50:33it's the lowest lying capital in the world.
50:38The lowest lying team at the start of this leg were Tony and Elaine.
50:43Having made it to Baku, they receive details of the checkpoint location
50:47on the only piece of technology permitted in the race,
50:51their GPS tracker.
50:53Please proceed to Haydar.
50:57Haydar Aliyev Centre.
50:58Right, OK.
51:02Can't wait to get to that hotel.
51:04I'll be straight in that pool if there is one.
51:05I don't know whether there will be one.
51:10I'll tell you what, a taxi would have been expensive.
51:13We've got this train going a million miles an hour
51:16and there's seven stops.
51:19Do you know Haydar Aliyev Centre?
51:23Come on.
51:26That's it.
51:26That's it.
51:27What do you think it is?
51:29I don't know.
51:30No idea.
51:32That is something else.
51:33Come on.
51:35Come on, then.
51:35Let's read this message.
51:36It should be here now.
51:37Is it in?
51:38Yeah, let's have a look.
51:40Look directly in front of you
51:41and you will see your next checkpoint,
51:43the Flame Towers Hotel.
51:46Which is in front?
51:47That way?
51:51That...
51:51Could it be this?
51:55Yeah, this is it.
51:56This is it.
51:57Come on, come on, come on.
51:58Entrance, Flame Tower Hotel.
52:01Reception.
52:06Cheers.
52:06It's blowing more.
52:15Welcome back to the world.
52:18It was nice to sign here.
52:20And you're first.
52:26Oh, my God.
52:27I'm just so, so relieved that we're still in this race.
52:33And I just want now to maintain that pace and that energy all the way through now.
52:42They will be absolutely floored when they come in.
52:47I think they'll be quite shocked that we came in first.
52:49Yeah, I think they'll be quite...
52:49Quite shocked.
52:50Yeah.
52:51Where are they?
52:51Come on, where are they?
52:56The remaining teams are closing in on the second checkpoint.
53:00All too aware the last ones to arrive will be eliminated.
53:04Never give up.
53:06No.
53:06Excuse me.
53:07Three towers.
53:08Three flames.
53:10OK.
53:13Yella, yella.
53:15My heart's going at 400 to the dozen.
53:20If Alex and Darren are beating us here, leaving at the same time, then credit for them.
53:26Because I don't think we could have done that any quicker.
53:30I've seen some amazing things.
53:32I've done some amazing things.
53:34But I'm not ready to finish yet.
53:36I want to carry on.
53:37I don't want to finish in Baku.
53:38I'm not ready to go on tomorrow.
53:44The flame tower's fantastic, mate.
53:45That's it.
53:46That's it.
53:46Let's go.
53:48Flame tower.
53:49Flame tower.
53:51That way.
53:51That way.
53:54Hello.
53:54Oh, my God.
53:57Wow.
53:59Sign us in, baby.
54:03Wow.
54:04How did they get here first?
54:05That's amazing.
54:06How the hell have they done that?
54:08I think we were just so shocked that Tony and Elaine have come in first.
54:11Yeah.
54:11Because they left last.
54:12I don't know how they've done it, but it's actually amazing that they've done that.
54:16Anyway, if we get that, we've beat both people that were ahead of us.
54:19And we improved our position.
54:21Oh, my God.
54:21It shows that we're improving on our strategy and logic in the journey, as well as continuing
54:27to have fun.
54:28It feels amazing.
54:31Just...
54:31We're still in it.
54:34We're here for another week, at least.
54:41Nice to meet you, sir.
54:42Nice to meet you.
54:43Hi.
54:43How are you?
54:43We're here.
54:43We just hope we're not the last ones to check in.
54:47Oh.
54:49Oh.
54:52Here.
54:52Okay, great.
54:53Sign us in.
54:53Sign us in.
54:54Sign us in.
54:54I don't think it's quite sunk in yet.
54:55The kind of anticipation of the journey, all of the kind of recalculations and everything
55:01that happens along the route, and then to get here and not be going home feels absolutely
55:05fantastic, but definitely, yeah, a bit of recalculating today.
55:12The race continues for the final two teams, but whoever checks in last will be going home.
55:19I don't feel like we are fighting for last place.
55:23I feel like we might be second, maybe third, maybe even first, but I don't think, oh my
55:32God, we're going to be last.
55:34As far as we're concerned, the race is still on.
55:36We both have reasons for getting to the end of this race.
55:42I want to get to Singapore.
55:44I want to see where my dad was based when he was in the RAF in 1946 to 1948.
55:50It's really important to me.
55:51It means a lot to me.
55:52So that's my motivation for just not giving up.
55:56We're not giving up yet.
56:14I think we're nearly there.
56:16The downhill is better than that.
56:23Welcome to Baku.
56:26You'd like to check in?
56:26Yes, please.
56:31Oh, my God.
56:36That's what we thought.
56:37Yeah, I know.
56:38That's what we thought.
56:39Okay, okay.
56:40We are fourth.
56:41We were so close to being marked.
56:44Wow.
56:46Well, we did everything we could, so we're last.
56:53We said from the start, at least, like, that we needed to get to this checkpoint in a good
56:57time.
56:58Good advantage.
57:00And if I'm honest, I feel like we're like ourselves now.
57:04Skin in our teeth.
57:05We're a bit worried now for the next checkpoint.
57:08But at least on the positive side is we're not going home tomorrow.
57:11That is what I'm happy about.
57:12The journey continues.
57:17It's been brilliant.
57:18It has.
57:19And we never would have had that time.
57:21No.
57:22Never would have had that time.
57:23We're all snatching, you know, the odd day here, the odd week there.
57:26The odd day there.
57:27And never having a chance to actually be together.
57:31No.
57:31And get back to where we were all those years ago.
57:36So, for me, I think that's probably more important than the whole thing.
57:39Yeah, that we've been together.
57:42Yeah.
57:42Yeah.
57:47Tony and Elaine have tipped the race entirely on its head, and it's all to play for.
57:52But with over 8,000 miles still to travel, how much will dwindling budgets play a part as race across
58:00the world continues?
58:02Next time.
58:04Stepping into the unknown.
58:05The teams head across the Caspian Sea.
58:07The storm is coming.
58:10To the wilds of Central Asia, where the teams are pushed to their limits.
58:15I'm waiting for the tough part of the journey.
58:18This may well be it.
58:19As they reach the halfway point.
58:23Come on.
58:24In the race across the world.
58:26It's called.
58:28The end of the camp.
58:30The end of each plan.
58:48The row has one ritual.
58:48The o ‹soul.