What Happened to the Race Across the World Series 2?
by Alaguvelan M
Updated May 09, 2023
Race Across the World Series 2
On 8 March 2020, the second season of Race Across the World premiered with five teams embarking on a journey from Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, covering a distance of 25,000 km over 2 months. The racers had to pass through 7 checkpoints in Honduras, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, and Argentina, with a budget of £1,453 for the entire trip, averaging to £26 per day. The filming for the season commenced in September 2019.
In the second season of Race Across the World, five teams consisting of Dom & Lizzie, Jo & Sam, Jen & Rob, Shuntelle & Michael, and Emon and Jamiul competed against each other. Unlike the previous season, there were no eliminations; however, Shuntelle & Michael quit the race after losing half their money in leg 2, while Jo & Sam withdrew in leg 7 after running out of money. Due to civil unrest in Ecuador, the no-fly rule was abandoned, and all teams were flown from Colombia to Peru. Emon and Jamiul emerged as the winners of the race. The second season consisted of nine episodes, including eight episodes on the race and a reunion special.
According to Joel Golby from The Guardian, the second series of Race Across the World was "an astounding piece of TV" that effectively conveyed the ups and downs of travel. Golby also expressed genuine interest in the outcome of the race and its impact on the racers' lives. Similarly, Anita Singh of The Telegraph praised the show's cast, describing them as "wacky racers" who are easy to root for.
However, Chris Moss from The Telegraph had a different perspective, finding the obstacles to be contrived and the tension manufactured. Moss also criticized the show's use of the "idiot abroad" trope. Barry Didcock of The Herald was equally critical, calling the premise of the show frivolous and in questionable taste given the refugees' situations. Conversely, Shaun Kitchener from Metro regarded the show as a merciful escape from the pandemic, stating that the combination of stunning scenery, compelling contestants, dramatic conflict, and intense racing make for a refreshing distraction.
What Happened to the Race Across the World Series 2?
Travel show, Race Across the World, has been delighting viewers with its weekly episodes, as five teams depart from Vancouver and embark on a journey across Canada. Fans have been on the edge of their seats as they witness the couples experience intense moments and celebrate hard-won victories, all in the hopes of winning the grand prize of £20,000.
Dom and Lizzie Slater
In series two, siblings Dom and Lizzie Slater participated and managed to complete the entire journey, but unfortunately, they were unable to win the cash prize and came in third place. As they reached the finish line, they had to hitchhike, which delayed their arrival behind Emon and Jaimul and Jen and Rob. Dom worked as a teaching assistant, while Lizzie was a chalet host.
Jenna Lambra-Stokes and Rob Lambra-Stokes
Jenna and Rob Lambra-Stoke, a married couple, participated in the second series of Race Across the World. They successfully completed the journey, but finished in second place, just behind Emon and Jamiul. Since their appearance on the show, Jenna and Rob are still together and in December 2021, they welcomed twin boys.
Emon and Jamiul Choudhury
Emon and Jamiul Choudhury, who are an uncle and nephew duo, emerged as the winners of series two of the show. Following their victory on the show, Emon, who is an entrepreneur, became an ambassador and fundraiser for charities. On the other hand, Jamiul, who has a degree in architecture, now works as a designer.
Shuntelle Greenidge and Michael Greenway
Shuntelle Greenidge and Michael Greenway were a team in the second season of Race Across the World, but they were the first to withdraw from the competition. During their journey from Copán Ruinas in Honduras to Panama City, Panama, they encountered difficulties when Michael lost the money he was carrying in his belt, leaving them without enough funds to continue the race.
Jo and Sam Gardiner
Despite making it to the seventh leg of the Race Across the World challenge in South America, mother-and-son-duo Jo and Sam Gardiner had to withdraw from the race when they ran out of money after reaching a location in Argentina. However, their experience on the show did not dampen their love for travel, and they even returned to Mexico to explore the places they missed during the competition. Jo, a physiotherapist, and Sam, a landscape gardener, continue to travel together.
Race Across the World Where Are They Now Series 2?
The latest episodes feature a new group of couples embarking on a journey across Canada, but we should not forget the remarkable people who came before them. In series two, the participants attempted to make their way across Latin America. Although Emon and Jamiul emerged as winners, there were many memorable moments, such as Sam splurging his and his mother's money on extravagant meals, Jen discarding her beloved yellow coat in a desperate bid to finish, and the heartwarming announcement by Emon and Jamiul that they had donated a portion of the prize money to a charity to help the children they had encountered along the way.
Emon and Jamiul Choudhury
After winning the show, the uncle, and nephew duo Emon and Jamiul announced that they would donate half of their £20k prize fund to charity, inspired by the living conditions of children they encountered during the trek. Emon has continued his charity work, running marathons and serving as an ambassador, and his efforts were recognized in 2022 when he received a regional Pride of Britain Award.
As for Jamiul, he had already earned a degree in architecture from the University of Huddersfield prior to the show and now works as an architectural designer while also running his own YouTube channel. Emon has become a father since the show, with his wife giving birth to a baby girl named Lilliya in October 2021.
Jen and Rob Lambra-Stokes
The memory of Jen abandoning her beloved yellow coat by the roadside in a desperate bid to cross the finish line still sticks with me. It was truly a work of art. Although they missed the top prize by a mere 20 seconds, Jen and Rob's second-place finish was still impressive, especially considering the tumultuous journey they had been on.
Despite their constant bickering, their relationship was fascinating to watch, and they remain happily together to this day. In December 2021, they became parents to twin boys named Luca and Lyle.
Jen has appeared on several radio programs to discuss the show, and she now reviews wines - a perfect fit for her. Meanwhile, Rob, who opened up about his experience as a deaf person during the show, is now raising awareness for the deaf community in the world of TV. His project, called Pardon? focuses on deaf technology and accessibility.
Jo and Sam Gardiner
Mother and Son duo Jo and Sam were fan favorites on the show, even though they didn't make it to the end. Sam's infamous decision to spend their remaining cash on a massive bowl of spaghetti bolognese will forever be etched in viewers' memories. At the end of the show, it was revealed that Jo's cancer had returned, leaving many concerned about their well-being.
Fortunately, the pair are doing well. According to Jo, "We're both good, well apart from a recent hip replacement and another recurrence of lymphoma! We did travel last year to Mexico and later to Australia. Once my treatment is over we are heading to Vietnam and Cambodia before Sam goes to Australia."
During their trip to Mexico, they explored caves, visited underwater museums and Mayan temples, and enjoyed local cuisine and margaritas. The trip was an opportunity for them to revisit some of the locations they missed during Race Across The World. It warms my heart to hear they are doing well and still traveling together.
Dom and Lizzie Slater
Dom and Lizzie, the brother and sister duo from series two, had a great dynamic and a special reason for participating in the show. They overcame many challenges, including Dom's seizure at a coach station, to finish in third place.
Lizzie now lives in London and works for Influencer, an influencer marketing agency co-founded by YouTuber Caspar Lee. Dom works as an associate creative director in eCommerce. Lizzie previously worked as a chalet host and shares her skiing adventures and holiday photos on Instagram. Dom has attended several festivals, and Lizzie traveled to Puglia recently.
The siblings have continued to travel and challenge themselves. This summer, Lizzie is participating in the National Three Peaks in 24 Hours challenge to raise funds for PAFRAS (Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers).
Shuntelle Greenidge and Michael Greenway
On the show, Shuntelle and Michael experienced a major setback when Michael lost their money bag, leading to their early exit. Although they were dating during the show, it's uncertain whether they are still together.
As per their LinkedIn profiles, Shuntelle remains a project manager at KPMG, her job prior to Race Across The World. Similarly, Michael also works as a health and safety specialist for a construction company. However, he has ventured into presenting and appeared on The One Show, Gogglebox, and a dating documentary.
Race Across the World Series 2 Overview
Air date
8 March 2020
Starting point
Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City
Destination
Ushuaia in Argentina
Distance covered
25,000 km
Number of teams
5
Teams
Dom & Lizzie, Jo & Sam, Jen & Rob, Shuntelle & Michael, Emon & Jamiul
Withdrawals
Shuntelle & Michael, Jo & Sam
Budget
£1,453 for the whole trip (approx. £26 per day)
Rule change
A no-fly rule was abandoned due to civil unrest in Ecuador
Winners
Emon and Jamiul
Number of episodes
9 (8 episodes on the race, followed by a reunion special)
Critical reception
Positive reviews from The Guardian and The Telegraph; mixed reviews from The Herald; praised for providing escapism during the COVID-19 pandemic by Metro
Aspect
Details
Race Across the World Series 2 Cast Table
Dom Slater
Siblings
Teaching Assistant
22
Wetherby
Lizzie Slater
Chalet Host
21
Emon Choudhury
Uncle & nephew
Entrepreneur/Business Owner
35
Oldham
Jamiul Choudhury
Architecture Graduate
25
Jo Gardiner
Mother & son
Physiotherapist
54
Manchester
Sam Gardiner
Landscape Gardener
19
Jen Lambra-Stokes
Married
Resourcing Consultant
33
Reading
Rob Lambra-Stokes
Systems Engineer
33
Shuntelle Greenidge
Dating
Project Manager
40
South London
Name
Relationship
Occupation
Age
From
What happened to the Race Across the World Series 2 - FAQs
Uncle and nephew duo Emon and Jamiul won the show.
They donated half of the £20k prize fund to charity to help children they had seen along the way.
Mother and son duo Jo and Sam came in second place.
Dom suffered from a seizure at a coach station,
Michael lost his money bag, leading to them having to quit the show early on.