Race Around the World, the iconic ABC documentary and competition series, returns tonight at 7:30 p.m. on ABC TV and ABC iview, with six Australian filmmakers embarking on a global journey to create 10 films across 10 countries in 100 days.
Quick Facts
- Six filmmakers compete: Mikaela, Elliot, Jayden, Lucinda, Kate, and William.
- The challenge: produce 10 short films from 10 mystery countries within 100 days.
- Each competitor travels alone with a single 23-kilogram suitcase for the entire journey.
- The series is a reboot of the original 1990s ABC show, hosted by Zan Rowe with original racer John Safran returning as a judge.
The six contestants have completed a week-long bootcamp in Sydney, familiarizing themselves with camera equipment, safety protocols, and the logistics of the adventure. Each filmmaker brings a unique background and creative vision to the competition.
Jayden O’Neill, a conservation and natural history filmmaker, has prioritized bringing a long lens to capture cinematic wildlife shots, while Lucinda Price, known as Froomes on social media, plans to focus on other people’s stories in the style of documentarian Louis Theroux. Elliot Constable, who has produced films for SBS, is eager to hit the road, while William He, a software engineer, has been working with his therapist to prepare for the mental challenges of being on television.
Race Around the World returns tonight on ABC with six Australian filmmakers competing across 10 countries
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The contestants have made significant personal sacrifices to participate, with some quitting their jobs and selling possessions to prepare for the adventure. Kate McGuinness is taking a calm approach, while Mikaela Zuiderduyn acknowledged the exhaustion of the preparation process, saying “There’s been a lot of information thrown at us every day.”
The series will air weekly on ABC TV and stream on ABC iview, offering viewers a window into the filmmakers’ creative journeys across unfamiliar territories.
Sources
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation — confirmed the premiere date, time, six contestants’ names, the 10-country format, 100-day timeline, and filmmaker backgrounds.
- ABC iview — confirmed the series details and streaming availability.
- Variety Australia — confirmed the reboot of the original series and June 7 premiere date.
