'Race Across the World's final pulled on my heartstrings'
This was the moving moment that Caroline and Tom won Race Across the World for me.
Spoiler alert: it wasn't when the mother and son were running to the empty book that was waiting for them at the southernmost tip of India, at Kanniyakumari. Or when they were celebrating with their glasses of champagne.
Just 15 minutes into the final, the pair are blissfully unaware their lead has slipped in Udupi while waiting for their overnight bus they had pre-booked to Kochi. Taking time to slow down, Tom and Caroline had the time to reminisce on the race as it nears the end.
Wearing her heart on her sleeve, Caroline told Tom: "Travelling with you has, probably, been the best experience of my life."
And Tom has the most beautiful response.
He got his personal journal and he shared a passage with his mum — and with the millions of us tuning into watch the final. It's easy to forget as a viewer how hard it must be for the contestants to be vulnerable in front of the cameras.
Those taking part in RATW are not your typical reality TV stars, chasing the bright lights of fame like you tend to find bursting through the doors of the Love Island villa. These are ordinary people who have let us into their lives while they go on the adventure of a lifetime.
Sharing that special moment with us, Tom told his mum he felt like like he had already won the race.
He told her: "This was a note to self when we were on leg six 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 can even dream of with your mother and having the best time ever. Remember how me and mum got on, how fun she is, and just how much you love her.
"Appreciate these times and 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."
Caroline wiped away her tears — I must admit I was close to being teary myself — and responded: "That was absolutely lovely. Thank you."
It played on my heartstrings and the Race Across the World final delivered. There was a lot to love about this final leg of Race Across the World.
Brothers Brian and Melvyn were impressive. Hats off to the competitive duo who managed to close much of the 17 hour gap, leaving just two hours between them and the winners. It was just short of a miracle but the siblings couldn't have done any better in the final.
The BBC final was edited brilliantly. Immersed in it, I felt the winning title was within Melvyn and Brian's grasp when they spent £172 on an overnight taxi. It would have made Race Across the World history if they had done it.
They weren't the only ones to get taxis this episode either which was fun to see.
With so little budget spent in India, the teams had healthy budgets to splash out on those all expensive last minute taxis. Immediately I was reminded of taxi-loving father and daughter Kevin and Claudia who ran out of money after getting taxis just about everywhere in Canada.
The final was so close, especially between Caroline and Tom, Letitia and Elizabeth and Sioned and Fin. Only 45 minutes separated the three teams. There was just 19 minutes between the mother and son and their closest rivals.
With all the drama, it would be easy to forget that it wasn't the closest final there has ever been. Cast your mind back to series two where Emon and Jamiul Choudhury won Race Across the World by just 20 seconds.
Caroline and Tom are worthy winners. And I would have happily seen all the teams win. That's the thing about the race; it's not about the winning. Sure, the £20,000 would be nice but it's all about the journey and the memories they have made along the way.
Even though none of the teams changed positions from the penultimate leg, the final was an exciting adventure.
Race Across the World could easily be longer than eight one-hour episodes.
If watching the series five final doesn't persuade you to pack your bags and immediately book your own adventures, nothing will. I'm already dreaming of my next holiday.
Race Across the World is streaming on BBC iPlayer. The Reunion episode airs on 9pm on BBC One on Wednesday.
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