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Â鶹Éç One’s much-loved, BAFTA winning series Race Across the World returns to Â鶹Éç One and Â鶹Éç iPlayer for its sixth series. Five intrepid teams set off on the journey of a lifetime, racing more than 12,000km across southern Europe and central Asia. The route carves through eight unique countries: Italy, Greece, Türkiye, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia – each bringing its own language and culture. In the most extreme race to date, conditions swing from 30-degree Mediterranean heat to subarctic temperatures of -20°C. With smartphones, internet access and bank cards left behind, they are armed with nothing but the cash equivalent of flying the route.

In the second episode, the race to Hatgal is well under way. Leaving behind the tranquillity of the Ionian island of Kefalonia, the pairs must race towards one of Europe’s biggest and most populous cities, Istanbul, where Europe and Asia collide. To get there, teams could strike north through Greece’s mountainous mainland, experiencing rural life along the way, or they could head via the ancient capital, Athens, before ferry-hopping across the Aegean Sea into western Türkiye.

Katie and Harrison’s hopes of a swift getaway quickly grind to a halt as they fall foul of rural Greece’s infrequent public transport system. Harrison’s determination to protect the budget at all costs causes Katie to notice a change in her brother’s behaviour, calling their differing race priorities into question. Scouse best friends Jo and Kush feel the lure of Greece’s iconic sandy beaches and plot a route via the idyllic island of Lesbos. A job with a local fisherman’s family prompts the pair to reflect on their own upbringing, but after making progress, a late wake-up and a desire to savour the journey causes their race plans to come unstuck. Andrew and his daughter Molly, from a rural village in Northern Ireland, plot a scenic route along Greece’s rugged eastern coastline. As they head north, geography teacher Andrew can’t resist the opportunity to take a detour and explore geological marvel Mount Olympus. Molly, however, grows increasingly frustrated, questioning whether Andrew’s curiosity is costing them valuable time in the race. Mark is determined to take his sister-in-law Margo to fulfil one of his lifelong dreams , a visit to the monasteries of Meteora. As they travel across country, a chance encounter with a local prompts Mark to reflect on the last few years of his life. Puja and her cousin Roshni are eager to learn from the mistakes that cost them time on the first leg. With a new strategy and the determination to climb up the leader board, they choose to prioritise speed over anything else. While waiting for a ferry, their ingenuity and perseverance finally pay off when they secure work against the odds.