Byrdie, Sharon, Stephen, Viv, Eugenie, Isabel, Alfie, Owen, Betty and James (Image: BBC/Studio Lambert/Pete Dadds)

Race Across the World, the BBC’s epic, hugely successful and much-loved BAFTA-award winning series returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer for its hotly anticipated new season from Wednesday 10 April.

Eastern Asia is this year’s route, and the five intrepid duos will battle it out in a breath-taking 15,000 kilometres race across several countries. From northernmost Japan, they will cross six seas and eight borders, skirting the path of the volcanic ring of fire - the most geologically unstable region on the planet to reach the finish line in Lombok, an idyllic Indonesian island paradise.

The teams include: two mother and daughter duos, Brydie and Sharon and Eugenie and Isabel; best friends, Alfie and Owen; married couple, Stephen and Viv and brother and sister, Betty and James.

Leaving behind their smartphones, internet access and bank cards, the race will test the five teams like never before, pushing them to both their physical and emotional limits. But with their feet on the ground, and their eyes wide open the rewards will be great, and the memories will be everlasting. Only one team can emerge victorious as they all vie to be first and claim the cash prize of £20,000.

Race Across the World, is a 8x60' series produced by Studio Lambert for BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The series was commissioned by Catherine Catton, Head of Commissioning, Factual Entertainment and Events and the BBC Commissioning Editor is Michael Jochnowitz. Tim Harcourt, Lucy Shepherd and Stephen Day are the Executive Producers for Studio Lambert, alongside Maria Kennedy, Line Producer, Kezia Walker, Production Executive, Charlotte Woolley, Series Editor and Charlotte Jacobs, Series Producer, also for Studio Lambert.

Watch Race Across the World on BBC iPlayer with new episodes on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from Wednesday 10 April at 9pm.