is coming back with a bang, with the new series of the BBC hit seeing a cast of budding explorers attempt to travel across Canada.
The reality contest will once again follow five pairs of friends and relatives as they race across the North American country but without smartphones, internet access or credit cards.
Banned from taking flights, the teams often end up working for travel and food, while staying on the hunt for the cheapest accommodation possible.
The previous series has challenged the teams to make their way through 16 countries in Central and South America and from to Singapore.
Canada has presented its own unique challenges,s, with each team having to carry around special fences to ward off the carnivorous mammals.
So, who are the five pairs going on a trip of a lifetime from Vancouver, British Columbia all the way to St John’s in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Let’s meet the teams of Race Across The World season 3.
Cathie and Tricia
Cathie, 49, a company director of a local pharmacy, lives in South Wales and took part in the series after her pal Tricia, 48, suggested it.
She originally agreed to support her friend but said further into the process it’s become about ‘having a break from being something to everybody’ and having the time to be ‘selfish’.
‘The timing is fantastic for me. My children have both left home now and don’t need me 24 hours a day anymore,’ she added.
Bank clerk Tricia, from Devon, said she was drawn to the show ‘to prove to myself that with my sight loss I can still do stuff.’
She continued: ‘I’m not “Sight Loss Tricia” – I’m Tricia with sight loss, because a lot of people do label you.’
Claudia and Kevin
Claudia, 27, has teamed up with her dad Kevin, 53, who both live in Southampton, to take on Canada’s wilderness.
The product developer and buyer said she was looking for ‘an excuse to get closer to dad, spend some time together, and hopefully create some incredible memories.’
Marine canopy maker Kevin, who admits they have ‘no strategy’ for Race Across The World, said he was shocked to be selected.
He added: ‘At the time, it’s an application form you fill out and you think there’s maybe 14 million to 1 odds. You never think it will happen to you.’
Ladi and Monique
Father-and-daughter duo Ladi, 52, and Monique, 25, will be battling it out against the other Race Across The World teams, although the latter admits the ‘whole camping thing is not me.’
Monique normally works in events management and lives in east London, while sport and physical activity professional and consultant Ladi reside in Essex.
She said she prefers ‘holidays’ and has ‘never owned a backpack’, but signed up for the series to ‘challenge myself to be able to experience countries in a way that I probably never would.’
Ladi said the trip would be ‘probably the last time ever that we’re going to be like this’, noting that Monique is ‘entering into her own adulthood in a way.’
‘The motivation for doing this show is that I’m going to spend quality time with my daughter that I will probably never ever get again,’ he added.
Marc and Michael
Marc, 36, is a lift operator, while his brother Michael, 34, works as a children’s services manager, and they both live in the West Midlands.
Michael said the main motivation behind joining Race Across The World is to ‘build a better relationship’ with his sibling.
The pair have already come up with a strategy, with Michael revealing: We’re trying to think about what the possible routes are.
‘We have some initial ideas about trying not to go city-based and going a bit more country, because then we get to see lots of things that we wouldn’t ordinarily see, and it might also be cheaper.’
Mobeen and Zainib
Married couple Mobeen, 31, and Zainib, 32, from Manchester, joked that they ‘live like we are in our 80s’ and want the show to break up the cycle of ‘working and watching TV.’
Psychiatrist Zainib said: ‘We have always spoken about wanting to get a sense of adventure, wanting to go out there and do something that’s out of the ordinary, but then we very gradually and sort of almost insidiously slipped into this life of nine to five, working and then coming home and that sense of adventure was completely gone.
‘Then Covid happened, and it just feels like all we’ve been doing is working and watching TV. So, for us, it’s needing that sense of adventure again – we need to go back to the things that ignite our excitement.’
Mobeen, a trauma orthopedic surgeon, added the trip had been ‘an amazing opportunity to switch off from life, which can sometimes seem to become a bit mundane.’
‘This is just one of those opportunities that doesn’t come around very often. We are very grateful to be sat here about to do this crazy journey,’ he added.
Race Across The World returns to BBC One on March 22.
