Race Across the World (2019) s01e06 Episode Script
Marina Bay - Singapore
1
45 days ago,
a once-in-a-lifetime race began.
For six pairs of ordinary Brits,
an extraordinary 12,000-mile journey
from London to Singapore
without taking a single flight.
All they had - the price of an
airfare on the day of departure.
What am I doing? Holy moley,
that's going to be tough.
They've crossed deserts
This is where you get
to find out about yourself.
..seas
The storm is coming!
..and jungles.
Whoa! A snake! Oh, my God!
They've battled extreme weather
I'm at breaking point.
..intense heat
I need to just sit down a minute.
I'm going to be bare bones
and a pile of sweat.
..and a typhoon
Why the hell did I do this?
..all without the trappings
of modern-day life.
We may not be eating tonight.
I'd give anything for a flight.
No smartphones
Is that where it is?
..and no bank cards.
No euro? No euro.
Oh, that's problem.
The rewards have been great.
I've been able
to appreciate the world.
Most people would go from A to B
on a plane,
but then they'd miss all this.
This is what we were searching for.
A £20,000 prize awaits
the winners
I'm going to start playing dirty.
Are you?
They're playing mind games
and intentionally trying
to stress us out.
That's the best thing that's
happened in this entire trip.
This is just once-in-a-lifetime.
It's an amazing privilege.
Come on, come on!
..as they approach
the finish line
Shift your butt. Come on!
..on their Race Across the World.
50 days - blood, sweat, tears.
Previously
It's race day!
..with Singapore getting
ever closer
Nice to have a little jog in the
morning with 60 kilos on your back!
..the teams raced through
Southeast Asia
We need to be quick.
..to the penultimate checkpoint.
Koh Rong.
By stopping for cash
Every little bit of money
is going to count.
..and to feed the locals
I hope these bloody elephants
are hungry.
..Darron and Alex
grew ever closer
Doing something like this,
we bonded even more.
..but gambled with their lead.
Tony and Elaine in a tuk-tuk.
Seriously?
Taking full advantage
You're kidding me!
..Tony and Elaine hauled themselves
back into contention
with the father and son team to
finish the leg as joint leaders
Yes!
..while for the other two teams
Shameema! Josh and Felix.
..storm clouds gathered
There's a flood.
..leaving them washed up
in last place.
I'm signing in.
All four teams, they're in it still.
Checkpoint five.
A last chance for the teams
to catch their breath.
With money in short supply,
they're about to begin the dash
to the finish line in Singapore
1,500 miles away.
Dad! Come on.
You ready, big man?
Let's come back to this resort.
Just for a day or couple of days?
Couple of days. And then go
to the party island for a bit.
Will you bring your Chinese
girlfriend with you?
Oh, shut up, Tony!
I'm single!
Setting off with a 16-hour lead
over their rivals -
retired teachers Tony and Elaine
This is going to be nice
and sweaty for you!
..and Darron and Alex.
Let's go get one of these.
We're definitely not here just
to make up the numbers.
We're here to win.
It's as simple as that.
Alex has got a lot more
people skills,
where I'm probably more
logical, calculated.
I think those skills combined
make us a very effective team.
Definitely.
How are you, Dazzle, this morning?
Shivering and vomiting
through the night. Ah!
Oh, no! Think it's sunstroke
Ah, yeah. ..or something. Yeah.
Really pleased to hear about that.
We're extremely competitive.
I didn't realise Elaine was,
but she's actually
more competitive than me.
I'm competitive within myself.
So, like, if I do a half a marathon
in two hours,
then I want to do it
in one hour, 59 minutes.
I'll push myself
to improve performance.
We're going to win this race.
With a mammoth 11,000 miles
behind them,
this final leg will see the teams
race the length of Thailand
and into Malaysia, before heading
for the finish line in Singapore.
First, they need to head out
of Cambodia.
First one to Singapore
Take your marks.
Get set. Go!
Our philosophy is,
we've got to keep moving.
We've taken the expensive way -
a taxi to the border,
which is 500km.
We have around 500,
but all our money's going
to go on travel this leg.
With the healthiest
budget remaining,
Tony and Elaine are taking
a direct route along the coast
to the Thai border town of Trat.
But with public transport options
limited, taxis are a must.
60. Best 60 I've ever spent,
I think.
We've made the choice.
We've just got to stick with it.
It's pretty nerve-racking
at this stage.
It'll be people that haven't
got the money
that will go the other way.
We only have 200 exactly
to get to Singapore.
Cash-strapped Darron and Alex
are taking a different route -
back to the Cambodian capital
of Phnom Penh.
I think we've made that decision
because we have very little money.
There, they can take advantage of
cheap and frequent public transport
to the Thai capital, Bangkok,
but it will add 200 miles
to their journey.
Our strategy will be
save on accommodation
by travelling at night,
eat just before we pass out and die
and we always use someone else's
toilet paper.
Not USED toilet paper.
I think if we did it in four days,
we would be expecting
to come in first.
I suspect it's going to be closer
to five days, and
..anybody's.
As two teams head towards Thailand,
the others must wait
to leave the checkpoint.
Right now, us two, Josh and Felix
are in last place. Yeah.
It's anyone's game. Tony and Elaine,
they were two days behind.
They've gone from last place
to first place twice. I know.
With everyone this close
coming into this last leg,
there will be a moment where we go,
"This is that roll of the dice,"
and we're going to leap ahead
of everyone else.
And it's possible.
Like, it's possible.
We want to win this race.
There's no second chances any more.
This is it. It's the final.
This last leg needs to just be
just about the race. The race.
We need to go at 12:30. It's
As soon as possible.
We can't sit here for two hours.
Two?
Ow!
Gearing up for a six-hour
bus journey to Phnom Penh,
Darron and Alex.
Oh, my God!
It's mainly my shoulders
what are burning.
Looks painful. It's very painful.
Just be gentle, Alex, please.
My skin is on fire.
I feel like we've done all this.
We can face most things now.
And you know when locals are looking
at you, going "That must hurt!"
They do, don't they?
Phnom Penh? Yeah. Thank you.
Next stop, Phnom Penh.
And then from there, Bangkok.
100 miles to the west
Leaving Cambodia with
a beautiful smile!
..Tony and Elaine are the first team
to cross into Thailand.
Drawing over 35 million
visitors a year,
Thailand is celebrated
for its Buddhist history.
Once known as the Kingdom of Siam,
its capital, Bangkok,
is home to the world's largest
solid gold Buddha.
At three metres high and
five and a half tonnes,
it has an estimated value
of 250 million.
We're in Thailand! And it's the best
border crossing going ever!
Some of the borders we've come over,
it's just, like, scary hairy.
This is Everybody's welcoming you
and it's party time.
It feels good.
We're over the border in ten hours.
When do we go? How long?
Heading to the Thai town of Trat
Go now? Yeah. Oh, good! Thank you.
1,200, two people? Yeah. Good.
..they aim to catch an
onward connection to Bangkok.
You are joking me!
Oh, God!
A yogurt split all over his back.
Who put it in there?
What a bloody dipstick.
Who would put a yogurt in my pocket
and not tell me?
Well, where else did you want me?
If we bring a yogurt in
the baking heat
Who put it in the side
of the rucksack?
160 miles behind
Well, we're in
Phnom Penh again, Dad.
..Darron and Alex have arrived
in the Cambodian capital.
This bustling city is home
to over two million people.
It seems to be continuous rush hour.
It never seems to stop.
And at this time of year,
the population swells even farther
for the Bon Om Touk Water Festival -
marking an extraordinary
annual phenomenon
when the monsoon rains cause the
Tonle Sap River to reverse its flow.
We'll try and get
to Bangkok tonight?
Alex, I'll wait out here,
let you do the dealing.
Hello. Hello. Bus to Bangkok?
9:15, Bangkok?
OK. 21 each possible?
Please? 42? No. Please?
Please? No! Please!
We can't afford 25 for a ticket
to Bangkok each.
We're planning on 50 a day budget.
Even if it's a dollar cheaper
per person,
that's massive for us. It means
we can have a We can eat.
It's that significant.
Please?
OK. Thank you. I hate begging,
but I'm doing anything that I can
to make it to Singapore.
I've got to do it.
Thank you.
Thank you very much. Thank you.
Oh, my gosh!
I'm so uncomfortable.
It's only for 12 hours.
Alex has got a lot more life at
the moment. He's gained his focus.
And I'm hoping until I recover,
his energy will drag me along.
It's a bit weird now.
We've swapped roles.
That used to be me - "Wah!
Can't be bothered! I'm tired!
"I'm stressed! Don't want
to carry on no more."
And now, I'm trying to tell him
he's got to get on with it.
Otherwise, we're not going
to make it.
Good luck.
Goodnight.
My sunburns hurt so much!
8am.
Entering the final leg of the race,
Natalie and Shameema
and Josh and Felix.
Bye, island!
Getting to the finish line is
going to be a massive achievement.
That's the main race for us.
257.27.
How long is that going to last?
Felix and I's ability to rely on
each other,
even when the going
gets really tough,
our ability to take risks,
hopefully that will stand us
in really good stead.
Feel like I'm getting
really emotional!
It has been an opportunity
of a lifetime!
Winning, to me,
is not about the money.
Being able to spend all that time
with my sister.
Don't make me get out
the stolen toilet roll!
I like to win everything.
On sports days, I've won every
mums' race for the last 15 years.
Nobody wants to race me any more.
It's OK, baby.
God!
We're absolutely
brass knuckles broke.
With money worries of their own,
Josh and Felix head in the same
direction as Darron and Alex
We're going to get the 3:30 bus
to Phnom Penh.
..opting for cheap public transport
to get them to Thailand.
But we know that it's probably
12 hours from there to Bangkok.
We don't really have the funds
to pay for accommodation.
It's always good to be on the road.
Every road leads to Singapore -
apart from this one, which goes
in the opposite direction.
Natalie! Yeah?
There's a taxi here now, for 60!
Let's go!
With their healthier budget,
Natalie and Shameema can afford
to travel in style.
We are heading to the border.
We're starting off our journey
fast and in comfort
Fast and furious! ..because we have
the money to do that.
As much as we like saving money,
we really enjoy spending money.
So, why not spend it
in the last leg?
When I started off, I wanted
to do this for my girls,
I wanted to do it for my friends,
I wanted to do it for my family.
But now I feel like
I'm doing this for myself.
I want to do this for myself.
And for our team, and for you.
Don't touch me!
As the last two teams make
their way out of Cambodia,
Darron and Alex cross the border
into Thailand.
I feel a little cheerier today.
And with Darron's
appetite returning
How much? Please?
..they grab a budget breakfast.
Ugh! Go on, just get it over with!
It's a locust.
It's not bad at all!
It don't taste too nice.
Cheap, high in protein.
The larvae are the worst bit.
They, like, got a gooey centre.
You can finish them.
They're horrible.
Let's go catch a bus anyway.
Ugh! Eurgh!
Still 1,300 miles from Singapore
20, 40, 60, 80
100. 125
..dollars.
Ouch.
We are royally screwed, aren't we?
Desperately in need of cash,
Alex searches the jobs directory
for local work.
This. I'm not looking after dogs.
It's the best one.
I don't care, I'm not looking
after dogs. I hate dogs.
Do we need money? Yes, we do.
What's your favourite three words?
"Suck it up."
150 miles further into Thailand,
Tony and Elaine have already
reached the capital.
I wonder if there's a Metro
in Bangkok.
Well, this is it. This is
overland, not underground.
The most visited city in the world.
Its grand palaces and temples
compete with a vibrant nightlife
and bustling street stalls.
We've been up since four o'clock
discussing every route,
every possibility of timings.
You know, we're going out of our way
to find the cheapest, quickest.
I don't think we've worked as hard
on any other leg
as we're working on this leg.
Right, hold my hand, Elaine.
Aiming to increase their lead, the
couple are booking an overnight bus
to the coastal town of Krabi.
No time for the beach.
We're in a race.
The fact that we can keep moving
is absolutely
..Bobby Dazzle.
Can you put these on for me, please?
Oh, my God.
You're 60, not 80.
That's it. We're on our way
to Krabi overnight.
I thought we might have a little
pod to sleep in,
but we've just got an upright seat,
but it's comfortable so far.
I'm so not going to like this place.
Darron and Alex have arrived
for a shift at a canine training
school on the outskirts of Bangkok.
I'm only here because of the money.
With 300,000 stray dogs
on the streets of Bangkok,
the authorities have been
clamping down.
They're going to be on the lead
all the time?
And for owners who can afford it,
a number of day-care centres
have sprung up.
Just to look at them scares me.
Look.
The centre offers dog training
and walking services
for Bangkok's wealthy residents.
We've been stuck on a ship full
of drunken, quite violent sailors,
but this is way out
of my comfort zone.
We essentially need to do things
we're uncomfortable with doing
to make it to Singapore, cos
otherwise
I feel like we've got no chance.
I mean, look. I've got a mad dog
at the side of me.
Purely for the money.
For £45 and a free night's
bed and board
Come on, Pepper.
..the boys will be employed
as dog walkers.
Pepper, sit.
I can't believe we're getting
paid for this.
It's literally just walking a dog
back and forth,
teaching it a couple of tricks.
Oi!
Dogs are not my thing.
We don't get on.
I don't particularly
like cats either.
I don't feel comfortable
around them.
I don't like hamsters either,
to be honest.
Hamsters can be quite mean.
But dogs are a little more out and
about. Hamsters are easier to avoid.
I think he's doing well.
I'm proud of him.
Dad, you coping all right?
How are you feeling?
I've I've had better days.
Oh, God.
It just feels horrible.
You missed a bit. Yeah.
While Darron and Alex
get their hands dirty
..Natalie and Shameema
are closing in on the leaders.
We're in Thailand!
Their decision to take a taxi
to the border
means they're just 250 miles
behind Tony and Elaine.
The dream is an overnight bus
or train to Bangkok.
The dream is happening right now
because I am in Thailand.
Thai food in Thailand.
We're happy.
God it gets bigger and bigger.
Too much choice.
Thailand is
It just looks incredible.
Feel like there's so much to do.
But we really want to come first.
It's about winning this leg
and just trying to make a decision
that gets us from last place
to first place.
The other teams have done that,
so it's possible.
So we want it to be possible for us.
Still in Cambodia
Two people, one dollar.
One dollar, come on.
Do me a favour, I've had a really
long day. Go on. One dollar.
Josh and Felix have made it
to Phnom Penh.
Trying to keep pace with
the other teams,
the boys race to make an overnight
connection to Bangkok.
If we hotfoot it across town, uh,
we might well be able to book
our passage to Bangkok.
Is this the bus?
Yeah, yeah, OK.
This one takes us there
to the border at 5am
and then 1pm, we'll be in Bangkok.
So quite happy, pretty
seamless transition.
Josh is a little bit nervous
about the sleeping conditions,
but I think it's going to be great.
It's like being in a coffin.
After one day of racing,
Josh and Felix are the last team
to leave Cambodia,
while Natalie and Shameema are
closing in on the Thai capital.
We are on a bus to Bangkok.
Long-term goal achieved in one day.
Still stationary, Darron and Alex
are on the outskirts of Bangkok,
staying overnight in the free room
provided by the day's dog walking.
You're a totally different
person now.
Mainly more mature.
Generally speaking, I think
we've done pretty well. I do.
We'll do what we can
to get to Singapore.
It's not over till
we've got one dollar left.
I've got total faith in you.
Since the race began 47 days ago
We've got to be at least jogging.
..Darron and Alex have gained
more than just stamps
in their passports.
Alex and I used to be really close.
Without a shadow of a doubt,
we have drifted apart.
What do you want to do?
At first I don't want
to sleep outside.
..things were far
from plain sailing.
You said don't want to do that.
What do you want to do?
Don't have a clue.
And, at times, they were pushed
almost to breaking point.
Am I allowed to bang his head
against the wall on camera?
But as the race gained momentum
Good morning, Vietnam!
Oh, no, shut up.
..their confidence
in each other grew.
Come on, Dad. I'm guessing
it's round and up.
Let's do this.
We're doing it together
and he's been there for me
more than what he would
have done before.
A hug?
Now just over 1,000 miles stands
between them
and the £20,000 first prize.
7am.
Tony and Elaine are 723 miles
from Singapore
and are currently
the closest team to the finish line.
Oh, God almighty.
But 12,000 miles have come
at a cost for 61-year-old Tony.
After our coach journey down here,
the last thing you want to do is
stretch down and twist
and try to put your shoes on.
And that is exactly what
I've done this morning.
He's aggravated an old back injury.
Tony and Elaine's race
is at a standstill.
During this race, I think age
will be a challenge.
You know, it's a long, long way.
Getting out of bed on a morning,
you know, there's a few aches
and things don't quite work
the way they used to.
I'm sure we would have found it
a lot easier maybe 20,
30 years ago.
Tony's back is bad.
Are you sure?
We will spend the day
in the swimming pool,
see if we can get
Tony's back better.
What I'm trying to do here
in this very cold swimming pool -
the water's got no heating in -
and I hope that will take some
inflammation down on my back.
And I'd need four or five hours
in here today,
just moving it and hopefully
free it up.
Tony definitely doesn't look
in a good way.
I'm really concerned about him
because when it's like this,
it could just go at any time.
At the moment, he's moving but once
it goes for real, he cannot move.
That's it. We're out of the race.
Josh and Felix have reached Bangkok.
Hey, man. We're trying to get
to Khaosan Road.
Tickets booked, the boys head off
to explore a budget hotspot.
So, this is it. Khaosan Road.
I've never seen so many
harem pants in one place.
Known as the centre
of the backpacking universe,
the 400-metre long street is packed
full of budget hotels, cafes, bars
and restaurants, filled with
travellers from every corner
of the world.
Very much the gap-year
traveller Mecca.
Josh and Felix are used to life
in each other's pockets.
We're the perfect partnership.
I've spent probably eight hours
with him a day
for the last eight years.
But with their current business -
a music and arts venue -
coming to an end
In four months' time, unfortunately,
none of this will be here.
It'll be knocked down and turned
into luxury flats.
We've got two months to decide
what our future is.
..their next venture together
isn't clear.
I just really want
what we build next,
I want it to be, like, long term.
If you want security, then become
a teacher or a banker or something.
Why don't we just sit down there
and have a beer?
During the boys' trip
This place looks way better.
..there have been bumps in the road.
You're such a douche bag sometimes.
Wow. What?
Why say that?
But with the end of the race
fast approaching,
what they'll do when they get home
is coming into focus.
Both of us are feeling really
creative and feeling like
we've soaked up so much culture,
food, excitement, atmosphere,
that we'll have the energy
which we needed
to start something afresh.
Travelling through these incredibly,
like, different and wonderful
environments, like,
that's going to bring some
completely mad flavour back
to what we do.
I'm excited. I'm hyped.
Whenever we go away together,
there's moments of
absolute epiphany.
We want to start a small restaurant
which we want to be inspired
by this trip and some of the sights,
sounds and flavours
of the street markets and the drama
of food preparation that we've seen.
There's been loads of moments
of inspiration.
How can you not be inspired
by walking through the backstreets
of Xi'an or wandering on deck at
midnight on a ship in the Caspian?
I feel so inspired and I've seen
people all over the world who work
really, really, really hard
just to get by.
One of the things that this journey
has really reminded me
is that there is magic out there,
you just have to look up
from your smartphone to see it.
Train information desk.
Across the city at Bangkok
train station
Which way's the quickest
to Malaysia?
..Natalie and Shameema hatch a plan
to overtake their rivals.
Right. Get a train
from here to Surat Thani.
Then you're eight hours away
from the border.
They've secured a cheap ticket
for a fast train down the east coast
of Thailand to Surat Thani.
Josh and Felix are boarding
an overnight bus to Krabi,
following the same route
as Darron and Alex,
who departed only an hour earlier.
All three teams are eating
into Tony and Elaine's lead,
as they've been unable to move
since this morning.
An afternoon in the pool
seems to have worked wonders
on Tony's bad back.
He's keen not to stiffen up
and decides to self-medicate.
Free shots.
MUSIC: Baseline Junkie
by Dizzee Rascal
Tony's, uh, MC-ing.
I've never downed a shot in my life.
However, I'm drinking
this bottle of vodka.
Cheers.
Mm!
What this race has taught me
is actually I need to explore
and visit places and be on the move
and see things before it's too late.
Because that is what makes me
really happy.
The beer pong game is
really complicated.
It's a really good drinking game.
I just gave my last drink to Tony,
because I've got to get up at five,
got to be out of here by six,
and it ain't going to happen if I
have too many of those vodka things.
I'm going to be very sensible
because I'm in a race.
How are you going to feel,
as it's coming to being all over?
Yeah, it'll be difficult,
cos it's become a way of life.
Quite an appealing way of life.
That's what I'm here thinking,
and I've got really mixed
emotions about it all.
I know. I'm not sure I'm ready
to go back to life.
I think I want to carry on.
As dawn breaks,
Natalie and Shameema's overnight
train has arrived in Surat Thani.
Check out the train station now
and then later,
we can check the buses.
Known in Thai as
"the city of good people",
it's the main jumping off point
for travellers heading to some
of Thailand's more famous islands.
The town also has great transport
links to the Malaysian border.
So we've just got to Surat Thani,
after I think it's been 13 hours
on the train. Has it been 13 hours?
Yeah. I didn't sleep at all.
Before we make ourselves exhausted,
we need to rest
so we can get back on the road.
So it's nice to able to spend
a bit of time here.
The girls head to the tranquillity
of a local temple.
When you're doing a journey like
this,
you can't help but
..reflect on your day or your life.
About six years ago now, I got hit
by a car on the way to work.
And I nearly died.
So that's why I decided to go away.
Travelling has meant to me
that I have been able
to just appreciate the world
and appreciate people.
Could I hug you? OK!
I can just look at this amazing
thing we've done.
All the different parts
of this journey,
where we've made connections
with people, had amazing times.
Do you have any euros?
SINGS: We've got the tickets
to Thessaloniki.
Where's your shoes?
Do you want this?
And we can just pocket that
and when I'm feeling down,
they'll be my flashes of,
"Honey, you're quite bad-arse."
95 miles west.
Krabi bus station.
Darron and Alex have just arrived
on the overnight bus from Bangkok.
They were sat there.
They're obviously now going to be
buying onward tickets.
Tony!
Just get in, what you doing
stuck out there?
Do you like all this cloak
and dagger stuff?
40-odd years of marriage
and I didn't realise
you were so sneaky.
Everyone has the potential.
She should be in the MI5.
Through the bushes.
Behind a van. And now she's hiding
behind a blue bus.
Despite her covert mission
..Elaine is spotted by Alex.
Look who there is.
Hello!
How are you? I'm all right.
You? Good to see you.
How are you? Did you go through
Phnom Penh?
Or did you go the coastal way?
Um, we went through Phnom Penh.
You went through Phnom Penh? Wow.
How long you been here?
At this stage in the game,
I think, Darron
OK. Next time,
I won't tell you anything.
Well, I've heard him telling him
a load of things we haven't done,
so I'd rather not lie.
You just told him stuff.
Yeah. Which are a load of lies.
You can't kid a kidder, as they say.
She just said they're
a load of lies.
We're tactical now.
Hey-up, this is coming in here.
Well, good luck.
See you later.
Tony and Elaine board their coach
to the border town of Hat Yai.
Alex was so disappointed
when I wouldn't tell him.
I were rude to him and stuff like
that, and I just felt really bad.
It's horrible. It's not right.
With the finishing line in sight,
the pressure of the competition
is hitting Alex hard.
"Oh, can't say anything.
Oh, we're keeping quiet.
"I don't want to lie."
Well, they haven't been like that
before, so they've changed.
It's ridiculous.
Alex.
Just leave me alone.
Let's go and enjoy the beach.
With three hours to spare before
their coach to Hat Yai departs,
Darron takes Alex
for some time out.
It's a pretty cool place to spend
some time, isn't it? Yeah.
I'd love to visit all the islands.
Not all of them, but some of them.
So would I.
You never know.
Might be back here next year.
Maybe. Jumping on a boat,
exploring these islands together.
I'd love to.
You never know, do you?
I am really, really proud
of what you've achieved. Thank you.
You've done some amazing things.
Proud of what we've
achieved together.
Yeah, but there's been times
when I've struggled
or there's been times when
you've just upped your game big time
and I'm really proud of you
for doing that.
I probably don't tell you enough,
but you know I love you to bits.
I love you too.
Can't believe it's coming to an end.
I know, going to be sad, isn't it?
It is quite sad.
Then when we go back, it's going
to feel really, really weird
being on my own, like. It is.
I won't know what to do with myself.
I would be gutted if we don't
come first.
I want my hug, even if we don't.
Is there any need? Sorry.
Oh, I'm as bad now, it were a leaf.
Try and keep dry.
I know. I'm sorry. I freaked out.
It must be a carnivorous leaf.
It's coming for you now, Alex.
I've got my passport and that in it.
Right
..let's get on with the race.
A third team arrive in Krabi.
Budget is not so much dripping away
as pouring away.
Got about 118 to get from Krabi
to Singapore,
which is about 18
for food, accommodation
for the next three days.
Josh and Felix are running on empty.
Night of discomfort,
dawn of happiness.
Lack of food and money
means they'll need to work
to reach Singapore.
Through the jobs directory,
they've secured some manual labour
at a beach-side hostel.
Yes, please.
In the heat of the midday sun,
their job - re-level the floor
of the beach bar
in exchange for free food.
Very hard to carry.
You're looking thinner than you
were before you set off.
Yeah, I haven't eaten for
about four days, mate.
Neither have you.
It's good to be able
to earn our keep.
This is digging for victory.
Now we're going to have some food.
This is the best thing
to happen to me in days.
Mm! Mm!
Shift over, stomachs filled
and batteries recharged,
Josh and Felix get back to the race.
Oh, why are we leaving?
With their noses back in front,
180 miles away,
Tony and Elaine have made it
to the border town of Hat Yai
..a major jumping off point
for travellers heading
to and from Malaysia.
Singapore.
They're aiming for
a direct connection
to the finish line 550 miles away.
No, today.
Today? Yeah.
Two persons.
With only limited buses each day,
tickets sell out fast.
Six o'clock.
That's good. That's good.
Perfect.
That is such a relief.
I thought there'd be no tickets.
They've managed to get the only
remaining tickets
on the last direct bus to Singapore.
Utterly beside myself,
getting on the last,
last big transport we're going
to ever get on to finish this race.
How good is that?
Here we go to the border.
When we started the race,
we didn't have much hope
of finishing
in too high a position.
And now we have a really good chance
of doing ourselves proud,
and anybody over 60 proud, you know,
because we are in with a shout
of actually winning it.
Quickly.
But hot on their heels,
it's Darron and Alex.
Learning there's no direct
bus to Singapore,
they have to settle for the next
quickest option -
a fast bus via
the Malaysian capital
To Kuala Lumpur tonight.
Now? Sets off now?
..leaving right away.
How much?
We really, really need
this connection.
Hopefully, we've got
something and
..we've got enough money.
600. 600 baht. For two tickets.
For two tickets.
How much more do I need? 50?
We have 520. And 20.
I've got them.
Thank you.
We got our connection.
Wow, that was intense.
We knew it we were going to be.
Just can't believe we made
that connection.
Good call about grabbing
the bags and I running in.
Yep. That's a game changer.
Frontrunners Darron and Alex
and Tony and Elaine
are racing the length of Malaysia.
Further north, Josh and Felix
Kuala Lumpur.
..and Natalie and Shameema are
trying to make their connections.
We want to go to Kuala Lumpur.
Yes, please.
That's it? That's the last train?
Yeah.
Stranded in Hat Yai,
the two teams have fallen even
further behind the race leaders,
who are fast approaching
Kuala Lumpur -
the last capital
before the finish line.
200 miles from Singapore
and a significant bump in the road
for Tony and Elaine.
Oh, you are joking.
The bus has broken down.
My back's worse.
This is just exactly
what I feared, really.
The Malaysian capital
of Kuala Lumpur,
220 miles from the finish line.
To Singapore Beach Road.
Two tickets. Please. Please.
Passport.
Darron and Alex are booking
their final connection.
We've got the tickets.
ELAINE: We've now got
to change coaches.
Yeah.
Great.
This one? Yeah.
Whatever lead we had
has now been lost.
They'll be going faster.
They won't be having as many stops.
We haven't got that speed.
Of course we have.
We don't, really, not with you
as you are, Tony.
Singapore
..the furthest point from London
accessible by road and rail.
It normally costs between
£800 to £1,500 to fly here,
but, without taking a single flight,
the first of our teams
who have travelled over 12,000 miles
in 50 days
are just arriving
on the outskirts of the city.
The £20,000 prize awaits
the winning team.
Taxi to Singapore.
Where are you going to, please?
Just to the centre.
Lying one degree north of
the equator,
the island city state of Singapore.
5.6 million residents are squeezed
into this former British colony,
made up of just 278 square miles -
half the size of London.
In 1819, Sir Stanford Raffles
founded colonial Singapore
as a trading post
of the British East India Company
and it has developed into a hub
for finance,
technology and innovation.
If you see an old man and
a young boy carrying rucksacks,
just mow them down for us.
Yeah, they're our rivals.
Today, Singapore
is generally considered
to be the most expensive
city in the world.
This is it, Dad. Singapore. This
is the moment. Final destination.
Oh, I'm excited!
Final checkpoint.
Let's do this. Alex
Keep focused. Go, go, go.
We're racing close
to the checkpoint,
but we've still got
to be aware of money.
We don't know what else
is going to happen.
We may not even have enough
to get us there.
They could be in that taxi in front.
Just don't know any more.
At the mouth of the Singapore River
stands the country's
national symbol,
the Merlion Statue
Thank you so much.
..a mythical sea creature
made up of a lion's head
and a fish's body.
Here it is. A Mer-lion, literally.
Right, let's have a look.
Message. What does it say?
Tony and Elaine receive details
of their final destination
on their GPS tracker.
Proceed on foot
over the Jubilee Bridge.
Past the grandstand,
which is over there.
To the checkpoint at the
Marina Bay Sands Tower One.
And could that be where
that boat is, on top of that?
That would be awesome.
The Marina Bay Sands Hotel
is the final checkpoint.
Built in 2010,
it boasts three hotel towers,
2,500 rooms
and, today, a £20,000 prize
awaits the winners.
Don't you do your back in!
We said we'd go steady.
We said we'd go steady.
Don't go too fast, Alex,
you burn out, then. I know, but
It's tough.
Oh, BLEEP. They're there, look,
at the lion.
Can you see them?
Yeah, I can see them.
Shift your butt, come on.
Are you sure?
I think it's them. Oh, Tony!
Yeah, they're on the bridge.
Just keep moving. No time to stop.
I'm moving, I'm moving.
I'm digging deep
for the finish lineright now.
Catch my breath.
Come on, Alex. Keep the pace up.
It's right there.
It's in touching distance.
Tony, check-in's here.
Hello, there.
This is for us? Yes.
The finishing line It's at the
mast on the observation deck.
Where's the observation deck?
The finish line and the £20,000
prize is now only a lift ride away.
But there is one final hurdle -
entrance to the observation deck
costs 23 Singapore dollars each.
Observation deck.
Just two. Please.
US dollar?
But we only have US dollars.
Oh, no. You're kidding me.
I told you.
Where?
Watch them come down as we go up.
Oh, shut up, Tony.
Just get the bloody money changed.
Alex, it says this way. Hotel, here.
Oh, my God, they're there.
No, they're not.
I bet they're bloody sitting up
there, having a beer. Having a beer.
Two, please.
Thank you. Oh, we've got change.
Darron and Alex are going
to be there. Yeah.
And if they're there
We've just got to congratulate them.
..well done.
Absolutely fantastic.
We've come all this way.
50 days. Blood, sweat, tears.
20K could be up there right now.
Let's just get there, Alex.
The Marina Bay Sands observation
deck soars 57 levels
above the heart of Singapore,
boasting spectacular views
of the entire city.
There it is, the famous book.
ELAINE: Oh, the book!
Are you ready? Do it.
We'll do it together.
Are you ready?
Oh, Jesus.
LAUGHING: Oh, my God!
Oh, my God! We did it!
Yes! Yes!
Oh, my days!
We've done something I know.
Oh! I knew it, I knew it.
Fair play to them.
It's surreal, isn't it?
It's surreal.
It's like Leicester winning
the Premiership.
I'm feeling ecstatic.
Totally elated. Yeah.
And we're the oldest team
in the competition by far.
First place. Down in one?
And the pensioners, we are OAPs,
we've beaten all these youngsters.
How that has happened,
I'm not quite sure.
Oh, that's nice.
Well done, Tony and Elaine.
Actually doing this experience and
doing this journey, I've seen a lot,
I've done a lot. I've learned a lot
about my dad along the way.
And that's the main thing really.
And the fact that we did it,
we did London to Singapore.
I'm happy. Look where we are.
We made it after 50 days.
We've had a fantastic time together.
We've bonded more than either of us
really expected. Definitely.
Ultimately, it were a success.
What we've seen and what we've done
along the way is priceless.
Before this journey, we were
estranged father and son, really.
Now we are father and son
and we will always be that.
But I think now we are friends
as well.
Do I get my hug?
Oh, finally.
Well done.
What an amazing journey it's been.
What a phenomenal time
we've had together.
I wouldn't change it at all.
Look who's here.
Hey! Congratulations.
Well done. Proud of you, my boy.
Proud of you. Look at us all,
all Yorkshire folks here.
Looking strong.
I said all along,
you'd be my favourite second.
It's just that we happened
to be second.
And now you're my favourite second.
When Tony opened the book
and it was blank, I was, like
.."Yes! The oldies did it!"
When a Yorkshireman's got
a chance to win money I know!
..he'll do anything, won't he?
You beat us. Yeah.
Well done. I'm happy for you.
We've done London to Singapore.
Yeah. Look at that accomplishment.
Look at it. What an incredible city.
It's beautiful. It's amazing.
TONY: One hell of a race. Exactly.
Hell of a race. It is good.
After 51 days, the end is also in
sight for the two remaining teams.
Tower One, Tower One.
Still unaware of their place
in the race,
next to reach the observation deck,
Natalie and Shameema.
56?
We made it! We made it!
We made it!
Natalie, we're not last.
And we made it before
Josh and Felix.
It's all good.
It's over.
Can't stop thinking
about my children.
They will just be so amazed.
They thought we wouldn't make it
out of London.
I can't wait to see them.
I've always wanted to be, like,
a role model to them,
show that there's nothing
they can't do.
And I know that's what they're
going to take away from this.
That their mum was able to come
from London to Singapore
without a single flight,
with 60 left in her pocket.
We made it before Josh and Felix
at least.
Oh, my God.
Let's go and get a drink.
Thank you.
How much is one ticket?
We've only got six.
No. We have 6 and 20 US.
We have 20 US.
Find it.
We've come all this way
and I haven't asked anyone
for a dollar.
So I'm not going to start now.
But for Josh and Felix,
the finishing line looks like
it's just out of reach.
We slogged our guts out.
Think about what a wonderful
achievement it was
to spend seven weeks travelling
halfway across the world
seeing the land change
and the people change.
Like, what a privilege it was.
We worked really, really hard
to get to this point,
to get to Singapore and it just
feels a little bit galling to get
all the way here to the foot
of the checkpoint
and be denied access.
But help from above
What are they doing?
..might be at hand.
Our strategy through the race
was to rely on the kindness
of strangers.
How are you guys doing? Very good.
Every step that we took,
so many people have helped us.
Why didn't you pay to come
up the lift?
We only had 23.
You've only got 23?
We actually got to Singapore
with 140.
Golly.
So now I'm thinking it's really
important to finish it.
Yep. Thank you so much.
No, it's not about a thank you,
it's important to finish it.
We all have to, everyone who's
been through the 51 days
of this journey, has to go in
and has to sign that book,
because nobody else knows it.
Yeah, have that moment.
I don't know why
we're shaking hands!
Group hug!
We both believe what we put out
is what you'll get back.
Sweaty group hug!
Cool, all right, come on,
let's all go.
Thanks, guys.
All right. There's your book. Sweet.
All right. Thanks, girls.
Couldn't have done it without you.
Tony and Elaine won!
Aw, well done, Tony and Elaine.
Yes. I'm so happy.
Aw, mate
Well done.
I just need a beer.
TONY: Somebody's got to cross
the line first in a race like this,
but I think it's a win-win
situation for everybody.
The race we've been on
really has changed our lives.
We're about to cross the world.
Yah!
Come on, chick. Woman possessed
in a bus station!
We've never experienced
anything like this.
We have seen places
we would never ever have visited.
It whets your appetite.
Yeah, it's changed us.
Being married 40 years has seen us
through some difficult moments.
The crazy, wacky, whoopy place.
I want to help you.
Bye!
For the next five years,
whilst we're still able,
go and do a bit more.
We could get used to this.
45 days ago,
a once-in-a-lifetime race began.
For six pairs of ordinary Brits,
an extraordinary 12,000-mile journey
from London to Singapore
without taking a single flight.
All they had - the price of an
airfare on the day of departure.
What am I doing? Holy moley,
that's going to be tough.
They've crossed deserts
This is where you get
to find out about yourself.
..seas
The storm is coming!
..and jungles.
Whoa! A snake! Oh, my God!
They've battled extreme weather
I'm at breaking point.
..intense heat
I need to just sit down a minute.
I'm going to be bare bones
and a pile of sweat.
..and a typhoon
Why the hell did I do this?
..all without the trappings
of modern-day life.
We may not be eating tonight.
I'd give anything for a flight.
No smartphones
Is that where it is?
..and no bank cards.
No euro? No euro.
Oh, that's problem.
The rewards have been great.
I've been able
to appreciate the world.
Most people would go from A to B
on a plane,
but then they'd miss all this.
This is what we were searching for.
A £20,000 prize awaits
the winners
I'm going to start playing dirty.
Are you?
They're playing mind games
and intentionally trying
to stress us out.
That's the best thing that's
happened in this entire trip.
This is just once-in-a-lifetime.
It's an amazing privilege.
Come on, come on!
..as they approach
the finish line
Shift your butt. Come on!
..on their Race Across the World.
50 days - blood, sweat, tears.
Previously
It's race day!
..with Singapore getting
ever closer
Nice to have a little jog in the
morning with 60 kilos on your back!
..the teams raced through
Southeast Asia
We need to be quick.
..to the penultimate checkpoint.
Koh Rong.
By stopping for cash
Every little bit of money
is going to count.
..and to feed the locals
I hope these bloody elephants
are hungry.
..Darron and Alex
grew ever closer
Doing something like this,
we bonded even more.
..but gambled with their lead.
Tony and Elaine in a tuk-tuk.
Seriously?
Taking full advantage
You're kidding me!
..Tony and Elaine hauled themselves
back into contention
with the father and son team to
finish the leg as joint leaders
Yes!
..while for the other two teams
Shameema! Josh and Felix.
..storm clouds gathered
There's a flood.
..leaving them washed up
in last place.
I'm signing in.
All four teams, they're in it still.
Checkpoint five.
A last chance for the teams
to catch their breath.
With money in short supply,
they're about to begin the dash
to the finish line in Singapore
1,500 miles away.
Dad! Come on.
You ready, big man?
Let's come back to this resort.
Just for a day or couple of days?
Couple of days. And then go
to the party island for a bit.
Will you bring your Chinese
girlfriend with you?
Oh, shut up, Tony!
I'm single!
Setting off with a 16-hour lead
over their rivals -
retired teachers Tony and Elaine
This is going to be nice
and sweaty for you!
..and Darron and Alex.
Let's go get one of these.
We're definitely not here just
to make up the numbers.
We're here to win.
It's as simple as that.
Alex has got a lot more
people skills,
where I'm probably more
logical, calculated.
I think those skills combined
make us a very effective team.
Definitely.
How are you, Dazzle, this morning?
Shivering and vomiting
through the night. Ah!
Oh, no! Think it's sunstroke
Ah, yeah. ..or something. Yeah.
Really pleased to hear about that.
We're extremely competitive.
I didn't realise Elaine was,
but she's actually
more competitive than me.
I'm competitive within myself.
So, like, if I do a half a marathon
in two hours,
then I want to do it
in one hour, 59 minutes.
I'll push myself
to improve performance.
We're going to win this race.
With a mammoth 11,000 miles
behind them,
this final leg will see the teams
race the length of Thailand
and into Malaysia, before heading
for the finish line in Singapore.
First, they need to head out
of Cambodia.
First one to Singapore
Take your marks.
Get set. Go!
Our philosophy is,
we've got to keep moving.
We've taken the expensive way -
a taxi to the border,
which is 500km.
We have around 500,
but all our money's going
to go on travel this leg.
With the healthiest
budget remaining,
Tony and Elaine are taking
a direct route along the coast
to the Thai border town of Trat.
But with public transport options
limited, taxis are a must.
60. Best 60 I've ever spent,
I think.
We've made the choice.
We've just got to stick with it.
It's pretty nerve-racking
at this stage.
It'll be people that haven't
got the money
that will go the other way.
We only have 200 exactly
to get to Singapore.
Cash-strapped Darron and Alex
are taking a different route -
back to the Cambodian capital
of Phnom Penh.
I think we've made that decision
because we have very little money.
There, they can take advantage of
cheap and frequent public transport
to the Thai capital, Bangkok,
but it will add 200 miles
to their journey.
Our strategy will be
save on accommodation
by travelling at night,
eat just before we pass out and die
and we always use someone else's
toilet paper.
Not USED toilet paper.
I think if we did it in four days,
we would be expecting
to come in first.
I suspect it's going to be closer
to five days, and
..anybody's.
As two teams head towards Thailand,
the others must wait
to leave the checkpoint.
Right now, us two, Josh and Felix
are in last place. Yeah.
It's anyone's game. Tony and Elaine,
they were two days behind.
They've gone from last place
to first place twice. I know.
With everyone this close
coming into this last leg,
there will be a moment where we go,
"This is that roll of the dice,"
and we're going to leap ahead
of everyone else.
And it's possible.
Like, it's possible.
We want to win this race.
There's no second chances any more.
This is it. It's the final.
This last leg needs to just be
just about the race. The race.
We need to go at 12:30. It's
As soon as possible.
We can't sit here for two hours.
Two?
Ow!
Gearing up for a six-hour
bus journey to Phnom Penh,
Darron and Alex.
Oh, my God!
It's mainly my shoulders
what are burning.
Looks painful. It's very painful.
Just be gentle, Alex, please.
My skin is on fire.
I feel like we've done all this.
We can face most things now.
And you know when locals are looking
at you, going "That must hurt!"
They do, don't they?
Phnom Penh? Yeah. Thank you.
Next stop, Phnom Penh.
And then from there, Bangkok.
100 miles to the west
Leaving Cambodia with
a beautiful smile!
..Tony and Elaine are the first team
to cross into Thailand.
Drawing over 35 million
visitors a year,
Thailand is celebrated
for its Buddhist history.
Once known as the Kingdom of Siam,
its capital, Bangkok,
is home to the world's largest
solid gold Buddha.
At three metres high and
five and a half tonnes,
it has an estimated value
of 250 million.
We're in Thailand! And it's the best
border crossing going ever!
Some of the borders we've come over,
it's just, like, scary hairy.
This is Everybody's welcoming you
and it's party time.
It feels good.
We're over the border in ten hours.
When do we go? How long?
Heading to the Thai town of Trat
Go now? Yeah. Oh, good! Thank you.
1,200, two people? Yeah. Good.
..they aim to catch an
onward connection to Bangkok.
You are joking me!
Oh, God!
A yogurt split all over his back.
Who put it in there?
What a bloody dipstick.
Who would put a yogurt in my pocket
and not tell me?
Well, where else did you want me?
If we bring a yogurt in
the baking heat
Who put it in the side
of the rucksack?
160 miles behind
Well, we're in
Phnom Penh again, Dad.
..Darron and Alex have arrived
in the Cambodian capital.
This bustling city is home
to over two million people.
It seems to be continuous rush hour.
It never seems to stop.
And at this time of year,
the population swells even farther
for the Bon Om Touk Water Festival -
marking an extraordinary
annual phenomenon
when the monsoon rains cause the
Tonle Sap River to reverse its flow.
We'll try and get
to Bangkok tonight?
Alex, I'll wait out here,
let you do the dealing.
Hello. Hello. Bus to Bangkok?
9:15, Bangkok?
OK. 21 each possible?
Please? 42? No. Please?
Please? No! Please!
We can't afford 25 for a ticket
to Bangkok each.
We're planning on 50 a day budget.
Even if it's a dollar cheaper
per person,
that's massive for us. It means
we can have a We can eat.
It's that significant.
Please?
OK. Thank you. I hate begging,
but I'm doing anything that I can
to make it to Singapore.
I've got to do it.
Thank you.
Thank you very much. Thank you.
Oh, my gosh!
I'm so uncomfortable.
It's only for 12 hours.
Alex has got a lot more life at
the moment. He's gained his focus.
And I'm hoping until I recover,
his energy will drag me along.
It's a bit weird now.
We've swapped roles.
That used to be me - "Wah!
Can't be bothered! I'm tired!
"I'm stressed! Don't want
to carry on no more."
And now, I'm trying to tell him
he's got to get on with it.
Otherwise, we're not going
to make it.
Good luck.
Goodnight.
My sunburns hurt so much!
8am.
Entering the final leg of the race,
Natalie and Shameema
and Josh and Felix.
Bye, island!
Getting to the finish line is
going to be a massive achievement.
That's the main race for us.
257.27.
How long is that going to last?
Felix and I's ability to rely on
each other,
even when the going
gets really tough,
our ability to take risks,
hopefully that will stand us
in really good stead.
Feel like I'm getting
really emotional!
It has been an opportunity
of a lifetime!
Winning, to me,
is not about the money.
Being able to spend all that time
with my sister.
Don't make me get out
the stolen toilet roll!
I like to win everything.
On sports days, I've won every
mums' race for the last 15 years.
Nobody wants to race me any more.
It's OK, baby.
God!
We're absolutely
brass knuckles broke.
With money worries of their own,
Josh and Felix head in the same
direction as Darron and Alex
We're going to get the 3:30 bus
to Phnom Penh.
..opting for cheap public transport
to get them to Thailand.
But we know that it's probably
12 hours from there to Bangkok.
We don't really have the funds
to pay for accommodation.
It's always good to be on the road.
Every road leads to Singapore -
apart from this one, which goes
in the opposite direction.
Natalie! Yeah?
There's a taxi here now, for 60!
Let's go!
With their healthier budget,
Natalie and Shameema can afford
to travel in style.
We are heading to the border.
We're starting off our journey
fast and in comfort
Fast and furious! ..because we have
the money to do that.
As much as we like saving money,
we really enjoy spending money.
So, why not spend it
in the last leg?
When I started off, I wanted
to do this for my girls,
I wanted to do it for my friends,
I wanted to do it for my family.
But now I feel like
I'm doing this for myself.
I want to do this for myself.
And for our team, and for you.
Don't touch me!
As the last two teams make
their way out of Cambodia,
Darron and Alex cross the border
into Thailand.
I feel a little cheerier today.
And with Darron's
appetite returning
How much? Please?
..they grab a budget breakfast.
Ugh! Go on, just get it over with!
It's a locust.
It's not bad at all!
It don't taste too nice.
Cheap, high in protein.
The larvae are the worst bit.
They, like, got a gooey centre.
You can finish them.
They're horrible.
Let's go catch a bus anyway.
Ugh! Eurgh!
Still 1,300 miles from Singapore
20, 40, 60, 80
100. 125
..dollars.
Ouch.
We are royally screwed, aren't we?
Desperately in need of cash,
Alex searches the jobs directory
for local work.
This. I'm not looking after dogs.
It's the best one.
I don't care, I'm not looking
after dogs. I hate dogs.
Do we need money? Yes, we do.
What's your favourite three words?
"Suck it up."
150 miles further into Thailand,
Tony and Elaine have already
reached the capital.
I wonder if there's a Metro
in Bangkok.
Well, this is it. This is
overland, not underground.
The most visited city in the world.
Its grand palaces and temples
compete with a vibrant nightlife
and bustling street stalls.
We've been up since four o'clock
discussing every route,
every possibility of timings.
You know, we're going out of our way
to find the cheapest, quickest.
I don't think we've worked as hard
on any other leg
as we're working on this leg.
Right, hold my hand, Elaine.
Aiming to increase their lead, the
couple are booking an overnight bus
to the coastal town of Krabi.
No time for the beach.
We're in a race.
The fact that we can keep moving
is absolutely
..Bobby Dazzle.
Can you put these on for me, please?
Oh, my God.
You're 60, not 80.
That's it. We're on our way
to Krabi overnight.
I thought we might have a little
pod to sleep in,
but we've just got an upright seat,
but it's comfortable so far.
I'm so not going to like this place.
Darron and Alex have arrived
for a shift at a canine training
school on the outskirts of Bangkok.
I'm only here because of the money.
With 300,000 stray dogs
on the streets of Bangkok,
the authorities have been
clamping down.
They're going to be on the lead
all the time?
And for owners who can afford it,
a number of day-care centres
have sprung up.
Just to look at them scares me.
Look.
The centre offers dog training
and walking services
for Bangkok's wealthy residents.
We've been stuck on a ship full
of drunken, quite violent sailors,
but this is way out
of my comfort zone.
We essentially need to do things
we're uncomfortable with doing
to make it to Singapore, cos
otherwise
I feel like we've got no chance.
I mean, look. I've got a mad dog
at the side of me.
Purely for the money.
For £45 and a free night's
bed and board
Come on, Pepper.
..the boys will be employed
as dog walkers.
Pepper, sit.
I can't believe we're getting
paid for this.
It's literally just walking a dog
back and forth,
teaching it a couple of tricks.
Oi!
Dogs are not my thing.
We don't get on.
I don't particularly
like cats either.
I don't feel comfortable
around them.
I don't like hamsters either,
to be honest.
Hamsters can be quite mean.
But dogs are a little more out and
about. Hamsters are easier to avoid.
I think he's doing well.
I'm proud of him.
Dad, you coping all right?
How are you feeling?
I've I've had better days.
Oh, God.
It just feels horrible.
You missed a bit. Yeah.
While Darron and Alex
get their hands dirty
..Natalie and Shameema
are closing in on the leaders.
We're in Thailand!
Their decision to take a taxi
to the border
means they're just 250 miles
behind Tony and Elaine.
The dream is an overnight bus
or train to Bangkok.
The dream is happening right now
because I am in Thailand.
Thai food in Thailand.
We're happy.
God it gets bigger and bigger.
Too much choice.
Thailand is
It just looks incredible.
Feel like there's so much to do.
But we really want to come first.
It's about winning this leg
and just trying to make a decision
that gets us from last place
to first place.
The other teams have done that,
so it's possible.
So we want it to be possible for us.
Still in Cambodia
Two people, one dollar.
One dollar, come on.
Do me a favour, I've had a really
long day. Go on. One dollar.
Josh and Felix have made it
to Phnom Penh.
Trying to keep pace with
the other teams,
the boys race to make an overnight
connection to Bangkok.
If we hotfoot it across town, uh,
we might well be able to book
our passage to Bangkok.
Is this the bus?
Yeah, yeah, OK.
This one takes us there
to the border at 5am
and then 1pm, we'll be in Bangkok.
So quite happy, pretty
seamless transition.
Josh is a little bit nervous
about the sleeping conditions,
but I think it's going to be great.
It's like being in a coffin.
After one day of racing,
Josh and Felix are the last team
to leave Cambodia,
while Natalie and Shameema are
closing in on the Thai capital.
We are on a bus to Bangkok.
Long-term goal achieved in one day.
Still stationary, Darron and Alex
are on the outskirts of Bangkok,
staying overnight in the free room
provided by the day's dog walking.
You're a totally different
person now.
Mainly more mature.
Generally speaking, I think
we've done pretty well. I do.
We'll do what we can
to get to Singapore.
It's not over till
we've got one dollar left.
I've got total faith in you.
Since the race began 47 days ago
We've got to be at least jogging.
..Darron and Alex have gained
more than just stamps
in their passports.
Alex and I used to be really close.
Without a shadow of a doubt,
we have drifted apart.
What do you want to do?
At first I don't want
to sleep outside.
..things were far
from plain sailing.
You said don't want to do that.
What do you want to do?
Don't have a clue.
And, at times, they were pushed
almost to breaking point.
Am I allowed to bang his head
against the wall on camera?
But as the race gained momentum
Good morning, Vietnam!
Oh, no, shut up.
..their confidence
in each other grew.
Come on, Dad. I'm guessing
it's round and up.
Let's do this.
We're doing it together
and he's been there for me
more than what he would
have done before.
A hug?
Now just over 1,000 miles stands
between them
and the £20,000 first prize.
7am.
Tony and Elaine are 723 miles
from Singapore
and are currently
the closest team to the finish line.
Oh, God almighty.
But 12,000 miles have come
at a cost for 61-year-old Tony.
After our coach journey down here,
the last thing you want to do is
stretch down and twist
and try to put your shoes on.
And that is exactly what
I've done this morning.
He's aggravated an old back injury.
Tony and Elaine's race
is at a standstill.
During this race, I think age
will be a challenge.
You know, it's a long, long way.
Getting out of bed on a morning,
you know, there's a few aches
and things don't quite work
the way they used to.
I'm sure we would have found it
a lot easier maybe 20,
30 years ago.
Tony's back is bad.
Are you sure?
We will spend the day
in the swimming pool,
see if we can get
Tony's back better.
What I'm trying to do here
in this very cold swimming pool -
the water's got no heating in -
and I hope that will take some
inflammation down on my back.
And I'd need four or five hours
in here today,
just moving it and hopefully
free it up.
Tony definitely doesn't look
in a good way.
I'm really concerned about him
because when it's like this,
it could just go at any time.
At the moment, he's moving but once
it goes for real, he cannot move.
That's it. We're out of the race.
Josh and Felix have reached Bangkok.
Hey, man. We're trying to get
to Khaosan Road.
Tickets booked, the boys head off
to explore a budget hotspot.
So, this is it. Khaosan Road.
I've never seen so many
harem pants in one place.
Known as the centre
of the backpacking universe,
the 400-metre long street is packed
full of budget hotels, cafes, bars
and restaurants, filled with
travellers from every corner
of the world.
Very much the gap-year
traveller Mecca.
Josh and Felix are used to life
in each other's pockets.
We're the perfect partnership.
I've spent probably eight hours
with him a day
for the last eight years.
But with their current business -
a music and arts venue -
coming to an end
In four months' time, unfortunately,
none of this will be here.
It'll be knocked down and turned
into luxury flats.
We've got two months to decide
what our future is.
..their next venture together
isn't clear.
I just really want
what we build next,
I want it to be, like, long term.
If you want security, then become
a teacher or a banker or something.
Why don't we just sit down there
and have a beer?
During the boys' trip
This place looks way better.
..there have been bumps in the road.
You're such a douche bag sometimes.
Wow. What?
Why say that?
But with the end of the race
fast approaching,
what they'll do when they get home
is coming into focus.
Both of us are feeling really
creative and feeling like
we've soaked up so much culture,
food, excitement, atmosphere,
that we'll have the energy
which we needed
to start something afresh.
Travelling through these incredibly,
like, different and wonderful
environments, like,
that's going to bring some
completely mad flavour back
to what we do.
I'm excited. I'm hyped.
Whenever we go away together,
there's moments of
absolute epiphany.
We want to start a small restaurant
which we want to be inspired
by this trip and some of the sights,
sounds and flavours
of the street markets and the drama
of food preparation that we've seen.
There's been loads of moments
of inspiration.
How can you not be inspired
by walking through the backstreets
of Xi'an or wandering on deck at
midnight on a ship in the Caspian?
I feel so inspired and I've seen
people all over the world who work
really, really, really hard
just to get by.
One of the things that this journey
has really reminded me
is that there is magic out there,
you just have to look up
from your smartphone to see it.
Train information desk.
Across the city at Bangkok
train station
Which way's the quickest
to Malaysia?
..Natalie and Shameema hatch a plan
to overtake their rivals.
Right. Get a train
from here to Surat Thani.
Then you're eight hours away
from the border.
They've secured a cheap ticket
for a fast train down the east coast
of Thailand to Surat Thani.
Josh and Felix are boarding
an overnight bus to Krabi,
following the same route
as Darron and Alex,
who departed only an hour earlier.
All three teams are eating
into Tony and Elaine's lead,
as they've been unable to move
since this morning.
An afternoon in the pool
seems to have worked wonders
on Tony's bad back.
He's keen not to stiffen up
and decides to self-medicate.
Free shots.
MUSIC: Baseline Junkie
by Dizzee Rascal
Tony's, uh, MC-ing.
I've never downed a shot in my life.
However, I'm drinking
this bottle of vodka.
Cheers.
Mm!
What this race has taught me
is actually I need to explore
and visit places and be on the move
and see things before it's too late.
Because that is what makes me
really happy.
The beer pong game is
really complicated.
It's a really good drinking game.
I just gave my last drink to Tony,
because I've got to get up at five,
got to be out of here by six,
and it ain't going to happen if I
have too many of those vodka things.
I'm going to be very sensible
because I'm in a race.
How are you going to feel,
as it's coming to being all over?
Yeah, it'll be difficult,
cos it's become a way of life.
Quite an appealing way of life.
That's what I'm here thinking,
and I've got really mixed
emotions about it all.
I know. I'm not sure I'm ready
to go back to life.
I think I want to carry on.
As dawn breaks,
Natalie and Shameema's overnight
train has arrived in Surat Thani.
Check out the train station now
and then later,
we can check the buses.
Known in Thai as
"the city of good people",
it's the main jumping off point
for travellers heading to some
of Thailand's more famous islands.
The town also has great transport
links to the Malaysian border.
So we've just got to Surat Thani,
after I think it's been 13 hours
on the train. Has it been 13 hours?
Yeah. I didn't sleep at all.
Before we make ourselves exhausted,
we need to rest
so we can get back on the road.
So it's nice to able to spend
a bit of time here.
The girls head to the tranquillity
of a local temple.
When you're doing a journey like
this,
you can't help but
..reflect on your day or your life.
About six years ago now, I got hit
by a car on the way to work.
And I nearly died.
So that's why I decided to go away.
Travelling has meant to me
that I have been able
to just appreciate the world
and appreciate people.
Could I hug you? OK!
I can just look at this amazing
thing we've done.
All the different parts
of this journey,
where we've made connections
with people, had amazing times.
Do you have any euros?
SINGS: We've got the tickets
to Thessaloniki.
Where's your shoes?
Do you want this?
And we can just pocket that
and when I'm feeling down,
they'll be my flashes of,
"Honey, you're quite bad-arse."
95 miles west.
Krabi bus station.
Darron and Alex have just arrived
on the overnight bus from Bangkok.
They were sat there.
They're obviously now going to be
buying onward tickets.
Tony!
Just get in, what you doing
stuck out there?
Do you like all this cloak
and dagger stuff?
40-odd years of marriage
and I didn't realise
you were so sneaky.
Everyone has the potential.
She should be in the MI5.
Through the bushes.
Behind a van. And now she's hiding
behind a blue bus.
Despite her covert mission
..Elaine is spotted by Alex.
Look who there is.
Hello!
How are you? I'm all right.
You? Good to see you.
How are you? Did you go through
Phnom Penh?
Or did you go the coastal way?
Um, we went through Phnom Penh.
You went through Phnom Penh? Wow.
How long you been here?
At this stage in the game,
I think, Darron
OK. Next time,
I won't tell you anything.
Well, I've heard him telling him
a load of things we haven't done,
so I'd rather not lie.
You just told him stuff.
Yeah. Which are a load of lies.
You can't kid a kidder, as they say.
She just said they're
a load of lies.
We're tactical now.
Hey-up, this is coming in here.
Well, good luck.
See you later.
Tony and Elaine board their coach
to the border town of Hat Yai.
Alex was so disappointed
when I wouldn't tell him.
I were rude to him and stuff like
that, and I just felt really bad.
It's horrible. It's not right.
With the finishing line in sight,
the pressure of the competition
is hitting Alex hard.
"Oh, can't say anything.
Oh, we're keeping quiet.
"I don't want to lie."
Well, they haven't been like that
before, so they've changed.
It's ridiculous.
Alex.
Just leave me alone.
Let's go and enjoy the beach.
With three hours to spare before
their coach to Hat Yai departs,
Darron takes Alex
for some time out.
It's a pretty cool place to spend
some time, isn't it? Yeah.
I'd love to visit all the islands.
Not all of them, but some of them.
So would I.
You never know.
Might be back here next year.
Maybe. Jumping on a boat,
exploring these islands together.
I'd love to.
You never know, do you?
I am really, really proud
of what you've achieved. Thank you.
You've done some amazing things.
Proud of what we've
achieved together.
Yeah, but there's been times
when I've struggled
or there's been times when
you've just upped your game big time
and I'm really proud of you
for doing that.
I probably don't tell you enough,
but you know I love you to bits.
I love you too.
Can't believe it's coming to an end.
I know, going to be sad, isn't it?
It is quite sad.
Then when we go back, it's going
to feel really, really weird
being on my own, like. It is.
I won't know what to do with myself.
I would be gutted if we don't
come first.
I want my hug, even if we don't.
Is there any need? Sorry.
Oh, I'm as bad now, it were a leaf.
Try and keep dry.
I know. I'm sorry. I freaked out.
It must be a carnivorous leaf.
It's coming for you now, Alex.
I've got my passport and that in it.
Right
..let's get on with the race.
A third team arrive in Krabi.
Budget is not so much dripping away
as pouring away.
Got about 118 to get from Krabi
to Singapore,
which is about 18
for food, accommodation
for the next three days.
Josh and Felix are running on empty.
Night of discomfort,
dawn of happiness.
Lack of food and money
means they'll need to work
to reach Singapore.
Through the jobs directory,
they've secured some manual labour
at a beach-side hostel.
Yes, please.
In the heat of the midday sun,
their job - re-level the floor
of the beach bar
in exchange for free food.
Very hard to carry.
You're looking thinner than you
were before you set off.
Yeah, I haven't eaten for
about four days, mate.
Neither have you.
It's good to be able
to earn our keep.
This is digging for victory.
Now we're going to have some food.
This is the best thing
to happen to me in days.
Mm! Mm!
Shift over, stomachs filled
and batteries recharged,
Josh and Felix get back to the race.
Oh, why are we leaving?
With their noses back in front,
180 miles away,
Tony and Elaine have made it
to the border town of Hat Yai
..a major jumping off point
for travellers heading
to and from Malaysia.
Singapore.
They're aiming for
a direct connection
to the finish line 550 miles away.
No, today.
Today? Yeah.
Two persons.
With only limited buses each day,
tickets sell out fast.
Six o'clock.
That's good. That's good.
Perfect.
That is such a relief.
I thought there'd be no tickets.
They've managed to get the only
remaining tickets
on the last direct bus to Singapore.
Utterly beside myself,
getting on the last,
last big transport we're going
to ever get on to finish this race.
How good is that?
Here we go to the border.
When we started the race,
we didn't have much hope
of finishing
in too high a position.
And now we have a really good chance
of doing ourselves proud,
and anybody over 60 proud, you know,
because we are in with a shout
of actually winning it.
Quickly.
But hot on their heels,
it's Darron and Alex.
Learning there's no direct
bus to Singapore,
they have to settle for the next
quickest option -
a fast bus via
the Malaysian capital
To Kuala Lumpur tonight.
Now? Sets off now?
..leaving right away.
How much?
We really, really need
this connection.
Hopefully, we've got
something and
..we've got enough money.
600. 600 baht. For two tickets.
For two tickets.
How much more do I need? 50?
We have 520. And 20.
I've got them.
Thank you.
We got our connection.
Wow, that was intense.
We knew it we were going to be.
Just can't believe we made
that connection.
Good call about grabbing
the bags and I running in.
Yep. That's a game changer.
Frontrunners Darron and Alex
and Tony and Elaine
are racing the length of Malaysia.
Further north, Josh and Felix
Kuala Lumpur.
..and Natalie and Shameema are
trying to make their connections.
We want to go to Kuala Lumpur.
Yes, please.
That's it? That's the last train?
Yeah.
Stranded in Hat Yai,
the two teams have fallen even
further behind the race leaders,
who are fast approaching
Kuala Lumpur -
the last capital
before the finish line.
200 miles from Singapore
and a significant bump in the road
for Tony and Elaine.
Oh, you are joking.
The bus has broken down.
My back's worse.
This is just exactly
what I feared, really.
The Malaysian capital
of Kuala Lumpur,
220 miles from the finish line.
To Singapore Beach Road.
Two tickets. Please. Please.
Passport.
Darron and Alex are booking
their final connection.
We've got the tickets.
ELAINE: We've now got
to change coaches.
Yeah.
Great.
This one? Yeah.
Whatever lead we had
has now been lost.
They'll be going faster.
They won't be having as many stops.
We haven't got that speed.
Of course we have.
We don't, really, not with you
as you are, Tony.
Singapore
..the furthest point from London
accessible by road and rail.
It normally costs between
£800 to £1,500 to fly here,
but, without taking a single flight,
the first of our teams
who have travelled over 12,000 miles
in 50 days
are just arriving
on the outskirts of the city.
The £20,000 prize awaits
the winning team.
Taxi to Singapore.
Where are you going to, please?
Just to the centre.
Lying one degree north of
the equator,
the island city state of Singapore.
5.6 million residents are squeezed
into this former British colony,
made up of just 278 square miles -
half the size of London.
In 1819, Sir Stanford Raffles
founded colonial Singapore
as a trading post
of the British East India Company
and it has developed into a hub
for finance,
technology and innovation.
If you see an old man and
a young boy carrying rucksacks,
just mow them down for us.
Yeah, they're our rivals.
Today, Singapore
is generally considered
to be the most expensive
city in the world.
This is it, Dad. Singapore. This
is the moment. Final destination.
Oh, I'm excited!
Final checkpoint.
Let's do this. Alex
Keep focused. Go, go, go.
We're racing close
to the checkpoint,
but we've still got
to be aware of money.
We don't know what else
is going to happen.
We may not even have enough
to get us there.
They could be in that taxi in front.
Just don't know any more.
At the mouth of the Singapore River
stands the country's
national symbol,
the Merlion Statue
Thank you so much.
..a mythical sea creature
made up of a lion's head
and a fish's body.
Here it is. A Mer-lion, literally.
Right, let's have a look.
Message. What does it say?
Tony and Elaine receive details
of their final destination
on their GPS tracker.
Proceed on foot
over the Jubilee Bridge.
Past the grandstand,
which is over there.
To the checkpoint at the
Marina Bay Sands Tower One.
And could that be where
that boat is, on top of that?
That would be awesome.
The Marina Bay Sands Hotel
is the final checkpoint.
Built in 2010,
it boasts three hotel towers,
2,500 rooms
and, today, a £20,000 prize
awaits the winners.
Don't you do your back in!
We said we'd go steady.
We said we'd go steady.
Don't go too fast, Alex,
you burn out, then. I know, but
It's tough.
Oh, BLEEP. They're there, look,
at the lion.
Can you see them?
Yeah, I can see them.
Shift your butt, come on.
Are you sure?
I think it's them. Oh, Tony!
Yeah, they're on the bridge.
Just keep moving. No time to stop.
I'm moving, I'm moving.
I'm digging deep
for the finish lineright now.
Catch my breath.
Come on, Alex. Keep the pace up.
It's right there.
It's in touching distance.
Tony, check-in's here.
Hello, there.
This is for us? Yes.
The finishing line It's at the
mast on the observation deck.
Where's the observation deck?
The finish line and the £20,000
prize is now only a lift ride away.
But there is one final hurdle -
entrance to the observation deck
costs 23 Singapore dollars each.
Observation deck.
Just two. Please.
US dollar?
But we only have US dollars.
Oh, no. You're kidding me.
I told you.
Where?
Watch them come down as we go up.
Oh, shut up, Tony.
Just get the bloody money changed.
Alex, it says this way. Hotel, here.
Oh, my God, they're there.
No, they're not.
I bet they're bloody sitting up
there, having a beer. Having a beer.
Two, please.
Thank you. Oh, we've got change.
Darron and Alex are going
to be there. Yeah.
And if they're there
We've just got to congratulate them.
..well done.
Absolutely fantastic.
We've come all this way.
50 days. Blood, sweat, tears.
20K could be up there right now.
Let's just get there, Alex.
The Marina Bay Sands observation
deck soars 57 levels
above the heart of Singapore,
boasting spectacular views
of the entire city.
There it is, the famous book.
ELAINE: Oh, the book!
Are you ready? Do it.
We'll do it together.
Are you ready?
Oh, Jesus.
LAUGHING: Oh, my God!
Oh, my God! We did it!
Yes! Yes!
Oh, my days!
We've done something I know.
Oh! I knew it, I knew it.
Fair play to them.
It's surreal, isn't it?
It's surreal.
It's like Leicester winning
the Premiership.
I'm feeling ecstatic.
Totally elated. Yeah.
And we're the oldest team
in the competition by far.
First place. Down in one?
And the pensioners, we are OAPs,
we've beaten all these youngsters.
How that has happened,
I'm not quite sure.
Oh, that's nice.
Well done, Tony and Elaine.
Actually doing this experience and
doing this journey, I've seen a lot,
I've done a lot. I've learned a lot
about my dad along the way.
And that's the main thing really.
And the fact that we did it,
we did London to Singapore.
I'm happy. Look where we are.
We made it after 50 days.
We've had a fantastic time together.
We've bonded more than either of us
really expected. Definitely.
Ultimately, it were a success.
What we've seen and what we've done
along the way is priceless.
Before this journey, we were
estranged father and son, really.
Now we are father and son
and we will always be that.
But I think now we are friends
as well.
Do I get my hug?
Oh, finally.
Well done.
What an amazing journey it's been.
What a phenomenal time
we've had together.
I wouldn't change it at all.
Look who's here.
Hey! Congratulations.
Well done. Proud of you, my boy.
Proud of you. Look at us all,
all Yorkshire folks here.
Looking strong.
I said all along,
you'd be my favourite second.
It's just that we happened
to be second.
And now you're my favourite second.
When Tony opened the book
and it was blank, I was, like
.."Yes! The oldies did it!"
When a Yorkshireman's got
a chance to win money I know!
..he'll do anything, won't he?
You beat us. Yeah.
Well done. I'm happy for you.
We've done London to Singapore.
Yeah. Look at that accomplishment.
Look at it. What an incredible city.
It's beautiful. It's amazing.
TONY: One hell of a race. Exactly.
Hell of a race. It is good.
After 51 days, the end is also in
sight for the two remaining teams.
Tower One, Tower One.
Still unaware of their place
in the race,
next to reach the observation deck,
Natalie and Shameema.
56?
We made it! We made it!
We made it!
Natalie, we're not last.
And we made it before
Josh and Felix.
It's all good.
It's over.
Can't stop thinking
about my children.
They will just be so amazed.
They thought we wouldn't make it
out of London.
I can't wait to see them.
I've always wanted to be, like,
a role model to them,
show that there's nothing
they can't do.
And I know that's what they're
going to take away from this.
That their mum was able to come
from London to Singapore
without a single flight,
with 60 left in her pocket.
We made it before Josh and Felix
at least.
Oh, my God.
Let's go and get a drink.
Thank you.
How much is one ticket?
We've only got six.
No. We have 6 and 20 US.
We have 20 US.
Find it.
We've come all this way
and I haven't asked anyone
for a dollar.
So I'm not going to start now.
But for Josh and Felix,
the finishing line looks like
it's just out of reach.
We slogged our guts out.
Think about what a wonderful
achievement it was
to spend seven weeks travelling
halfway across the world
seeing the land change
and the people change.
Like, what a privilege it was.
We worked really, really hard
to get to this point,
to get to Singapore and it just
feels a little bit galling to get
all the way here to the foot
of the checkpoint
and be denied access.
But help from above
What are they doing?
..might be at hand.
Our strategy through the race
was to rely on the kindness
of strangers.
How are you guys doing? Very good.
Every step that we took,
so many people have helped us.
Why didn't you pay to come
up the lift?
We only had 23.
You've only got 23?
We actually got to Singapore
with 140.
Golly.
So now I'm thinking it's really
important to finish it.
Yep. Thank you so much.
No, it's not about a thank you,
it's important to finish it.
We all have to, everyone who's
been through the 51 days
of this journey, has to go in
and has to sign that book,
because nobody else knows it.
Yeah, have that moment.
I don't know why
we're shaking hands!
Group hug!
We both believe what we put out
is what you'll get back.
Sweaty group hug!
Cool, all right, come on,
let's all go.
Thanks, guys.
All right. There's your book. Sweet.
All right. Thanks, girls.
Couldn't have done it without you.
Tony and Elaine won!
Aw, well done, Tony and Elaine.
Yes. I'm so happy.
Aw, mate
Well done.
I just need a beer.
TONY: Somebody's got to cross
the line first in a race like this,
but I think it's a win-win
situation for everybody.
The race we've been on
really has changed our lives.
We're about to cross the world.
Yah!
Come on, chick. Woman possessed
in a bus station!
We've never experienced
anything like this.
We have seen places
we would never ever have visited.
It whets your appetite.
Yeah, it's changed us.
Being married 40 years has seen us
through some difficult moments.
The crazy, wacky, whoopy place.
I want to help you.
Bye!
For the next five years,
whilst we're still able,
go and do a bit more.
We could get used to this.