From Insta Joke to Epic Race: Best Mates Tackle 12,000km Adventure

Jo Diop and Kush Burman are two 19-year-olds from Liverpool who have been best friends since childhood. After finishing their A-Levels, they were looking for something exciting to do before deciding on their next steps in life. One evening, Kush was scrolling through Instagram when he saw an advert for the TV show Race Across the World. He sent the link to Jo, thinking it would be funny to apply. Neither of them had watched the show much, but Kush’s family were fans. They filled out the application as a joke, not expecting to be chosen.

To their surprise, they were selected to be contestants on the show. Kush was at home with his family when he got the call and could not hide his excitement. Jo was also shocked and thrilled. The show features five teams racing over 12,000 kilometers from Palermo in Sicily to Hatgal, a remote village in Mongolia. The prize for the winning team is £20,000. Jo and Kush are the youngest team in this series, and they had to carry large backpacks and travel on a tight budget.

The journey was both exciting and challenging. They got to visit many new places and meet people from different cultures. Kush said it was a privilege to experience so many things and see how people live in other countries. However, the race was tough, especially during the elimination leg. In one episode, Jo and Kush started the third leg in last place, and the team in last place at the end would be eliminated. Jo described the stress as very high, and it made them realize how serious the competition was. Now, six months after filming, they are watching the episodes as they air and reliving their adventure. They are glad they took the chance, even though it started as a joke. Their story can be seen on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.