Race Across the World stars reveal big changes to their lives after filming

Yahoo

a day ago

Race Across the World has a huge impact on the lives of the contestants taking part.
It's a life-changing 14,000km journey like no other, this year taking place across China, Nepal and India where the participants must race on a budget without their smart phones or credit cards. Often it sparks a desire for change among those competing.
Many of the contestants are spurred onto continue travelling following the unique experience. Others have been inspired to make life changes, like moving out. Additionally, it has seen the stars enjoy a bit of overnight fame too.
With millions tuning into watch Race Across the World, the contestants have been propelled to stardom overnight where people recognise them in the streets.
Brothers Brian and Melvyn revealed they were recognised while meeting up a few weeks ago at a hotel in Doncaster and the restaurant manager had a selfie with them.
"He seemed, for want of a better phrase, starstruck," Melvyn told Yahoo UK. "Didn't he?!"
Brian added: "He was just a happy chap that he met me!"
Melvyn said: "It really made his day. It was great."
Brian joked: "We should have got a beer off him though! If anybody sees us and quite happy to buy us a cup of tea or a beer, we'd be quite happy!"
Yin decided to moved out of her former husband Gaz's house. Although she returned to his home when they were eliminated, months later she decided to make the move into her own place again. Yin had been living with Gaz while grieving the sudden death of her ex partner Chris.
She told Yahoo UK: "So when we got back from all our travels, and I did go back to Gaz's house, Gaz did say to me, 'Oh, you're gonna come back to mine, or are you finally gonna move into your own house? It's past six months sort of thing'. I said, 'Oh, I don't think I'm ready yet'.
"But then when we got to his house, when I was staying with Gaz, I'd be sleeping on the sofa or sleeping in the spare room when my daughter wasn't there. I had been given the cupboard under the stairs to keep my bits and pieces, day to day pieces.
Check out the Race Across the World final in pictures
Race Across the World's Fin and Sioned are seen prioritising travel on the final leg of the race. (BBC/Studio Lambert)
"I got my rucksack, went to put it into the cupboard under the stairs, and I just thought: 'I'm a 55 year old woman living out of someone's cupboard under the stairs, come on Yin!'
"[Moving out has] taken a little bit longer than I thought, so I took a little bit of time. I said, 'I'm gonna start moving out' and I think probably from the beginning of the end of January, beginning of February.
"I'm in my own house now. I'm talking to you from my own house. I have lived here since about the beginning of March. Gaz was amazing. He always is. Every time I went back to his I found another bag of my stuff!"
After filming for the race was over, some of the contestants headed straight back on a plane out of the UK.
Sioned and Fin wasted no time before going to Australia. Fin told Yahoo UK: "As soon as we came back we went straight to Australia. It was lovely. Thankfully no budget for that because that was an expensive one — home straight away if there's a budget for that."
The teenager lovers have plans to go to South America, including Brazil, Peru, Patagonia. They would also love to go back to Nepal where only a small part of the race was filmed.
Like Fin and Sioned, sisters Elizabeth and Letitia went travelling together straight away but they went to Kenya. "Straight after [Race] we actually went to Kenya," Elizabeth told Yahoo UK. "We really wanted to spend time with family and things, but also just trying to connect more. Our parents are from Kenya. It was a nice way to reconnect, have a family reunion."
Letitia added: "And honestly after the race, after the stress, we needed that relaxation! We needed a holiday to unwind and relax. I don't think the adventures will stop now. Definitely trying other things with travelling, got the travel bug!"
Caroline and Tom have plans to do a mini Race Across the World-style holiday in Kazakhstan with only their rucksacks.
The mum told Yahoo UK: "I'm amazed that Thomas and I immediately wanted to go out travelling again. Kazakhstan with rucksacks! But obviously we'll take a phone. I have never, before raced, I have never travelled with a rucksack in my life. I'd never even worn one.
"And now I actually want to go with just everything I can carry on my back and be a little more spontaneous and rely on speaking to strangers as we've learned. And yeah, go with the best travel companion who's as daft as I am!"
Brian and Melvyn are also considering going fishing again. They had always dreamed about fishing in Canada and staying in a log cabin, so perhaps that will be on the cards for the brothers.
Race Across the World continues at 9pm on BBC One on Wednesday.