Race Across The World copycat show launching this year promising 'high stakes' and 'spectacular gameplay'
A Race Across The World copycat show is launching later this year, promising 'high stakes' and 'spectacular gameplay'.
Destination X, presented by Gavin and Stacey's Rob Brydon, sees contestants dropped off at a random location - and they have to work out where.
Set to air on the BBC, it is strikingly similar to the broadcaster's beloved programme Race Across The World, which has run to five series so far since it started in 2019.
The competition sees pairs of travellers compete to traverse a cross-continental route without smartphones, air travel, the internet or credit cards - and on a limited budget.
The latest series ended last week, with mother and son duo Caroline and Tom narrowly claiming victory and taking home the £20,000 cash prize.
But with the trailer for Destination X airing after the finale episode, as filming has already taken place, Race Across The World fans will soon get their next fix of travel contests.
Set to air on the BBC, it is strikingly similar to the broadcaster's beloved programme Race Across The World (pictured, the contestants on the latest series), which has run to five series so far since it started in 2019
Based on a Belgian series, after a US version also came out earlier this year, the new programme will see participants travel on a blacked-out bus to an unknown location.
They will take on challenges and games during their journey, which will provide clues as to where they are - and a couple of red herrings to keep them guessing.
But at the end of each episode, the contestant who places an X on the map the furthest away from their actual destination will be kicked off the bus and sent home.
The first player to reach the final mystery place, the titular Destination X, will be crowned the winner.
It is not known exactly yet what their prize will be - but the recent American version offered an eye-watering jackpot of $250,000 (around £184,000).
The BBC's synopsis for Destination X reads: 'Merging fantasy with reality in this larger-than-life adventure competition series, viewers will follow contestants as they embark on the road trip of a lifetime but have no idea where they are...
'With high stakes and mind-blowing spectacular gameplay, the series will continuously keep viewers engaged and take them along for the ride.'
Host Rob, 59, best known as Bryn West on Gavin and Stacey, leapt straight into filming in October last year, just a week after wrapping on filming for the Christmas special of the classic BBC sitcom.
A TV source told The Sun at the time: 'Destination X is going to be massive for the BBC and they wanted a familiar face to take it on.
'Rob is very well liked and is incredibly funny, so he seemed the ideal candidate to present the show.
'Filming begins in the mystery location this week.'
The BBC has reportedly invested £20million on the travel show and is hoping the series will be 'better than The Traitors'.
Involving similar strategy and scheming, it is sure to be a hit with fans of the beloved BBC reality show, which started in 2022 and has since spawned multiple international versions.
In fact, Destination X was quietly commissioned back in April 2023, as a joint effort between the BBC and American channel NBC after both hit the jackpot with their respective Traitors programmes.
BBC director of unscripted Kate Phillips said in 2023: 'Following the must-see success of The Traitors, I'm delighted that once again we're partnering with NBCUniversal on another very smart, very addictive and very innovative competition show.
'With countless red herrings and brain-teasing clues, we were gripped from the start.
'It promises to be a hugely challenging adventure for our ten brave contestants, with plenty of play along for all BBC viewers, as everyone hopes they've got the "X" that marks the spot!'
The broadcaster has thrown all its might behind the new programme, by appointing well-liked Rob as host.
The presenter of BBC comedy panel show Would I Lie To You? said: 'How could I turn down the opportunity to become the mastermind of Destination X, the thrilling new travel adventure series coming to the BBC next year?
'It's a show that turns the whole of Europe into a board game - manipulating the players and the audience at home along the way.
'I can't wait to be the puppet master orchestrating every twist and turn as our contestants are taken on a journey where everything is not as it seems.
'It's going to be a wild ride!'
It comes after mother and son Caroline, 61, and Tom, 21, took the crown on the latest series of Race Across The World.
The fifth series saw the travellers take on an almost 9,000-mile route from the Great Wall Of China, through Nepal, to the southern tip of India, with a budget of just over £1,000 per person.
The pair narrowly claimed victory, taking home the £20,000 prize, with sisters Elizabeth and Letitia only 19 minutes behind them.
And after the programme aired, Caroline spoke out about the secret battles their epic 51-day journey helped her overcome.
Caroline and Tom spoke extensively on the show about the mother claiming - and her son accepting - her identity beyond being a housewife and parent.
But she told Metro she had been facing another challenge behind the scenes too: 'We'd just downsized the house which I really struggled with.
'I didn't have a horse anymore and we had our dog put down.
'Tom was becoming more independent and I thought, "I don't know what life is going to offer me now".
'Luckily, Race Across The World came at the right time.'
She took the loss of her horse so hard because it has emerged since her time on the show that Caroline is a successful eventer.
The Race Across The World winner loves to take part in the equestrian event, which sees competitors take on dressage, cross-country and show jumping.
And since finishing the BBC competition show, she got her horse back and made a successful return to the sport: 'I have a much more positive attitude now.
'I still spend a lot of time outside with my animals but I'm not as frightened of being lonely.'
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