Race across the World’s Stephen and Viv share their experiences – and why weighing their pants was crucial

BBC1’s Race Across the World was televisual gold again this year.

This season saw the teams race 9,320 miles from the north of Japan in Sapporo and make their way across eight border crossings and six different seas to the finish line in Indonesia’s paradisiacal Lombok.

While youngsters Alfie and Owen were crowned the series four champions, one of the standout couples from the show was undoubtedly Stephen and Viv.

The oldest contestants in the race, their love for life (and each other), their determination to finish the race, and their hilarious banter really shone through.

Desperate for a new challenge...

Stephen and Viv both admit that after retiring, they were desperate for a new challenge, which is why they applied for the Bafta-award-winning show.

Even though they had stopped work, neither felt ‘old’ - and they didn't want to be viewed as the archetypal retired couple who sit at home all day in their slippers.

Having competed in the gruelling race through Asia - with stops in Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia - Stephen and Viv did an incredible job travelling outside their comfort zone. With a tight budget, just the belongings they could fit in their backpacks, and no smartphone, they truly embraced all that was thrown at them.

Viewers will remember when Viv tucked into her 20p ice cream, even though Stephen was keen on saving as much as possible!

We were so impressed by their thirst for adventure, as well as the strength of their relationship. 

In a touching moment in the video, asked to sum Viv up in one word, Stephen says: "Mine's easy - 'Mighty'. She is a mighty lady. She does everything for everyone, she's wonderful, she's... I'm getting emotional here. But she's absolutely my perfect one."

With contrasting style, Viv describes Stephen as 'Marmite'.

"He's Marmite and you do either love him or you hate him - you either get him or you don't."

But she adds, despite all the pressure of Race Across the World, "There was never one single moment when we had a bad word against each other... It just means that we are such a strong couple."