The latest episode of Race Across the World season 5 has broken the show’s main rule, and viewers were quick to point it out.

Following last week’s elimination, the remaining four teams headed for the fourth checkpoint of Varanasi, this season’s first stop in India.

Going from China to India would’ve entailed a lengthy journey, but production skirted the show’s ‘no fly’ rule, flying the teams to Kathmandu, Nepal, from where they’d resume their race to India’s southernmost town of Kanniyakumari.

While the rule break certainly facilitated the teams in their race to the new checkpoint, as it shortened this leg of the journey to just 800km, fans of the show were on the fence about the decision.

“Flying?! ‘Tis production prescribed cheating!” one viewer wrote on Twitter/X, while another asked: “Soz, why have they flown on Race Across the World? Isn’t the whole point not to fly?”

race across the world, brian and melvyn consulting a map

BBC

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Instagram users shared similar criticism, with one viewer commenting on the show’s official account: “I thought they couldn’t fly??”

“I guess desperate times call for desperate measures!” another fan responded with a laughing emoji.

Once they arrived in Nepal, the contestants opted for different routes but kept a similar approach. The goal was to get to Varanasi while trying to save some money as budget was becoming tight for all of them.

race across the world, sioned and fin laughing together

BBC

This meant the four teams chose homestays or accommodation in exchange for work over hotels, with fan-favourite sibling duo Brian and Melvyn lending a helping hand to a local farming family.

Meanwhile, sisters Letitia and Elizabeth learnt how to make momos — traditional Nepali dumplings — in a community restaurant run by an all-female team.

race across the world, elizabeth and letitia opening a letter

BBC

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As Tom and Caroline also worked in a restaurant, teen couple Fin and Sioned visited Chitwan National Park, then spending the night in a hostel and working a bar shift.

Tom and Caroline were the first to enter India, making it to the Northern state of Uttar Pradesh on day 26 of the race.

race across the world, tom, caroline

BBC

Despite being only the second team to cross the border, Brian and Melvyn beat Tom and Caroline to the punch and won this leg of the journey.

Tom and Caroline followed suit, with the episode ending on a cliffhanger for the other two teams. Who will be last? Only one way to find out.

Race Across the World airs on BBC One and is available on iPlayer.

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Reporter, Digital Spy

Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy. 

Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).