BBC's Race Across The World fan favourites nearly didn't make the start line

Daily Mirror

13-06-2025

The show's 8million viewers loved watching the 60-something pair have a whale of a time as they travelled 9,000 miles across Asia, with many hoping they would win
Race Across the World brothers Melvyn and Brian Mole nearly didn't make it onto the show together - because elder brother Melvyn asked everyone he knew before thinking of his sibling.
Viewers watching the pair, both in their 60s, over the last two months learned that they had been brought up by parents who treated them very differently - Melvyn went to a local state school while Brian was sent away to private school, and no explanations were given.
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But they became firm favourites with the audience as they grew closer together and tackled the gulf between them that had been created in childhood.
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Now driving instructor Melvyn, 65, has revealed he didn't think to ask financial advisor Brian to join him in his application for the series until the last moment.
'I rang Brian after I'd asked the wife and every other friend I'd had and then thought, 'I better ask Brian and so if he wants to come' - he said yes straight away.'
Brian laughed: 'He ran out of everybody then said 'Brian, do you fancy doing Race Across the World?''
Since finishing Race Across the World, recorded last year, their newfound bond has remained intact. Brian revealed on BBC Breakfast that they now speak on a daily basis and are now 'enjoying life' with regular meet ups while Melvyn said: 'We are a lot closer. We understand one another a wee bit better.'
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That's not to say the 9,000 mile journey across China, India and Nepal wasn't without it's problems. 'Sitting next to Melvyn for 11 or 12 hours on a bus or a train was hard work – he just goes on and on,' said Brian, a retired financial advisor.
But they said they would get over any arguments by giving each other 10 minutes of peace. 'Then we'd be best of friends again,' driving instructor Melvyn beamed.
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And they said that others who feel they might not be able to cope with the rigours of travelling should also give it a whirl. 'If a couple of old fellas can do this and do really well on it, then come on, anyone can do it! Age isn't a barrier is it?'
Many fans had hoped the pair - who had won three previous legs - would triumph overall. But they lost their place as leaders during the penultimate leg after opting to take a quieter route moving south through India, avoiding the huge city of Mumbai.
It meant they started the last leg behind eventual winners Caroline and Tom by 17 hours and in the end they finished in fourth place. But they took heart from knowing they'd made up many hours en route, meaning they were the fastest pair to complete the last leg.
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Sitting on the sofa with teen couple Cray and Fin Gough, the brothers said they were 'really proud' of how the youngsters had done. 'We're proud of you too,' Sioned declared, as presenter Naga Munchetty commented on their friendly banter.
'We all got on so well but sometimes it's as though they want you to antagonise one another,' Brian said. 'That's what makes telly watchable,' Naga told them. 'But the good stuff makes it watchable as well. Thanks for bringing the good stuff.'
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Sioned revealed that said she and boyfriend Fin Gough took part in the BBC show thanks to her mother - who had suggested that she went travelling with her brother. 'I didn't think that would go well,' she admitted.
The couple said that the show has transformed their lives. 'Our growth was very evident to the viewers watching,' she said. 'We lacked confidence before - now we just go for it with life a bit more.'
'We want to do bigger and better things and travel and see the world more,' Fin agreed.