Prepare to head to China from the comfort of your sofa tonight as Race Across the World returns for a new series on BBC One. From a divorced couple setting off on an adventure to two 60-year-old brothers hoping to reconnect, five pairings will be racing from the Great Wall of China to the southernmost tip of India as this hit reality series kicks off.
Elsewhere, BBC Two’s Hannah Fry is looking into the tech behind smart doorbells and the origins behind these front door staples in Doorbell: The Secret Genius of Modern Life. Meanwhile, Channel 4 follows property guru Guy Phoenix as he flogs Monaco’s luxury listings in a new property series.
With lots to get stuck into, here are the top telly picks from Emma Bullimore – who is filling in for Sara Baalla.
Stuff a sleeping bag in your oversized rucksack, it’s time for another adventure. After a recent celebrity version, we’re back to the civilian series, and five teams of two will be navigating their way from the Great Wall of China to the southernmost tip of India. Miles from cosmopolitan Beijing, the language barrier is an immediate challenge for the explorers, who have just £1000 to spend on transport, accommodation and food for the entire trip.
Confident sisters Elizabeth and Letitia are quick out of the blocks, but teen couple Fin and Sioned find themselves going round and round in circles, trying to find a bus stop. Meanwhile, 60-year old Caroline is hoping the expedition will be her chance to prove she is more than a housewife, and she’s relying on her son Tom, an experienced traveller, to lead the way. They’re up against 60-something brothers Brian and Melvyn, who live very different lives and haven’t spent any extended time together since childhood. They hope they’ll find some common ground again on their travels.
Lastly, Yin and Gaz, who have been in each other’s lives for decades as business partners and spouses, hope that their strong bond will get them to the finish line first. The first checkpoint on their 14,000km journey is Huangling village, and the teams can choose to board the high-speed trains down the coast, or take the scenic route through the countryside. Whichever direction they go in, emotions will quickly bubble over as tiredness, homesickness and overwhelm soon set in.
Whether they’re installed for home security, or just to talk to the postman as you’re running down the stairs, smart doorbells are everywhere. Hannah Fry is investigating the technology inside the casing, revealing just how clever these mini tech marvels really are.
She meets Ring doorbell inventor, Jamie Siminoff, who made the first prototype in his garage after missing one too many deliveries. When his wife pointed out that the ‘doorbot’ made her feel safer in their home, he realised he was onto something, and took his product onto Shark Tank (the US version of Dragon’s Den). While nobody invested, the publicity alone was enough to launch the business, leading Jamie to eventually sell his product to Amazon for one billion dollars. Hannah examines how the sophisticated camera gives such a clear image despite changes in weather (and visits from spiders!), and how the device’s origins lie in Soviet spy tech.
Property renovation guru Guy Phoenix is hoping to cash in on the super-rich residents of glamorous Monaco for his latest project. After purchasing a fixer-upper two bed flat for a mere £16 million, he’s gutting the inside, installing the biggest kitchen in the neighbourhood and creating a luxury bathroom, which he hopes will boost the value to £22million.
You can certainly see the appeal of this apartment with a stunning view over the bay, but this project won’t be easy. For a start, Guy doesn’t speak any French, which is causing problems with his suppliers. Then there are Monaco’s strict building laws, which mean his team can’t make any construction noise before 9am, nor can it last for more than six hours without the neighbours banging on the door. Guy is paying thousands of pounds every day on loan interest, materials and labour, so speed is of the essence.
Sarah is furious about Kammy’s dirt bike race. She tells him their relationship is over if he goes ahead with it, but he and Jacob are determined to see it through.
Billy tries to make amends with Ross, and then takes flowers to Dawn. But his apology isn’t enough, and Billy and Dawn realise they need to talk to the kids about their divorce. As Billy comes to terms with living apart from his children, Kim offers him a place to stay.
Theo leaves the factory in a rage, telling Todd to stay away from him. Meanwhile, Danielle wants answers from Sarah, who is fed up of playing piggy in the middle. Sarah tells Kit about her history with Todd.
Lauren is relieved to hear that Frankie will soon be discharged from hospital, but she feels sick when a nurse brings over a parcel with a prison stamp on the label. Brian declares his love for Julie, but how will she react?
Phil is worried for Nigel as he searches for him round the Square. Eventually he enlists Linda’s help and they track him down, but bringing him home isn’t straight forward. Linda tries to keep Phil calm as they persuade Nigel back indoors.
Nigel gets emotional during a heart to heart. He tells Phil he just can’t face the thought of staying alive and allowing his dementia to worsen. Yolande inspires Phil to come up with a new plan.
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