Here’s the part that gets me: the casting. The BBC usually looks for real pairs—mothers and sons, best mates, married couples who haven’t spoken in ten years. I heard through a friend of a freelancer that this season has a father-daughter duo who’ve never traveled together. That’s a recipe for either deep bonding or a televised meltdown. Personally, I’m rooting for the meltdown. It’s more honest.
Also, don’t expect Instagram influencers. The show casts people who panic when their phone battery hits 20%. That’s why we love them. They’re us, but with worse luggage.
How to survive the wait
If you’re like me, you’re already googling “best bus routes in Argentina.” Calm down. Murder the wait by rewatching Season 3 (the one through the Balkans). Notice how the couples fight over sandwich fillings and then cry when they miss a ferry. It’s a masterclass in human fragility.
Race Across the World season 4 full guide: winners and more | What to Watch
Or, do what I did: plan a fake race with your partner. Pick two random cities in Europe, give yourselves £100 each, and see who can get to a central point first. My wife beat me by three hours because I took a wrong bus in Poland and ended up at a nudist beach. True story.
