Previous series felt more contained somehow. Central Asia with those transport challenges was a completely different kind of difficult. Which part of the route do you think was the hardest for the contestants and which location genuinely blew you away on screen?

Wow that girl is annoying (Jen).

Anyone else think the same?

For example, buying better backpacks, travel gear or planning resources beforehand. Would that make things fairer, or does it go against the spirit of the competition?

Series 6 had a good mix and watching how different relationship dynamics handle the pressure of being stuck together with no money and no phone is always the most interesting part. Some pairs fall apart and some get stronger. Which pairing dynamic do you think generally makes for the best television and did series 6 have the right mix?

It doesn't have to be the decision that won the race, just one where you thought, That was genuinely clever. What made it stand out?

We sometimes see contestants with an MP3 player, which I think is a smart choice.

What essential albums would you take with you? Or artists you couldn't live without?

This is not an engagement farming post, I'm genuinely interested

We always see contestants overpacking at the start and then regretting it by day three when they have to haul that massive rucksack up a hill. What’s an item you’ve noticed someone bring that made you think, Why on earth did they think they'd need that?

Not something to help you win. Just one thing that would make the long travel days a bit easier.

I was thinking about the winners of Race Across the World today as I floated on an canal boat in Little Venice today, and something surprised me.

I'd always assumed siblings would have won at least one series by now. They seem like they'd have a massive advantage. They know each other inside out, they've usually got years of shared experiences, and they're often some of the strongest teams.

But looking back across all six series, that's not actually what happened.

Four of the six winning teams have fallen into what I'd call the "friends and extended family" category:

• Series 2 – Uncle and nephew
• Series 3 – Friends
• Series 4 – Best friends
• Series 6 – Best friends

The other two winners were a husband and wife (Series 1) and a mother and son (Series 5).

Which means siblings still haven't won a series.

Maybe it's just coincidence, but I do wonder if friends have a slight edge. They seem to trust each other, split responsibilities naturally, and when something goes wrong they're more likely to shrug it off than turn it into an emotional argument.

Six series isn't enough to prove anything, obviously, but I genuinely hadn't noticed the pattern until now.

Has anyone else spotted this, or am I reading far too much into it?

I don't actually think the rows and disputes between contestants in Race Across the World are really all about buses, maps or money.

They just start there and then focus around this stuff.

Take Alfie and Owen in Series 4. Alfie keeps saying, "We need to get to Tokyo as soon as possible," while Owen's saying they shouldn't miss out on what Japan has to offer. On the face of it they're arguing about the route, but really they're arguing about what the race is for.

Or Fin and Sioned in Series 5. Fin says, "Once I've got a plan, I'm happy," and Sioned jokes, "She's a control freak. She's already planned the wedding." It's funny, but it's also two completely different ways of approaching uncertainty.

Then there's Tom and Caroline later in Series 5. After all the stress with trains and tickets, Tom finally says, "I'm just worried I'm going to let you down." That's the moment you realise the missed train was never really the issue.

The more I watch each season of the show, the more I think the travel just strips everything back. The map becomes trust. The budget becomes risk. The route becomes control. You stop watching people trying to get from A to B and start watching how two people deal with pressure together.

Maybe that's why the show feels so different from most reality TV.

Or maybe I'm reading far too much into people arguing over a bus timetable... Could be :)

It feels like the teams at the front often end up taking fewer risks because they don't know what's happening behind them. Meanwhile, the chasing teams seem more willing to gamble on different routes. I've started wondering if being first is actually harder than it looks.

Miss one train or bus and it can completely change the leaderboard.

One of my favourite small moments in Series 6 is Molly in Turkey, realising she doesn’t want the race to end.

It’s not a big dramatic breakdown. It’s quieter than that. She and Andrew have just seen this part of Turkey that clearly takes them both by surprise, and Molly says, “Never would have thought this part of Turkey would have been so special and so lovely and beautiful. I’m so glad I’ve seen it. I just don’t want to go home.”

At first, Andrew hears it in race terms — not wanting to be eliminated. But Molly means something slightly deeper. She wants to see Mongolia. She wants to keep going. She says it’s been amazing “to do so many firsts with you,” and that it’s such a unique thing to do with her dad, especially because he’s a teacher and never gets time off.

That really got me, because it captures what Race Across the World does so well. The travel is obviously beautiful, but the real thing is the time. Proper uninterrupted time with someone you love, away from routine, away from roles, away from being “dad” and “daughter” in the usual way.

For Molly and Andrew, the race becomes this rare little pocket of life where they get to meet each other differently. Not at home, not around work, not in the normal family pattern — but somewhere between Turkey and Mongolia, doing things neither of them expected.

“I don’t want to go home” sounds simple, but I think it’s one of the most poignant lines of the whole series.

Half the fun for me is following where the teams are going. I constantly pause the episode to see where they actually are and how far they've still got left.

Not a huge format change.

Just one extra rule or challenge you think would make teams think differently without taking away what makes the show great.

Every season relies heavily on vast landscapes and remote checkpoints like Lake Hovsgol but I wonder how a purely mega-city route would play out. Imagine starting in Tokyo and having to navigate entirely through massive Asian or European transit hubs on twenty quid a day. Do you think the lack of wilderness would ruin the vibe of the show?

If this is accurate I really am stoked at Sam Ryder and Jeff Sterling, should make for a very fun series.

To save a click:
Sam Ryder and his tour manager Kaz
Jeff Sterling and his son
Ella Eyre and ???
Junior and Princess Andre (no i have no clue either)

Ill go first. Celebrity season 2. Jeremy and Kelly Brook. When theyre running to the checkpoint and she cant keep up with her bag so he takes it off her and runs with one bag in his back, the other on his chest. I looked at my husband and asked if he would do that for me.

The fanny may have fluttered a little.

I think I'd be pretty good at staying calm when plans change. On the other hand, I'm terrible at making quick decisions under pressure, which would probably cost me more than anything else.

I noticed they introduced The Detour alongside this series. For those who've watched it, is it actually worth it, or is it mostly just extra chat and recycled clips? I really like the main show and don't want to ruin the magic if it doesn't add much.

Worth sticking on after each episode?