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Race Across the World sisters 'happy' with finale

Race Across the World sisters 'happy' with finale

BBC News12-06-2025
Warning: This article reveals the winners of Race Across the World.
Two West Sussex sisters have said they are "happy" to have placed second in BBC One contest Race Across The World.Elizabeth and Letitia, from Worthing and Lancing respectively, spoke to BBC Radio Sussex following the Bafta-award winning's show's tense finale on Wednesday night. The duo finished their 8,700 miles (14,000km) journey from China to India just 19 minutes after the Season Five winners, mother and son pair Caroline and Tom Bridge.Elizabeth said: "We really pushed ourselves towards the end and we were so determined. We're really happy with the result anyway. "
She added: "We are just proud of ourselves and it was such a big accomplishment."The programme saw five pairs of contestants race from Great Wall of China, north of Bejing, and Kanniyakumari, the southernmost tip of India, in a bid to win £20,000.Each pair had to pass seven checkpoints on a £1,140 budget and were banned from using air travel.Now, the sisters say they are going to celebrate the experience by travelling at an entirely different pace. Elizabeth said: "We'd like to take a holiday, just relax, something chill, not in race mode."
Elizabeth and Letitia say their adventure has helped them grow closer as sisters. Elizabeth said: "Being in the experience and being in different countries - you need someone to share that with. "I'm glad I was able to share that with my sister."
Despite narrowly missing out, the five couples still stay in touch via group chat and meet up regularly.Letitia said: "We're looking forward to another reunion."
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How furry monster Labubus have become must-have toy for kids and celebs – and sparked mini riots & late-night robberies
How furry monster Labubus have become must-have toy for kids and celebs – and sparked mini riots & late-night robberies

The Sun

timean hour ago

  • The Sun

How furry monster Labubus have become must-have toy for kids and celebs – and sparked mini riots & late-night robberies

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Inspired by Nordic folklore, Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung designed them in 2015 as part of a collection of characters called The Monsters. It wasn't until Pop Mart bought the rights to them that the seeds for their viral success were sewn. The toy company specialises in 'blind boxes', so-called because customers only find out what they've bought when they open the package. Dramatic moment crowds join massive queue to grab viral Labubu dolls as latest doll craze sweeps across the world Combine that with the characters coming in themed groups such as 'Big Into Energy' and 'Exciting Macaron', ultra-rare limited-edition designs, and collaborations with fashion designers, and you've got the ultimate collector's item. Each 'series' also has a 'secret' final Labubu to complete the collection that is even rarer than the rest. No wonder demand has spiralled. Fake versions, dubbed Lafufus, are big business too, with China seizing 70,000 in just a few days. Although 'blind boxes' from Pop Mart tend to range from £18 to around £60, Labubus get resold online for thousands. Rarer than rest One child-size Labubu fetched a record 1.08million yuan (£110,000) at a Beijing auction in June. Parents are finding their pockets plundered by kids desperate for 'just one more'. But you almost can't blame them when just about every big name is a fan. Having gained popularity in China, Labubus went global after K-pop singer Lalisa Manobal from girlband Blackpink — who also features in TV hit White Lotus — began posting photos of them on her social media. Since then, Rihanna, Lizzo and Dua Lipa have been snapped with Labubus dangling from their designer bags. 8 8 8 In April, Kim Kardashian posted snaps of her collection of ten dolls on Instagram. A few weeks later David Beckham revealed his daughter, Harper, 13, had bought him a rare 'secret' edition Labubu. But they're not just bag accessories. Paris Hilton's kids Phoenix, two, and London, 21 months, own several, including some as big as them. In June, Olivia Attwood was treated to a £175 doll by footballer husband Bradley Dack to mark her second wedding anniversary. A month earlier she celebrated turning 34 with a Labubu-themed birthday party. Towie favourite Gemma Collins says she's 'obsessed' with the dolls. And tennis player Carlos Alcaraz was even spotted wth one at ­Wimbledon in June. Chaos at shop Yesterday, singer Pixie Lott announced on TikTok the world's first gig for Labubu Dolls — set to be held next Thursday at a 'secret West London location'. And what better way for Madonna to have celebrated her 67th birthday last Saturday than with a giant Labubu cake? It's little surprise then that Pop Mart stores in the UK have had queues snaking around the block. But they underestimated just how desperate people were to get their hands on them. In May, bosses were forced to temporarily halt sales in all UK stores after fights broke out between frenzied fans who had been camping outside since 3am. 'There were big crowds of people hovering around the shop, and there was this really negative vibe,' shopper Victoria Calvert told the BBC after she witnessed the chaos at the Westfield Stratford shopping centre in East London. 8 8 'People were shouting, basically saying there were no more Labubus left. 'I even witnessed a fight between a worker and a customer.' Pop Mart has since moved to a system that only allows shoppers to buy them in store after winning an online raffle. Two weeks ago in California, burglars raided an LA store and swiped boxes of the dolls. The heartbroken owners fear $30,000 worth of Labubus were taken. And in Iraq, Kurdish authorities confiscated 4,000 dolls and banned their sales in shops — though denied it was due to earlier media reports that they had demonic powers. It might be yet another crazy trend. But for now, it seem Labubu fever is here to stay. 'HOOKED AFTER MY FIRST LABUBU' VIDEO editor Iyo Ozigbo, 25, bought her first doll just one month ago – and was hooked. The North Londoner said: 'I first found out about them around December, when Olivia Attwood made a TikTok about them. 'I thought they looked cute.' She entered the raffle to buy one – and finally won four weeks ago. 'I was shocked when I got the email saying I'd won,' she said. 'The lady in the store in Soho told me demand had got so bad that people were having fights over them. 'I was even cautious walking down Oxford Street with it, because I genuinely thought someone would try to nick it.' She's since bought three others, bringing her total Labubu spend so far to £80, and plans to get two more. She said: 'They're fluffy and cute, and the colours look great. 'When you see celebrities wearing them, it's only natural you want one. 'And some people might think £18, their starting price, is a bit expensive. 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The Fortune Hotel Season 2: release schedule, eliminations and where to watch
The Fortune Hotel Season 2: release schedule, eliminations and where to watch

Metro

time3 hours ago

  • Metro

The Fortune Hotel Season 2: release schedule, eliminations and where to watch

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