Tom And Caroline Bridge Win Race Across The World

Mother and son Caroline and Tom Bridge have crossed the finish line first to become the winners of the fifth series of Race Across The World.

The BBC One show saw five pairs race a distance of about 8,700 miles (14,000km) between the Great Wall of China, north of Bejing, and Kanniyakumari, the southernmost tip of India.

Caroline said: “We must never doubt ourselves again, ever, ever, ever.”

“It’s a really good feeling. I’m lost for words. I can’t believe it: 51 days racing through countries that I never thought I’d go to, and never thought we’d come this far, and never thought we’d achieve so much. And I’ve never been prouder of my mum,” said Tom.

The winning duo will share a cash prize of £20,000.

Teams had to pass seven checkpoints in China, Nepal and India on their route to the finish line.

As usual, all pairs were banned from travelling by air, and instead were given a budget of £1140 per person for the journey – the cost of a one-way plane ticket.

They could not use their smart phones or bank cards while seeking out their own transport, food and accommodation.

According to ratings body Barb,, external just under 6 million viewers per episode have been tuning in or catching up on iPlayer within a seven day period.

This means the series was the most watched programme in the UK across all channels and streaming platforms during each week it aired, with the exception of the week Eurovision was broadcast.

The mother and son duo thought the show would be a unique opportunity to create treasured memories.

Both were from Hargrave near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, but only Tom, 21, had travelling experience as he had spent about 10 months in South America and Europe.

During the show Caroline, 60, opened up about how she felt she had, in recent years, lost her identity outside of being a mother and a wife.

Meanwhile her son found new confidence when he told strangers about his cerebral palsy for the first time.