Race Across the World budget: How much are the contestants given to survive on? | TV & Radio | Showbiz & TV
Race Across the World continues tomorrow (March 29) on BBC One at 9pm. The show is into its third season with a new group of contestants from across the UK competing to take home £20,000. Five teams will be battling it out and travelling 16,000 kilometres to cross the finish line first.
How much money are the Race Across the World contestants given?
The show kicked off recently with the teams starting off on the edge of the Pacific Ocean in Vancouver.
During their travels, they will have to make it to various checkpoints before reaching their destination at the end of the leg.
The contestants aren’t allowed to use mobile phones or credit cards to aid them, relying on the kindness of strangers and their own wits to survive.
In terms of budget, each of the teams is given only the cash equivalent of doing the same journey by airplane to their final destination.
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Some of the contestants have addressed the tight budget on the show with father and daughter duo Monique and Ladi opening up on their money constraints.
Sport and Physical Activity professional from Essex Ladi said: “I’m old school so I’m used to cash.
“I need a break away from everything where nobody can contact me because my life is busy and I’m always available 24/7.
“My partner doesn’t necessarily subscribe to that type of lifestyle, but it’s the detox away from the burden of technology, and everything else I can cope without, I think I’ll be fine.
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While his daughter Monique said: “I’m not used to cash. Even when I go abroad I use Apple Pay or cards that don’t charge you, I never take cash anywhere.”
She went on to say what she’d learnt from watching previous seasons of Race Across the World in regard to working with the cash they were given.
The event manager from east London said: “Budget, budget, budget, budget, and that’s really hard for me in my normal life, because if I ever run out of money, I go to bank of dad.
“So, I think this time I’m going to have to be frugal, and budget, but have fun along the way, obviously.”
Ladi teased: “Without giving too much away, I concur with Monique, it’s about budget, it’s about being open to people, and communicating with them in a way in which you just wouldn’t normally do in certain circumstances.
“It’s about getting to know people, because they are the font of all the information in the locality. And that’s a great tip, you can find lots of ways in which it will help you on your journey.”
Brothers Marc and Michael also opened up about being frugal with the cash they were given for their travel expenses.
Lift operator from Tamworth Marc said: “I think it’s easy saying that we’re going to be tight on money and we’re going to come up with all the right ideas, it’s easier said than done. But when you mix tiredness, hunger and no coffee, it will be hard.
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“Food and sleep are quite a big challenge for me and Michael, and we’ve both agreed it’s going to be tough.”
Friends Cathie and Tricia were also keeping in mind their cash. Local pharmacy company director Cathie said: “The money side of things and budgeting will be difficult as it’s hard to anticipate how much we will need when there are so many unknowns.”
Her friend and bank clerk from Devon Tricia said: “I’m fine without my mobile phone. I think I’ll find not having a credit card or some money of our own really odd. You’re at everyone else’s mercy. I’ll miss being able to contact my husband and sharing stuff with him.
“But it will be really quite liberating not going on social media and not getting 300 emails through. I feel a little bit, not isolated as such, but at somebody else’s mercy not having money.”
Race Across the World airs on BBC One on Wednesdays at 9pm
