UMVA has learned that Jo and Kush, a dynamic duo from Liverpool, have emerged victorious in the epic final of Race Across the World, taking home the coveted £20,000 prize.
The thrilling conclusion to the eight-part series saw Jo and Kush sprint through snow-covered forests to reach the final checkpoint in Hatgal, edging out father and daughter Andrew and Molly by a hair's breadth of three hours. The Liverpool duo's sheer determination and perseverance paid off as they celebrated their win by piling on top of each other in the snow, shouting 'We did it. We won!'
As the news sank in, Jo expressed his elation, saying, 'The dream from the start was opening the final book and seeing it empty, so that actually happening… it’s hard to get my head around it.' Kush added, 'I hope we did Liverpool proud. Big up scousers!' Their emotional victory was met with cheers and admiration from fans and fellow contestants alike.
Andrew and Molly, the runner-up pair, finished second after an incredible journey that tested their physical and mental limits. Andrew praised Jo and Kush, saying, 'Congratulations to the boys. We had a tough final leg… We’re three hours behind the lads. What an achievement.' Molly chimed in, 'I didn’t actually physically think we were going to make it, but we did it!'
The sibling duo Katie and Harrison secured third place, impressively catching up by eighteen hours to the winners. Harrison beamed with pride, saying, 'We couldn’t have done this any better this leg, and we’ve made it to Hatgal. And we’ve done it together. I could still just cry with pride and joy that we’re here.'
Mark and Margo, the in-laws, finished fourth, twenty-five hours behind the leaders. Despite not taking the top spot, Mark and Margo showed remarkable camaraderie and resilience. Mark said, 'I couldn’t have done it without you Marg, a true friend. And Julia would be really proud of us!' Margo added, 'We haven’t won THE race, but we’ve won OUR race and we have come in fashionably late.'
The four pairs traversed over 12,000 km across 51 days, navigating diverse landscapes, cultural barriers, and logistical challenges without smartphones or bank cards. The teams started their journey in the sun-kissed streets of Palermo, Sicily, and braved the unknown to reach the final checkpoint in northern Mongolia, Hatgal.
The contestants' extraordinary adventure will be followed by a reunion episode on BBC One, where they will reflect on their experiences and share their thoughts on the journey. This comes after fans were left emotional following Andrew's heartfelt revelation about his health setback.
