'Surreal and life-changing' - could you take on TV's Race Across the World?

Former winners of a TV show that sees five duos race across the world have described the experience as "surreal and life-changing", as the series appeals for new contestants.

The BBC's Race Across the World, which first aired in 2019, offers a cash reward of £20,000 to the first pair to reach the final checkpoint - but contestants have no phones, no internet, no flights and limited funds.

Cathie Rowe, 50, and Tricia Sail, 49, best friends who met at school in Aberystwyth, were the winners of series three after they raced from Vancouver to Newfoundland.

Tricia, who has a degenerative eye condition, was keen to take on the challenge while she still could and described the race as "the maddest, most surreal, life-changing journey".

A trailer for the show's sixth series dropped on Saturday, teasing a new epic journey from Europe to the "uncharted edges" of Mongolia.

"Before the race I was struggling with my mental health, I had no self-belief at all," said Tricia.

Tricia explained how being told what she "couldn't do" because of her disability impacted her confidence in own abilities.

"I was always told I couldn't do things because my eye sight," said Tricia.

"When I first started losing my sight I was told not to even use the oven in case I burnt myself.

"When you hear that kind of thing for 10 years you do stop trying new things. Since going on the show I now give things a go."

Tricia said having a disability was the reason she wanted to go the show so she could "prove what people with disabilities can do".

Cathie said taking part in the "off the grid" experience was "empowering" and had increased her confidence in travelling.

"You don't think for one second you're going to be picked when you apply so when you are you're like wow, this is incredible.

"I would do it again in a heartbeat."

Cathie has continued to travel the world with Tricia and her husband Gareth.

She has visited the Great Wall of China and Machu Picchu in Peru with no plans to stop taking on new travel adventures in the future.

"Going on the show has given me a lot more confidence in travelling outside usual tourist destinations.

"I want to see things, not just fly to a place and flop on the beach," she added.

Fin Gough, 19 and Sioned Cray, 21 from Nantgaredig, Carmarthenshire, took part in Race Across the World in 2025.

The childhood sweethearts came third in a seven week race through China, Nepal and India.

"It was very daunting having our phones taken off us having no idea where we were going," said Fin.

"We had gone on family holidays to places like Tenerife before the show, not put a back pack on and go style travelling."

Sioned said the race was "diving into the deep end" of travel and at times she struggled but now found travelling "easier and more enjoyable".

The pair recently spent a month in South America and their next adventure is Morocco to celebrate Fin's 20th birthday.

Fin and Sioned returned to India last summer, where series five took place.

Sioned explained: "We went back to India in summer last year because I want to tick off the Seven Wonders of the World.

"I was determined to see the Taj Mahal because we didn't have time to whilst racing across India."

The couple have visited sixteen different countries since competing in Race Across the World, from Indonesia to Sri Lanka.

The appeal for new contestants on the BBC's website states: "This experience is open to all, whether you're a seasoned traveller or total novice.

"We want to hear what undertaking a trip like this would mean to you, and with a cash prize at stake, to what lengths you would go to win."

The deadline for applications is 29 March 2026.