Race Across the World

The Bafta-winning third series of Race Across the World reaches its epic climax tonight as one lucky team crosses the finish line in first place, claiming the £20,000 cash prize and the title of Race Across the World champions.

Forty-six days ago, five teams embarked on a monumental journey across the second-largest country in the world – Canada. Without smartphones, internet access and credit cards, the teams' skill, ingenuity and determination have been tested to the extreme as they attempted to conquer the 16,000-kilometre route.

The teams navigated their way through seven check points, across challenging terrains and alongside unpredictable wildlife with ever-dwindling budgets.

Across prairies and the Canadian Badlands to the edge of the Arctic, from the shores of the Great Lakes to the picturesque fishing towns of Nova Scotia, from the Rockies to the densely inhabited region of Quebec's cities, this has undoubtedly been an adventure to remember.

This gruelling and punishing race pushed the teams to their limits, both physically and emotionally. Alongside the astonishing scenery, it has given them the opportunity to immerse themselves in different cultures, make lasting connections and appreciate surprising and inspiring acts of kindness from total strangers along the way.

The journey has not just been physical – relationships have been tested and bonds strengthened. At times unpredictable and always dramatic, the pairs complete the experience as very different people from the ones who started the race eight weeks ago.

In an incredibly tight, gripping and pulsating finale set against the backdrop of the most easterly point of the North American continent, which team will triumph, be crowned winners and welcomed into the Race Across the World hall of fame?

After a thrilling third series of the Bafta-winning adventure, our five pairs return to reflect on their epic, once-in-a-lifetime race across Canada.

Tonight, they reunite for the first time since the race ended to reveal fascinating insights into their different strategies and individual experiences, from their highest highs to their lowest lows, from money woes to emotional breakdowns, from the hardships of travel to the kindness of strangers, and perhaps most importantly their moments of self-discovery.

The confessions continue as they reveal their first impressions of each other and how these changed as the competition between them grew fiercer. Has the unbreakable bond they formed as a group held strong after the race? Or have old rivalries re-emerged? And what has happened since they returned to the UK? One thing is certain – the lives of all who took part have been changed for good.

This one-off special will offer a truly unique, captivating, behind-the-scenes look into how these intrepid travellers coped with the trials and tribulations of an incredible, life-affirming race and the impact it has had on both them individually and their relationships.

The race begins in Sapporo, the capital city of Hokkaido, the most northerly of the four main islands of Japan. To reach the first checkpoint in Nara City, the teams face 1,600 kilometres through one of the most expensive countries where only a small percentage of the population speak English. With a myriad of routes to choose from, they must use all their skills, ingenuity and determination to make it off the island and to the checkpoint.