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 winning pair sprinted through snow-covered forests to reach the finish line, edging out father and daughter Andrew and Molly by a mere three hours. The intense competition saw the teams navigate over 12,000km across Europe and Asia, braving crowds, cultural barriers, and public transport disasters without smartphones or bank cards.
As Jo and Kush celebrated their victory, they were overcome with emotion, shouting 'We did it! We won!' as they piled on top of each other in the snow. Kush expressed his elation, saying, 'I can’t put it into words, bro!' while Jo added, 'That’s how I feel, bro.'
The runners-up, Andrew and Molly, shared an emotional hug after turning the page to claim second place. Andrew congratulated the winners, saying, 'Congratulations to the boys. We had a tough final leg… We’re three hours behind the lads. What an achievement'. Molly echoed his sentiments, 'I didn’t actually physically think we were going to make it, but we did it!'
In a thrilling finale, siblings Katie and Harrison secured third place, just under three hours behind Andrew and Molly. 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.'
The fan favorite moment came when Mark and Margo, the in-laws, finished in fourth place, 25 hours after the third-place contestants. Mark praised his partner, saying, 'I couldn’t have done it without you, Marg, a true friend.' Margo added, 'We haven’t won THE race, but we’ve won OUR race, and we have come in fashionably late.'
The show's finale has garnered praise from fans, who have taken to social media to celebrate Jo and Kush's well-deserved win. Many have lauded the duo as role models, showcasing a positive and uplifting example of young men.
The series, which spanned eight episodes and 51 days, saw the contestants journey from Palermo, Sicily to Hatgal, northern Mongolia. The teams faced numerous challenges, including navigating unfamiliar territories without modern conveniences.
A reunion episode featuring the contestants will air on BBC One at 9pm, following the final episode of Race Across the World. This comes after a heart-wrenching moment when Andrew shared his terrifying health setback, and his daughter Molly spoke about her father's determination to prove himself.
Viewers can stream all episodes of Race Across the World on BBC iPlayer.
