Race Across the World fans go wild for 'savage' rule as mode of transport banned

After a year of waiting, Race Across the World returned to screens on Wednesday, 10 April. Five teams are taking part in the race that spans across 10,000 miles across Asia.

The teams began in Sapporo, in Hokkaido one of the main islands of Japan all the way to Lombok, an island of Indonesia.

However, viewers were floored by a new twist in the show that restricted the contestants to travel. The teams were not allowed to travel by Japan’s famous bullet trains.

That joins the rules of not being allowed to use air travel, as well as the ban of using internet and bank cards during the competition.

Whilst some were shocked by the rule, another viewer pointed out that not using the bullet trains was a good thing.

They wrote: “Lol that Shinkansen is out of bounds for this Japan length because otherwise this episode would have been wrapped in ten minutes.”

Another added: “Banning the bullet train is savage #raceacrosstheworld”

Across nine episodes, the contestants will attempt to get from one destination to the next in the fastest time, whilst also working to top up their budget.

This year features the youngest contestants, best mates Alfie and Owen are just 20 years old - who admitted they went into the show not knowing much about it.

“It got to the night before we left, I still hadn’t watched anything – so I went into it blind,” admits Owen.

“We applied as a complete joke. Alfie found the ad on Instagram and asked, ‘Do you want to apply?’ I said, ‘Why not?’ My mum got progressively more nervous as we got through the stages. Then I said, ‘I’m going next week’ and she started crying. She didn’t like me being away for two months.”

Also in the competition is married couple Stephen, 61, and Viv, 65 who are the oldest contestants this year. There is also brother and sister duo James, 21 and Betty, 25.

Mother and daughter team Eugenie, 60 and Isabel, 25, took the lead in the first episode and travelled from Sapporo to Nara in Japan the fastest.

However, Sharon, 52, and Brydie, 25, also mother and daughter, were the slowest. They reached Nara four hours after front runners Eugenie and Isobel.

But it’s still all to play for as the teams will be leaving Nara for Sokcho in South Korea before heading to Vietnam and Cambodia.

Race Across the World continues on Wednesday 17 April, 9pm, BBC One