Race Across the World viewers were left furious last night as they branded the series finale a ‘fix’.
The hit BBC show followed five British pairs as they travelled from one checkpoint in Canada to another without any technology as they competed for a £20,000 grand prize.
Despite getting off to a rocky start in the final episode, Cathie Rowe, 49, and Tricia Sail, 48, managed to reach the remote lighthouse at Spear Point in St John’s before all the other contestants.
After hitching a ride to Bishop’s Falls on the outskirts of Newfoundland, the duo – who have been friends since childhood – struggled to find anyone who would take them onto the remote area of St John’s.
On the second to last day of the contest, Cathie and Tricia spent hours approaching drivers at a petrol station.
Childhood friends Tricia (left) and Cathie (right) were stunned when the couple who had taken them in for the night also offered to drive them most of the way to the final destination
Taking pity on the pair, one Canadian local said he and his wife would happily put them up for the night – but couldn’t take them to their final destination.
However hours later, the kind stranger offered to drive them to a spot not far from the lighthouse the following morning – prompting furious to speculate if producers had intervened.
Posting on Twitter, one wrote: ‘Another last minute fluke…’
Another added: ‘Oh how convenient. Sorry but this show is so fixed it’s blatant now.’
‘Wow these producers are persuasive,’ a third wrote. ‘Got them a room now!’
At the start of the episode, married couple Zainib and Mobeen, from Manchester, lost their 14 hour lead on the other contestants.
The pair were ‘released’ from the last checkpoint in the evening – meaning they had to spend valuable time looking for somewhere to sleep rather than putting all their energies into reaching St John’s.
This decision also left viewers outraged – with some claiming that it put Zainib and Mobeen at a disadvantage.
Outraged viewers took to Twitter to brand the show a ‘fix’ and speculated whether ‘persuasive producers’ were responsible for the sudden change in Cathie and Tricia’s luck
‘So annoying how often the head has been lost by way of them having to set off at night,’ a fourth viewer tweeted.
Meanwhile, a fifth fumed: ‘I’m confused. How did [Cathie and Tricia] get in the lead with Zainib and Mobeen 14 hours ahead???’
After welcoming Cathie and Tricia into their home, the Canadian couple told the pair that they’d go out of their way to help them reach St John’s, which was 400km away.
Having had dinner with the couple, Cathie told their hosts: ‘Okay, cards on the table – we need a lift to St John’s tomorrow. As early as possible.’
‘That’s not big deal,’ the man’s partner said. ‘Yep, we’ll take you there.’
Pictured: the man who offered to put Tricia and Cathie up for the night. When he picked them up for the petrol station, he said he couldn’t drive them to St John’s
Pictured: Married couple Zainib & Mobeen. The pair lost their 14 hour lead after being forced to leave the final checkpoint in the evening
The couple said they were going to contact friends and family in the area to see if anyone was heading that way – but insisted they would take Cathie and Tricia themselves if they needed.
The pair were absolutely stunned by the kind offer. ‘Honestly,’ Cathie said. ‘That’s amazing.’
As such, some viewers said the show ‘restored their faith in humanity’.
‘Massive shout out to all Canadians for the generosity and kindness shown to all the contestants,’ one tweeted.
‘Think its proved that Canadians must be the most kind and considerate nation on earth,’ another added.
Speaking to the BBC before the final episode aired, Tricia said: ‘It will confirm that you can do this adventure with friends – you don’t have to be related or in a relationship, it will cement that it’s been worth it, it would also mean an amazing holiday for me and my husband, Matt.’
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