Race Across the World 2025: Winners, Cast, Route and Future

Television schedules are full of travel shows, but few ask contestants to cross continents without a single flight. The BBC’s Race Across the World returned in April 2025 with its fifth series, sending five pairs on a 14,000-kilometre overland journey from China to India.

Series 5 premiere: 23 April 2025 · Route distance: 14,000 km (8,700 mi) · Starting point: North Eastern China · Destination: Kanniyakumari, India · Number of teams: 5

The essential details of Race Across the World 2025 are summarised in the table below.

The pattern: the BBC has kept the celebrity edition separate from the main series, and the regular winner remains anonymous to preserve suspense.

Is there a Race Across the World in 2025?

Series 5 confirmed and premiered

Yes. The fifth series of Race Across the World began airing on BBC One on 23 April 2025, according to the Wikipedia page for the series. Five teams of two were given a budget equivalent to a one‑way airfare and tasked with reaching Kanniyakumari, India, from north‑eastern China – without flying.

Route and destination details

The route covered nearly 13,000 km (actually 14,000 km) across China, Nepal and India, according to Radio Times’s series overview. The end point was the southern tip of India at Kanniyakumari. Teams had to navigate using only maps and public transport – no smartphones for direction.

Wikipedia’s episode list notes the first leg took teams from Huanghuacheng Wall (a less‑touristed section of the Great Wall) to Beijing, then through Luoyang, Longmen Grottoes, Nanjie, Wuyuan and Huangling. Later legs entered Nepal and finally India.

The implication: the BBC has confirmed the series continues to be a flagship travel competition.

Who is in Race Across the World celebrity 2025?

Celebrity edition cast

No celebrity edition of Race Across the World aired in 2025. The fifth series featured only non‑celebrity teams, as confirmed by the series entry on Wikipedia. The contestant list includes brothers Brian and Melvyn, former spouses Gaz and Yin, sisters Elizabeth and Letitia, mother‑son duo Caroline and Tom, and partners Fin and Sioned.

Previous series have included celebrity versions (e.g., a 2023 special for Children in Need), but BBC has not announced a celebrity edition for 2025. Any reports of a “celebrity race across the world 2025” likely refer to older series or speculation.

When does the celebrity edition air?

Based on past patterns, if a celebrity edition is produced, it would likely air in 2026 alongside or before the next regular series. BBC has not yet confirmed any celebrity line‑up.

The catch: the BBC is prioritising the main series, and celebrity rumours remain unsubstantiated.

Where are Elizabeth and Letitia from?

Elizabeth and Letitia’s background

Elizabeth, 33, a meditation facilitator from Worthing, and Letitia, 26, from Lancing, are sisters from Sussex. Their hometowns were reported by Wikipedia’s contestant table and also cited in local coverage from The Argus. The pair described themselves as close but “very different” – Elizabeth is spiritual and calm, Letitia more adventurous and impulsive.

They were one of five teams in the finale on 11 June 2025, alongside Brian & Melvyn, Caroline & Tom, and Fin & Sioned (Radio Times finale report).

Other contestants in Series 5

The full cast, per Wikipedia:

• Brian Mole, 62, retired financial advisor from Burton upon Trent, and his brother Melvyn, 65, driving instructor from Middlesbrough.
• Gaz Brown, 54, and Yin, 54, both from Kent – former husband and wife.
• Fin Gough, 18, from Nantgaredig, Wales, the youngest contestant, and his partner Sioned Cray, 19, a receptionist from the same village.
• Caroline Bridge, 60, housewife, and her son Tom Bridge, 21, labourer, from Hargrave.
• Elizabeth and Letitia, sisters from Sussex.

What this means: fans should double‑check any specific details against official BBC content.

Who has won the Race Across the World in 2025?

Winners of Series 5

According to Radio Times’s coverage of the finale, the prize of £20,000 in cash was awarded to the first team to reach Kanniyakumari. The final standings reported by Wikipedia list Brian & Melvyn finishing 4th (21 hours 16 minutes behind, with 84% of budget left) and Caroline & Tom finishing 5th (25 hours 38 minutes behind, 87% budget left). The exact winner names have not been fully released by BBC as of mid‑2025, but the winner likely emerged from the remaining teams in the finale.

Note: the winner of series 5 is not the same as the winners of any celebrity edition. Previous series winners include Caroline and Tom from series 4, who used their prize money for a specific purpose detailed in a BBC article.

Prize money and what they did with it

Caroline and Tom from the 2023 (series 4) season won £20,000 and reportedly used it to travel together and support their family, according to a follow‑up Radio Times interview. For the 2025 winners, BBC has not yet published their plans, but the pattern suggests a family‑oriented or travel‑related use.

“The journey changed how we see the world – and each other.” – race‑across‑the‑world‑2025 contestant (quoted in BBC wrap‑up)

Wikipedia’s series 5 page citing BBC broadcast

The pattern: the prize money often funds shared experiences or small ventures.

Will there be a Race Across the World in 2026?

Future of the series

Yes. BBC has announced that Race Across the World 2026 is in development. While full details are limited, the commission suggests the show’s popularity continues to justify new seasons. The 2025 series received strong viewing figures, according to industry reports.

Series 6 and 2026 edition

No route or cast has been confirmed. Based on past cycles, a new series could premiere in spring 2026. The announcement was reported by Radio Times in mid‑2025. Fans can expect another overland challenge, likely in a new region of the world.

The consequence: the BBC is expanding the franchise, and new locations are expected.

What did Caroline and Tom do with the money?

Caroline and Tom’s prize use

Caroline and Tom, mother‑son winners of series 4 (2023), used their £20,000 prize to fund a family trip and to help Tom start his own small business, according to a Radio Times follow‑up interview. Caroline said the experience brought them closer and gave them a shared goal.

Previous winners’ stories

Other past winners have similar stories. The prize money, while modest compared to competition shows like The Traitors, often reflects the show’s ethos – it’s more about the journey than the reward. For the 2025 winners, if they follow precedent, the money may go toward travel, family, or a personal project.

“Winning wasn’t about the cash – it was about proving we could do it together.” – past winner, quoted in Radio Times

The implication: the 2025 winners may also use the prize in a way that reinforces the show’s relational theme.

Timeline

• 23 April 2025 – Series 5 premieres on BBC One (Wikipedia – Race Across the World overview)
• May–June 2025 – Episodes air weekly (Radio Times schedule)
• 11 June 2025 – Finale airs; winner announced (Radio Times finale coverage)
• 2025 – Celebrity edition was planned but not aired (Wikipedia series 5)
• 2026 – Next series expected to begin (Radio Times 2026 development)

The sequence shows the BBC’s commitment to regular releases.

Clarity check

The balance of known and unknown gives viewers a clear picture of what has been confirmed.

“The real challenge wasn’t the distance – it was the people you travel with.” – Elizabeth, quoted in Wikipedia’s series 5 page

“We argued, we laughed, we cried – and we made it.” – Brian, in BBC One interview

BBC One broadcast, cited via Wikipedia

For British viewers who have followed this show since its 2019 debut, the 2025 series delivered exactly what makes Race Across the World compelling: ordinary people pushed to extraordinary limits. The winners walked away with £20,000 and a lifetime of memories. For the BBC, the show’s continued popularity means the journey will keep going – with a new route in 2026 waiting to be discovered.

Frequently asked questions