Original subtitles

This programme contains some strong language.

When we were kids, we did promise ourselves an adventure.

I don't think I'll actually come to terms with what I've been doing

until I'm home.

I'm finding that the longer I'm going on this race,

the stronger I feel.

Just a whirlwind of emotion.

This adventure, it's been the most uncomfortable adventure of my life,

but it has been the most rewarding.

HORNS BEEP

The closer I'm getting to the finale,

the more competitive I'm getting.

If we add every single thing we've learnt together now,

I do think we have a good shot at winning.

People underestimate Mum, and I think that's one of our superpowers.

I actually can't believe that we're here,

and I actually can't believe that we've turned it around.

We're going into leg eight in first place.

We couldn't have asked for a better start.

When you open that book, no name, how badly do you want to see that?

Obviously I want to win!

It's the only thing I've wanted this whole time,

is to have that book just empty. Empty!

The odds are against us, but... If we look at it in reality, Melv,

with the money that we've got, it could still be anybody's race.

And why can't we catch up 19 hours?

Caroline is very competitive, and we're second to them,

so we need to be matching their competitiveness, really.

Let's win.Mm.

It's really tight. Now everybody is on the same level.

It is literally crunch time.

We just need to go, go, go.

HORNS BEEP

4:44am.

Hello, good morning. Good morning.

Heading into the eighth and final leg,

Caroline and Tom are in pole position.

But as they begin the final battle to the finish line,

mere hours separate the top three teams.

You ready? Yep. Last one.

The finish line.

Kanniyakumari. Ooh!

All very exciting. Yeah.

Shall we go? Let's go. Bye. Thank you.

This is it.

After racing 13,000km,

just over 1,000 remain.

The distance that stands between the teams

and a prize of £20,000.

The finish line, Kanniyakumari,

sits at the southernmost tip of India,

where tourists flock for the sunrise,

and the 41m Thiruvalluvar Statue stands guard,

a profound symbol of Tamil culture and philosophy.

To get there, they must traverse the southern states,

where life by the sea has shaped its traditions,

from spicy fish curries, to water-bound rituals.

The most obvious route to Kanniyakumari is down the coast.

Following along the coast

may be the most direct route...

..but competition for tickets is fierce.

And whilst travelling inland

is a greater distance,

heading via southern India's major cities

offers regular services and well-connected highways.

I think if we left Panaji and went inland,

it does look a little more complicated. Yeah.

I think we'd have to overcome a mountainous area,

and it just seems to look a lot longer on the map.

Whereas I think, if we stick coastal route, shorter mileage -

surely the distance is shorter that way.

Then go from Kochi to Kanniyakumari. Yeah.

And then win the race.

CHUCKLING:I love that plan!

Caroline and Tom's plan -

propel themselves along the coast,

to Kochi, in the heart of Kerala.

Hello, good morning. Hello.

We'd like to get a taxi to the station.

As soon as possible. Thank you.

From our very first leg, we have learnt so much.

This is the time for us to leave no stone unturned,

do absolutely everything we can to ensure we come in first.

How much to drop us at the train station, please?

1,800 rupees.

1,600?

Yeah, OK. Perfect. OK, perfect. Thank you.

Winning would mean everything, for myself, but more for Mum.

It would mean so much to her to win.

We are looking for a train south.

Today. Yes, please.

Which comes first?

Udupi, Udupi. Er, 8:15am.

8:15?

It leaves today? 8:15.

The Udupi one? Yes. Let's do Udupi.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Lovely. Well done.

Eager to get moving,

Caroline and Tom make a snap decision to travel to Udupi,

nearly 500km shy of Kochi.

We're on the move.

I think this is probably our best chance.

I am feeling very relieved that we have a lead.

It gives us a slight buffer zone.

We're on the move, but we're not covering a massive distance,

which another team could do.

The thought of waiting around, it is absolutely awful to me.

I think you've done good.

Really, really good.

Departing just under seven hours after their rivals...

Get the correct transport, make the right decisions,

because, you know, Tom and Caroline, they had a head start,

so we need to catch up with them.

..Elizabeth and Letitia.

I think the coastal route seem to be less, in terms of kilometres.

I think, though, that the inland route may have better roads,

better connections, because of the bigger cities.

Yeah, I feel ready to get to Kanniyakumari.

Game on.

The sisters' first step to reach the finish line -

head inland to the state's cultural capital of Mysuru.

What time is the bus to Mysuru?

Is it a sleeper?

Yeah, sleeper.Yeah, sleeper. OK! SHE SQUEALS

I'm like, "Yeah, motivation, let's go! We can do this.

"Let's just try our best, and our best will just get us there!"

En route with a night train.

Bus!

Bus.

Also making their departure...

I'm nervous.

..Fin and Sioned.

The finish line is Kanniyakumari.

A tantalising 54 minutes behind the sisters.

That's the last time we're opening an envelope.

It's not going to be straightforward.

It's going to be a hard leg, I think.

Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you.

Thank you, bye. Here we go!

We've got this. We have. We've just got to plan it well.

The major cities... Like, Bangalore seems quite big.

We really need to use that to our advantage.

Ask as many people as we can, get as much information as we can.

I don't think anything else really matters this leg, now,

other than just focusing on speed.

There's no room for mistakes, really.

Do you speak English? Do you know any buses going to Bangalore?

What's he saying? Is..? Am I meant to follow him?

OK, we're going... Where are we...?

FIN CHUCKLES

Oh, we're going!

This feels, um, dodgy.

I mean, that bus doesn't look functionable.

Er, we're following this guy.

I think he's taking us to get bus tickets.

I'm not really sure.

Ah!

"Tourists." That's me. I'm a tourist.

Yes? Thank you.

Thank you very much. Thank you so much.

Bangalore. Bangalore? Bangalore, yes.

As soon as possible today.

Heading inland, they stick to their proven strategy -

staying close to major cities with strong transport links.

Ticket. Thank you so much. Thank you very much.

I think my competitiveness has kind of ranked up a notch.

I think I'm a lot more competitive than Fin.

If he doesn't win, he doesn't want to be too disappointed,

whereas I'll just be disappointed for probably a few years,

and then I'll get over it.

TRAIN HORN TOOTS

300km south,

Caroline and Tom are approaching their destination, Udupi.

Thomas. Mm. Thomas. Yes?

I hate to tell you, but we're only a few minutes away.

Thomas? OK!

OK?

I avoid ever having to wake him up, cos it's normally really unpleasant.

Sometimes I've even taken him in a hot cup of tea or a bacon sandwich,

and I leave it beside him, tell him I've done it, and then just run!

It's been beautiful scenery.

Jungle, very, very marshland and wetlands... Mm.

And some beautiful water buffalo,

with their symbiotic birds, you know. Mm.

Beautiful. Mm. Good.

The coastal city is flanked on one side by the Western Ghats

and, on the other, the Arabian Sea...

We're in Udupi!

..but these natural barriers can limit onward transport options.

Excuse me, sir. Hi.

Do you have two minutes just to help us, please? Yes.

Oh, thank you so much. Um, we need to get to Kochi. Kochi.

Do you know if the train is one of the fastest ways to get there?

One minute. Oh, thank you for looking.

There are multiple trains, but there are no seats available right now.

Oh... No tickets.

No!

Oh...bit of a kick in the teeth.

Do you know if there's buses tomorrow?

That's 5:25 in the afternoon.

My worry is it's not exactly race mode, for me.

There's physically nothing else we can do,

and I will sleep well tonight if we know it's booked.

Would it be OK if you could help us and book two tickets?

Yeah.For the bus. Thank you so much. Tomorrow night.

An overnight bus will

take Caroline and Tom 500km south,

to the Keralan city of Kochi...

..but not till tomorrow night, meaning a delay in Udupi.

With our bus not being until tomorrow afternoon,

I'm quite worried about having Elizabeth and Letitia on our tail.

And Fin and Sioned are only about 45 minutes behind them.

I think they're both breathing down our neck.

Ooh, this looks quite fancy, doesn't it?

It's even got a door.

CRUNCH! Oh! Oh!

MAN EXCLAIMS

THEY LAUGH

Setting off from Goa...

So now it is race, race, race.

..Elizabeth and Letitia board an overnight bus to Mysuru...

We'll be waking up in a completely different city.

..while Fin and Sioned

also opt for sleeper travel,

bound for Bengaluru.

Tom and Caroline did have a head start,

they may have spent this day going as far as they can.

If that's the case, they will be further than us.

We're going hundreds of kilometres tonight.

We just need to get that extra little push to win.

I think we can do it.

Fin and Sioned are just an hour behind,

so we do need to keep that lead ahead of them.

This leg is now or never, do you know what I mean?

What we've got, Melv, now, is we've got the opportunity

to catch a load of hours up, by just bombing it south.

Trailing the leaders by 17 hours,

Brian and Melvyn hope to kick-start their comeback.

If we go inland, Melv, we're going to probably lose it again.

We're just going to waste our time.

It's about getting there as quick as possible. It is, it is.

We both still want to win. Yes.

We both still want to win this, and we've got a chance.

We have got to get as far south as we can.

And if it's a taxi, then... Then, that's what it's going to be.

And if we run out of money,

then we run out of money. We run out of money.

We need to get it, but the earlier we do it,

the sooner we're on our way. OK. Right?

Due to cost-effective travel across India,

all of the teams have been able to preserve funds for the final leg.

How far south can you take us?

Yeah?

It's fine. We'll go.

Get the car and go to Mangalore. Yeah.

For Brian and Melvyn, spending

nearly 40% of their remaining cash

on a taxi to Mangaluru,

it's a crucial boost.

Right. Good.

So you think we'll get there about six o'clock in the morning?

Yeah. OK.

We're only going to be there for a quick cup of tea,

wash under your armpits, and carry on.

We've got half a chance there of, er...

..doing summat. Of catching some time up, yeah. Yeah.

Winning the race would be absolutely brilliant.

What an achievement, to do that with your brother.

If Tom and Caroline aren't hundreds of kilometres in front by now,

then they're doing something wrong, aren't they?

They just need a bit of bad luck and one missed connection,

and we can...we can catch up.

WILL catch up.

If we won and I could see Melvyn's face,

it would be fantastic.

You know, money can't buy that. That would be brilliant.

Whilst three teams race

through the night,

Caroline and Tom are the only pair

at a standstill.

Gets us to where we're going. Well, it does.

It gets us bloody close to it.

GOATS BLEAT

On the outskirts of Udupi,

the Jumadi Islands -

an archipelago situated in the delta of the Seetha and Suvarna Rivers,

attracting rare bird species,

including the black-backed dwarf kingfisher.

Look at those two, seriously. Where, where, where, where?

Yellowy green. Oh, yeah.

They look like lemon and lime parrots.

So this is like a little water safari. It is, yeah.

It's turned out to be a little bird-watching exhibition.

It's brilliant.

Still waiting for their bus to depart, Caroline and Tom.

It's the calm before the storm, Thomas,

because it's bound to get so manic later.

SHE SIGHS

That was lovely!

India delivers.

Pretty cool. Just amazing.

I thought I'd be too old to travel and experience what I've done,

cos you always hear about the young travelling and backpacking,

and yet I now realise that I can be just as capable and quick.

It doesn't have to slow you down.

You've kind of been tied down for 20 years,

and now, all of a sudden, you can go and do whatever you like.

Mm, I can now. I was frightened of - and this is being quite serious -

possibly one day being lonely. Yeah.

And just drifting my time until then, without a purpose.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

It's been quite sad to hear

that you felt like you'd lost a bit of purpose.

You never really spoke about it, you know? Mm, that's true.

Sometimes it's difficult to reveal yourself to your child

as a person, rather than just their parent.

Yes, yeah, I know. It could possibly be awkward, or a bit embarrassing.

I now view you as more of a friend, as well as a mother,

where I think, before,

you were very much a mother figure in the household.

It's enabled me to see you in a different light.

Oh, I'm so pleased.

Travelling with you has been probably...

..the best experience of my life.

Aw, that's really nice to hear. It really has. It has been great.

I think we've both helped each other out

a lot more than we could actually ever imagine. Mm.

I wrote that in my journal. And I wrote something else in my journal

I kind of wanted to read to you. Let me go grab it.

I'm actually going to read it,

cos I'm sure you'd laugh at the spelling mistakes!

Oh, I love them!

Right, this was a note to self, on leg six,

when we were at the carpet place.

"I keep having a feeling that me and Mum will win,

"but I think we already have.

"Just remember how lucky you are to be travelling the world,

"seeing the best things you couldn't even dream of, with your mother,

"and having the best time ever.

"Remember how well me and Mum got on, how fun she is,

"and just how much you love her.

"Appreciate these times and these memories,

"because there will be a time that I can't.

"This, to me, is winning.

"No amount of money can make me realise all of this."

It was absolutely lovely, thank you.

That's OK. THEY SNIFF

I'm feeling very valued, and very lucky,

um, and totally loved by Thomas.

My son's reintroduced me to the world

and given me a second chance of life,

when I thought that might've passed me by.

All right, we've had a lovely time,

but I think it's back into race mode now. Definitely.

And what a lovely thing for a young man to be able to express

and write down.

350km east...

Fin's very tired.

Oh.

Huh?

DRIVER:Last stop, last stop!

Bengaluru - celebrated as the Garden City of India,

home to one of the largest flower markets in Asia.

We need a bus. Madurai. Madurai.

Madurai, yeah. Five o'clock. Today? Yes, today.Ah, wow.

OK, that's good.

Fin and Sioned are looking to secure bus tickets

to hurtle them 400km south,

to Madurai, in the Tamil region of India.

Our last training session before the big day.

Run, Sioned, run!

The bus isn't till five, so we have a couple of hours to kill,

so I think we're going to explore the city

and enjoy the last few days we have of the race.

Mm, that houmous is good!

It's the nicest dosa I've had.

But here we are, nearly at the final,

I'm actually having a whale of a time.

We're both a lot stronger than we initially thought we were.

We can rely on each other, depend on each other.

Yeah. This race has kind of done a lot for us

without us kind of realising.

You've still been strong through it all.

Still been very resilient.

Appreciate it.

Appreciate everything.

Don't... I'm not going to cry!

I'm not crying in a dosa place.

It's been a journey and a half.

It has.

It definitely has.

This race has shown sides that we may have not seen,

for both of us, I'd say.

Wow, look at the flowers.

Wow! That's a lot of flowers.

Sioned's always been there for me.

She gets up in the night and helps with my diabetes.

She's very understanding.

She cares a lot.

So what do they do with them? Just decorations and stuff?

Wedding item.Wedding item. Marriage, marriage.

Shall we get matching ones? Matching flowers?

Aw, yay! The...neck things.

You never ask for stuff like that.

Can we have it round our necks?

Thank you.

And you get a little bracelet as well. Thank you.

You need to pay him now. Oh, yeah. Oh, my gosh.

Yeah, yeah.

We've watched each other grow up, really.

We're, like, best friends and boyfriend and girlfriend.

Thank you. Aw, we could get married now.

Aww! Mwah!

We can walk over the finish line, coming first, with them on.

We can wear our flowers first. Yeah!

I think life without Sioned would be quite boring,

it'd be quite dull. CAMERA CLICKS

I feel very, very lucky, I feel very fortunate to have met Sioned.

HORN BLARES

So we get on here. Which is the first class?

MELVYN CHUCKLES

First class!

After a seven-hour journey

through the night,

Brian and Melvyn have pulled ahead of the race leaders,

and look to be extending their lead by train,

to the coastal city of Kozhikode.

See, that's quite pretty, isn't it? Yeah, it's nice, isn't it?

Do you reckon they have crocodiles this far south?

Kerala, believed by some to mean Land Of Coconut Trees -

a tropical state with a labyrinth of lagoons, backwaters, and canals.

Dotting its waters are its kettuvallam boats,

once used to transport rice and spices,

now transformed into floating hotels.

It is slotting into place, isn't it?

We got straight out the cab, and there's a train within...

And within two hours, we've got a train. There's a train.

Which we're now on.

There's that little glimmer saying, "Well, you COULD do it."

"You might." "You might do it."

England.

We're going to Kozhikode.

Food city? Yeah, yeah.

Tomorrow, we're going to Kochi.

It's a good train? A good train?

Can we book that train when we go into Kozhikode today?

Thank you for helping us.

Melvyn. Melvyn.And Brian. Brian. Brian. And what's your name?

Mansu.

No! I don't remember! We don't remember it, no!

How old do you think we are?!

If I could apologise, I would.

Did we do it?

After 13 hours on a bus...

So this bus station, how long?

OK, five minutes.

Can we get a bus to Madurai from here?

Yeah, bus will be there. Yeah, yeah? OK, perfect.

..Elizabeth and Letitia are approaching Mysuru.

All our hard work has led up to this.

Like, all the night buses we've taken,

all the sleeper trains we've taken, like, was all worth it, for the win.

Sharing the win together,

that would just be...

..the cherry on the top.

Can we also get the bags? We need our bags.

We need our...

THEY CHUCKLE In...

Can you open the boot? Thank you.

Unaware that their lead has slipped,

Caroline and Tom are trying to locate

their pre-booked bus to Kochi.

Bus operator name, Kallada Travels. It'll be over there, I think.

OK, let's go over there, then. Don't know how we get there.

Oh, God, back to the chaos.

God, we mustn't be late.

Yeah, I know. We've got to find it, Thomas.

Well, there's a sleeper bus here. Where? Right there.

Yeah, but that's not the one we've got.

Do you speak English? Yes.

Where do we get the sleeper bus to Kochi?

Over there. Thank you very much.

Thomas, come on!

Is it here? Oh, shit, Mum, OK.

Yay! Yeah, the bus! Well done.

I've got the ticket. Oh, have YOU got it?

HORN BEEPS

I'm just nervous. It's horrible.

My mind just can't rest.

There's been a lot of time since we arrived here yesterday. Yeah.

And we're only leaving now.

I know that's given enough time for Elizabeth and Letitia,

Fin and Sioned, and even potentially Brian and Melvyn, to go past us,

cos we didn't travel that much distance.

As the pair forge ahead again...

So where does the buses come?

WOMAN REPLIES

Just here? Yeah. OK.

..Fion and Sioned are trying to escape Bengaluru,

the second-largest city in India.

I think this is right.

Are you sure? I think so.

We're wondering if this bus is here.

This is actually here itself.

Yeah, so the bus comes here. It's here? Yeah. Oh, what a relief.

Do you know where there's a shop that sells, like, chips?

Ch... Just a moment. Thank you. Be here.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

He really wants to help.

He's very eager to help, isn't he? Yeah. Bless him.

Aw, he's bought us things!

Oh, my gosh! Aw! Oh, thank you so much.

Thank you so much. You didn't need to do that.

How much do we owe you? No, no, no, no, no.

Are you sure? Thank you so much.

Seriously, I just wanted to help, actually.

Oh, thank you so much, you've been so helpful.

You didn't need to do that, yeah.

You're a very kind person. Thank you so much.

I have been lots of places, OK, where sometimes you get help,

sometimes you don't know the language, so it's very tough.

Yes, exactly. Yeah. What's your name? My name is Clinton.

When I was born, ex-President of America, Bill Clinton, was there.

Oh, wow! That's the reason they gave my name as.

OK, so you've been named after him. All the best. Thank you so, so much.

Yeah, thank you so much. Have a great day. Thank you so much.

Have fun. Thank you so much. Yes, thank you. Have a good evening.

Stop it!

Oh, he's got bananas as well!

Oreos. Aww!

Oh, bless him. That's actually...

That's the nicest thing someone's actually probably done for us.

Is this ours? Yeah. Yeah. All good? Thank you. Thank you.

Look at that.

No dust at all. This is so bougie.

What a good sleeper bus to end it on.

I think I've settled with India now.

The amount of time we've spent here, I think I've really adapted.

The amount of different people you come across in these places,

it's a cool country.

There's a lot more to this country than meets the eye.

It's exactly what I wanted to get out of travelling

and out of this experience.

Look where I am now!

About to finish the race first.

In India, where I thought I'd have to go home

cos I was struggling so much.

As the couple take their second consecutive night bus...

HORN BLARES

Here's a tuktuk. Are you a tuktuk? You're available?

..one team take a break from the road in Kozhikode.

40 rupees.

40 rupees? Thank you.

A prosperous trading hub for nearly two millennia,

it's known as the City of Spices.

We can see how much cash we've actually got, yeah?

For Brian and Melvyn,

who have travelled 600km nonstop from Panaji,

a chance to take stock.

50, 60, 70, 80...

24,841.

So we've got 20 for the run-in. One, two, three, four.

800 and a bit for grub and beer.

Money isn't going to matter about chasing the leaders. It's not.

We can't do any more than what we've done, can we?

No. No. So money is irrelevant.

The unknown on this leg,

if we could create more time, we would.

# If we could turn back time. #

That's what we want to do. That's Tina Turner, isn't it?

No, it was Cher, weren't it? Was it Cher? Oh. Cher.

Melv, hungry? Yeah, I think it's time.

Beer, biryani, naan bread.

Go for it. Ooh, that's it, we're gone.

Can you get off my bed, by the way? Cos this is mine tonight.

Cheeky git. Yeah, there's yours.

THEY CHUCKLE

We've done everything that we can in order to creep up the leaderboard.

We are now relying on everybody else to cock up.

We've got to give it our best shot. We will do everything we can.

Would you want to have chai, or south Indian coffee?

Chai, please. Chai? Yes, please.

Ground down by a 13-hour overnight bus to Mysuru,

Elizabeth and Letitia have found a bed for the night

in a homestay run by Sachin.

I can see that a lot of your... Things from your travels. Yeah.

Yeah, Sarika is the one who picks all of these up. Oh, I love it.

She's the one who decorates the house.

Nice! I love it. I just live here.

THEY LAUGH

So all the rooms are booked by a wedding party.

Have you attended an Indian wedding in the UK?

We haven't attended any Indian weddings.

So, just, like, a night or a couple of nights before the wedding,

they have something called sangeet.

Sangeet literally translates to music in Hindi. Oh, OK.

So it's like the bride and her friends,

and the groom and his friends, they put up a show,

dance and stuff like that.

It's not a South Indian tradition, but because of the movies... Ohh!

..it's become so popular that even South Indians have started...

Have adopted it, yeah. Yeah.

If you're up for it, I'll check with the family

if they're cool with you guys coming in.

Oh! Oh, lovely, yes, please!

Gosh, this is our dream!

You've got to dress up as well, so, Sarika...?

THEY SQUEAL EXCITEDLY Look at this!

Lovely.

The earlier we get ready, the better. Yeah, chop, chop.

Let's go, let's go.

How long do we have? Like, 15 minutes? As fast as possible.

You're in a race, right?! Exactly!

An Indian wedding typically lasts three days.

The highest number of guests ever recorded -

150,000.

According to Hindu faith, once a couple is married,

they are bound to each other for seven lifetimes.

Hello!

Hello! Pleased to meet you.

Congratulations! Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Wow, he's really going for it!

The hips.

Love it!

They seem so welcoming, having, you know, people coming to the do!

That's how it is. There are people who just go to wedding

even if you don't know anyone, they just show up. Yeah.

But the food is so good. No...He's done it!

"I've done it, but..." That is not common!

Wow, wow, wow!

This is definitely topping off the end of the race, in India.

I just love how he's having such a good time.

He's, like... He's loving it!

He's giving the energy. Giving his all! Oh! Whoa!

At the beginning of the race,

I feel like me and my sister's relationship was strained.

Let me take a picture of you.

Ah, you look... This looks so good on you.

I feel like how we were when we were kids.

We've become more comfortable in each other's presence,

so I feel like the race has definitely allowed us

to make time for each other.

Hi. Elizabeth. This is the bride's mum.You look very...

You look like sisters, I can see that you look alike.

Look at them!

Woo! FIREWORK POPS

Oh! Wahey!

Family is really important to me.

I think, at the beginning of the race,

I had so many assumptions of Letitia,

and I've slowly let those go,

and I'm seeing Letitia for who she is now,

and not thinking of her as, like,

a little seven-year-old girl any more.

Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!

I'm just happy that, you know,

it was my sister that I was able to take this journey with.

Thank you, thank you. Thank you for coming.

Oh, no, thank you for having us. It was amazing.

We definitely broke down the barrier of opening up.

Bye! Bye-bye!

We know we're there for each other,

and I feel like it's part of our story,

something we've done together, and we'll remember it forever.

Woo!

MUSIC PLAYS

Hello, mate. Two for Kochi, please.

There you go. Thank you.

Simple, wasn't it, that? Mm. 2.50.

After spending the night in Kozhikode,

Brian and Melvyn have booked an afternoon train to Kochi.

But first, time to dip their feet in the Indian Ocean.

Ooh, that's all right, isn't it? That is... That's nice, yeah.

Picture, picture. A picture? You want to take a picture of us?

Yeah.

That's good.

He's printing them now, look.

Thank you. Thank you. You're welcome.

It's actually not a bad little photograph, is it, really?

The photo's not bad. It's actually quite a good photo.

We're 62, 65 years of age, and we've had to wait this long

and we've needed something like this to say,

"Come on, let's go and do this,

"let's go and have that adventure we've always talked about."

You keep that photo, Melv. I will, mate.

Get a nice frame for it.

I'm going to go to Poundland.

No, you need something decent.

I do believe that we've grown closer,

because we've done a lot of things together again,

as we did when we were kiddies.

I don't think I'm going to need a therapist,

when I can pick up the phone and talk to Bri.

Have you got any photos at your house at all?

No, none at all.

You've got nothing, no photos up at all, of anyone? No.

No. No, no, no, no, no, no.

So why don't you frame that one and keep that one... I will do.

..and that's the first photo. I will do.

From growing up as kids, and then we went our separate ways,

and so we've started our life together,

and then at the back end of our lives, we're back together again.

It's pretty special indeed.

Feels nice, don't it?

We have got a train to catch. Let's go. Let's go. Onwards, yeah?

Oh, it's so colourful.

Look at those flowers hanging up there.

Caroline and Tom's long-awaited

11-hour overnight bus

has put them back in contention...

Does remind me a little bit of Europe,

with the quaint streets, cobbled pavements. It's lovely.

..meaning they're the first to arrive in Kochi -

the jewel of Kerala.

A collision of cultures,

where a 450-year-old synagogue stands beside mosques

and Christian churches,

and Kathakali dancers perform in the courtyards.

Look at that! That is massive!

On the shoreline, medieval Chinese fishing nets -

brought to the Malabar Coast by traders from the east -

cantilever over the shallows.

Oh, it's literally done by stones! Look at that!

Anything in the net?

This is like being on Pirates Of The Caribbean.

Ooh! Feels like we're walking the plank, Mum.

I know, I know.

Do you do this every day?

OK.

Ah, ah, can I pull it? Yeah, come. Oh, no way.

This trip, on a more personal note for me, has been eye-opening.

Whoa, the stones coming in.

Wow, look at that!

That was incredible, watching the stones come down.

I came out of school very confused and quite scared of the future.

I was taught you had to be good at school to do well in life.

Wow. Oh, wow.

That's, like, see-through.

It's given me just a bit of confidence to know that,

even though I'm not necessarily book smart,

you can learn so much about yourself and about the real world

by just throwing yourself out there.

It's coming back up, it's coming back up.

Look, watch the stones.

Oh, that is so cool.

I like stumbling along... Stuff like this. ..cool stuff like this, yeah.

HORN BLARES

75km north...

We've got to leave Kochi tonight.

..Brian and Melvyn are in hot pursuit.

Oh, is there? We've got about 15,000 rupees, so we could do that.

300km to the east,

Elizabeth and Letitia are on their way to Madurai...

Hopefully, you know, Fin and Sioned haven't caught up,

or Brian and Melvyn.

..their last major transport hub before the finish line.

But I feel like, as soon as we get on that transport to a checkpoint,

all the nerves will come, you know? It is very emotional.

It's just, like, closing this chapter, I guess.

Already there...

Hey, I get to have free mehendi.

Name? Sioned.

Fin.

Fin and Sioned squeeze in a final souvenir from Madurai.

Oh, does it all start off with your names?

She's getting her name on her hand.

Oh, no, oh, that's not... She's not going to be happy about that.

Oh, bless. I feel so bad.

It's gone kind of wrong.

Aw, thanks for showing how much you love me.

You've got your name and my name on your hand.

That looks really nice.

Fin and Sioned.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

The plan is now to go and pick up our bags,

and book our final transport of the race.

I'm sorry, but I couldn't think of anything worse

than having Fin and Sioned there. Yeah, all right.

FIN LAUGHS It's not funny!

As the landmass of India narrows,

so does the race,

with all four teams closing in

on each other, and the finish line.

In Kochi...

Can you tell us where to go to book a sleeper bus, please?

..Caroline and Tom are raring to get on the move.

Not in the whole of Kochi?

I think we should just consider a private taxi the whole way.

OK. Well, my only concern is we found out it's about 340km. Mm.

And would that not be just too long for one driver all the way?

We've got the budget, and we've always said we wanted to...

We don't want to finish with a budget, we want to finish first.

So let's do that. Well, let's look at that, then.

I'm happy to.

I think now we just need to find something that keeps us moving.

While they search for a driver

willing to take them to Kanniyakumari,

266km east, in Madurai...

Spend, spend, spend, just to push ourself to the checkpoint.

..Elizabeth and Letitia are adopting a similar strategy.

We would like to go to Kanniyakumari.

Yeah, Kanniyakumari. You can take us to Kanniyakumari?

Yeah, yeah.

The other side of town, Fin and Sioned.

We need to get to Kanniyakumari.

Do you think it's possible to book us a taxi there?

OK, yeah. If you could get the price for us, that would be great.

So at what time will you want the taxi?

Like, right now, if possible. Right now, as soon as you can.

Right now? Yeah, as soon as you can.

It takes about half an hour.

OK, perfect. I phone? OK, yes, soon as you can.

Could you tell him it's a race,

and we need to get there as quickly as possible?

So we need to get there as quickly as we can. Yeah.

We're in Kochi.

The only way that we will be able to catch up

on the leaders will be to use the rupees that we've got left...

For direct transport. ..and throw it...throw it at it.

That's all right, innit? That's all right.

It's a big 'un. And it's a diesel. And it's diesel.

Right, then. Let's get in and let's get out.

Let's get a move on.

This is our last chance, you know, to come first. Mm.

Let's go, go, go.

Kanniyakumari. Formula 1 driver today.

Still got a chance of getting in first.

If there's cock-ups, yeah.

It's really important that we listen to each other, communicate,

and just try to think as rationally as possible.

We've got this. We just need to be wise...

..not stupid.

After thousands of miles raced through China, Nepal, and India,

it's the closest the race has been in 51 days.

How far is it?

Oh, my God, come on. Ooh, we're close.

So we're close to the bus stand?

Oh!

I've got a nervous belly.

What's happening? Why have we stopped?

Are we going forward? Are we driving?

Right.

Oh, you need a state permit, OK.

It's nearly six o'clock, the sun's going to be up in a minute.

We're well behind schedule now.

At the southernmost tip of the Indian peninsula...

..Kanniyakumari, and the finish line.

I am so nervous. Yeah.

Right, we're ready to get out.

Oh, my God.

I'm grabbing some sugar,

cos I do not want to be, on this final approach, going low.

Are we nearly there?

Fuck. I've just seen Fin and Sioned.

You haven't. I promise you I have. I've just seen Fin and Sioned.

Oh, no.

HORN TOOTS Oh, get out of the way, people.

Come on! Out of the road!

Thank you so much.

PAGER BEEPS

"By any means, find the tip of India."

The tip of India.

The tip of India.

Ah, let's go!

The most bottom part of India.

Could we go there now? Thank you so much.

Hi. We're looking for the tip of India. Yes, that way.

Hello. Tip of India? Here? Thank you.

It's a nice sunrise.

Bit hard to focus on, but it's nice.

It's beautiful.

Look at this!

We are now within touching distance of the book, aren't we?

Could you wait for five minutes?

This is tip of India? Tip? Yeah.

Sorry. Sorry.

The most southern tip, I'm assuming, is this.

Oh, do we need to go to the end over there?

Do you think we need to go to the end?

See that thing there? That's got to be the most southerly tip, Melv.

Is this the most southern point of India?

Oh, gosh, we're in the wrong place.

Does anybody know where the tip of India is?

Mum, it must be here. This is the furthest bit sticking out.

I have a strong feeling that there's other teams around,

and I doubt they've made that mistake.

NOTE RINGS OUT

Can see the check point.

I think it's here. Huh? Here? I think it's here, yeah.

Careful of the step, careful of the step. I can see it.

Right, this must be it.

I'd say we've found it.

This is the tip.

PAGER BEEPS What the heck?

Oh, no!

Right, race head. "Proceed on foot..."

"..to the front of Our Lady Ransom Shrine."

We're looking for the Our Lady of Ransom Shrine.

Ransom Shrine? Our Lady?

Right, here. This is it.

There's a big church over there. Where? There.

Ransom. Ransom Shrine.

Thomas, if they don't know, they don't...

It is on to...? The white one? Thank you so much.

What, that massive one over there? Oh, my God, that's far. Go, go.

Oh, it's here!

Good spotting.

Shrine of Lady of Ransom.

Go round there, the front.

Round here.

PAGER BEEPS

"Take a boat to Arock...iapuram fishing village."

Fishing village.

A boat?!

Back where we came from. There were boats down there.

There it is. There we go. That is it. Let's go.

Right, which is south? Which way's south?

That's where the boats are going to be.

Boat, boat, boat. Boat.

Careful, careful, careful.

Can we get a boat? Can we go now? We're in a race.

That's fine. 1,000 rupees, that's fine. Yeah, we got it.

Let's go! THEY LAUGH

Right, let's go! Thank, you, thank you, thank you.

Whoa! Why would you do it like that? Jeez!

Arockiapuram fishing village. Yeah, OK. Yeah, yeah.

Yeah? That's fine.

OK, that's fine. Let's go. Move.

Ah, no!

Let's go, let's go, let's go. Let's go!

Oh, this is choppy, I like it!

Look at this!

Wow!

Up and down, up and down.

I can't see Fin and Sioned. I can't see them yet.

I don't know if they can see us.

This is so cool!

Go, go! Faster, faster! Whoa!

Whoa! Wow!

Wahey, that's nice. That is actually quite nice.

Look at the mountains. Oh, my God. Oh, Thomas, that is beautiful!

It really just looks prehistoric.

12,000km, and it's all down to this moment.

It's all down to this book.

Why does that book hold this much power?

Thank you!

When we arrive, can we leave our bags? Yeah? Yeah.

Thank you.

Oh, my gosh.

Now I'm, like, five kilos heavier.

Where do we go?

PAGER BEEPS

"Avoiding the main road..."

"..race on foot..."

"..to the Vattakottai Fort."

Vattakottai, please. The fort. Fort.

This way. Can we walk on the beach here? Yeah?

Can we get to the fort this way, please? Vattakottai Fort?

I don't think we can, Thomas.

This way. Oh, what does it look like? It's a fort. A fort.

What's that?

It's, like, a... Thank you so much. Thank you.

What's a fort? I can't explain what a fort is.

You should know what a fort is.

You ain't going to pull that, are you? No, I'm not.

I've got to get the straps out. You'll have to lift it up for me.

Let's get... Just lift it for me.

Vattakottai Fort?

Oh, my God, are you sure? Bugger, OK.

That's a waste of time.

THEY SQUEAL

Oh, fuck, this is so far out of the way.

Last push, come on, Sioned.

Thomas, beach! Come on, Thomas, faster.

I can't run on this.

Dump the bag. I'm not dumping my bag.

I'll have to come back for it later, won't I?

Right, bye-bye, bag.

Let's go. Fari enough.

It's like a jungle.

Just dump it. What, are you coming back for it?

Yes, I'll come back for both of them. I promise you.

Oh, that looks like a fort over there. Can you see it?

Have you spotted the fort? Yeah.

Can you see anyone else, Thomas? I don't see anyone.

Yes! Come on, let's go.

The book is somewhere here.

Up, surely, up.

This is it.

Oh, my gosh, go.

Go!

Oh, I see it. Mum!

Go!

I know we've got a win in us.

Everything is coming down to this moment.

If Thomas and I can win this race, it will mean the world to me.

Are you ready?

Yes.

"Congratulations."

"You have successfully reached the finish line."

"Please sign in overleaf to find out

"if you have won the race and £20,000."

I almost don't want to look.

THEY YELL

I felt like such a failure to begin with!

We must never doubt ourselves again, ever, ever, ever.

We've won the race.

Well done.

Oh, my God!

That'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.

I never thought we'd come this far,

I never thought we'd achieve so much,

and I've never been prouder of my mum.

She got me through it.

BOTH:Ahh!

Tom and Caroline. They did it. Look at them, yeah.

So close.

19 minutes.

THEY GROAN

No! Wow. Oh, so close!

We've done well.

No, I'm proud of us. Mm. I am proud of us.

Shall we high five?

I'm knackered!

It would've been incredible to come first,

but obviously we can't all come first.

We've gone, what, 12,000km.

It's been more than just the distance.

It's been a journey for us.

I'm a bit sad that the race is over now, though.

We're going home.

That's good.

Whilst I'm standing here, sweaty, smelly, exhausted,

I'm actually feeling on top of the world.

Throughout the race, I've learnt the confidence

to not care about what people think, and I've learnt that from Mum.

Whoo!

Where are you from? England.

Lovely jubbly. THEY LAUGH

It's just been glorious to get to know my son as a person,

as a travelling companion.

We've discovered each other as people,

and it's as if the generations between us have disappeared,

and it's just been absolutely magical.

I'm feeling really, really proud of ourselves

for, like, pushing through right until the end.

Oh, wow, look!

It looks like a picture.

It's an experience I will never forget.

Ooh!

I feel like I can set my mind and do anything now.

Thank you so much!

I definitely feel a lot closer to Letitia,

and it's definitely from this race.

There's, like, a different bond.

I'm excited for that dynamic, and even, you know,

I hope you feel comfortable sharing your life, too.

Yeah. I'm really proud of us.

51 days of travelling,

all to come down to a 45-minute difference off coming first.

I think we've done well to actually make it to the finish line.

We started this journey quite immature.

We had a lot of room for improvement, a lot to learn.

We hadn't experienced any of the world.

And when I think we're going home with so many more life skills...

Wow.

GASPING:I touched an elephant!

I feel very fortunate

and very grateful to have done the race with you, so...

Marriage is probably still on the cards at some point.

I'm not sure when.

Not right now.

But, yeah, at some point.

This would be a nice proposal.

It's too hot.

Come on.

OK.

We've got it. We're here.

Oh, God, it was tight, wasn't it? Look at this. Yeah.

Caroline and Tom.

And we've caught up all those hours. Two hours.

We've done very well, actually.

Really pleased for the guys that have won it.

That's it. Done. Well done, mate. Stick it there, mate.

Well done. Well done, pal. Hug.

We have completed the race.

Beer? Desperately, and definitely. Let's go.

12,000 miles, three countries, a pair of old codgers.

I think we've done good, I think we've done well.

No regrets, and really pleased that we've done it together.

Ah, don't do that!

WHEEZING LAUGHTER

Many times as a kid I was told I wasn't good enough to do this

or to do that, but you can do anything you want to do.

And awa-a-a-a-ay!

What we've done is we've got to know one another.

We have rekindled a few lost memories,

and we've made a few more, as well.

I'm pleased that I've done it with Melv.

We're brothers, so, yes, we do love each other.

But would I tell him? No, I wouldn't...

I'm not going to turn around and say, "Oh, Melv, I love you."

Not going to turn round and say, "I love you, brother."

Oh, they're here!

Ohh!

Yay!

Are we all ready for a celebration?

Are you going to explode it?

THEY CHEER

Caroline, Tom, the pair of you have worked so hard on this race.

You've got all of our respect.

Cheers, guys.

Well done.

Well done, everybody.

Everyone's smashed it.

Just to get to the end is such an achievement in itself.

CAROLINE:I want to race home!

THEY LAUGH