Race Across The World 2023 contestants: Meet the teams taking part

Race Across The World is back for 2023 – meet the contestants taking part here!

The hit show sees teams of contestants race thousands of kilometers around the world without using air travel or other modern technology.

After giving up their phones, internet access and credit cards, the contestants must make their way to the finish line with only the cash equivalent of the plane ticket to the destination.

For 2023, the teams will travel the length of Canada, from the very edge of the Pacific Ocean in Vancouver to more than 16,000 kilometers east to St John’s Newfoundland.

Meet the contestants below…

Race Across The World contestants Cathie and Tricia

Race Around the World: Tricia and Cathie. Credit: BBC/Studio Lambert/Mackenzie Walker

49-year-old company director Cathie from South Wales and 48-year-old bank clerk Tricia from Devon are best friends.

On taking part, Cathie says: “At first, when Trish asked me if I wanted to do something completely bonkers, I said ‘yes! That sounds good’. I love to travel, but it was very much as a support for Trish.”

Tricia adds: “I like to do funny things. But for me it’s to prove to myself that I can still do well with my sight loss and that I’m not Tricia sight loss, I’m Tricia with sight loss – because a lot of people do label you. I also want to bring out that people who have suffered vision loss can still do what they want to do, of course, except drive. So, for me it’s to prove to myself that I can do it, to get some of ‘me’ back and try to get that confidence back.. I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone but Cathie because she’s the tonic for my gin..”

Claudia and Kevin

Race Around the World: Claudia and Kevin. Credit: BBC/Studio Lambert/Mackenzie Walker

53-year-old Marine Canopy Maker Kevin and 27-year-old product developer Claudia from Southampton are father and daughter.

Claudia says: “I’m looking for a little adventure, a reason to explore and develop our relationship. An excuse to get closer to dad, spend time together and hopefully create incredible memories.”

Kevin adds: “I think we’ve both had bizarre lives, we’ve traveled a bit. It’s all calmed down a bit, so when you start seeing a show like Race Across the World, you think, ‘Oh my God, this is exactly what we need.’ But at that point it’s an application form that you fill out and you think maybe there’s a 14 million to 1 chance. You never think it will happen to you.”

Ladi and Monique

Race around the world: Monique and Ladi. Credit: BBC/Studio Lambert/Mackenzie Walker

The 52-year-old sports and physical activity professor Ladi from Essex and the 25-year-old event manager Monique from East London are father and daughter.

Monique says about the entry: “So, I came across the series and told Dad I thought we could do it and it kind of just happened. My main motivations are because I like to travel, but on a vacation. So, I don’t actually travel, I’ve never owned a backpack, don’t do the whole camping thing, that’s not me. I want to challenge myself to be able to experience countries in a way that I probably never would unless it was a show like this. And who better to go with than my father, because I feel I need someone who is older, wiser and knows more about the world than me.”

Ladi adds: “I fully appreciate that answer: older, wiser, knows more about the world. I think for me the motivation to do this program is that I get to spend quality time with my daughter that I will probably never get again. Yes, she’s my daughter, and she’s always there, she’s my princess, but she’s entering her own adulthood in a way. So, this is probably going to be the last time ever that we’re going to be like this. I have to explain to her life and everything that goes with it. So, it was a great opportunity to do that.”

Mark and Michael

Race Around the World: Marc and Michael. Credit: BBC/Studio Lambert/Mackenzie Walker

36-year-old lift operator Marc from Tamworth and 34-year-old children’s services manager Michael from the West Midlands are brothers.

Michael says about signing up for the challenge: “I want to take part in it with Marc because we will have an opportunity to build a better relationship. It’s a unique chance to have protected time from our individual lives, do something together and share some incredible experiences. I know it sounds a bit corny, but it’s a once in a lifetime trip.”

Marc adds: “It’s also a chance to experience one more adventure. I’m at a stage where I’m ready to settle down, but I also want to travel.”

Mobeen and Zainib

Race Around the World: Zainib and Mobeen. Credit: BBC/Studio Lambert/Mackenzie Walker

The 31-year-old surgeon Mobeen and the 32-year-old psychiatrist from Manchester are a married couple.

Zainib says about participating: “I think there are personal reasons, individually, and there is a collective reason for both of us. I think we’ve both always talked about wanting to get a sense of adventure, to go out there and do something out of the ordinary, but then we very gradually and sort of almost insidiously slipped into this nine-to-five life. , work and then come home and that sense of adventure was completely gone. Then COVID happened, and it just felt like all we did was work and watch TV. So, for us, it’s necessary to have that sense of adventure again, we need to go back to the things that fuel our excitement. We are in our early 30’s and we live like we are in our 80’s to be honest. We just want to do something that’s not your usual.”

Mobeen agrees: “It’s a great opportunity to switch off from life, which can get a bit mundane at times, which it probably has been and the pandemic has added to that. This is just one of those opportunities that don’t come around very often. We are very grateful to have sat here to do this crazy journey.”

Race Across The World airs on BBC One on Wednesday nights at 9pm.

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