Fans of BBC 2’S Race Across the World were left disgruntled last night as Tony and Elaine were crowned winners of the epic journey from Greenwich to Singapore.
Teams of two had to leave behind smartphones, internet access and credit cards and travel from London with only the cash equivalent of a one-way airfare to Singapore.
Tony and Elaine Teasdale, who are both 62-years-old and retired teachers, from North Yorkshire, arrived first in Singapore and won the race, as well as the £20,000 prize.
Fans, however, had been rooting for father-son duo Darron, 48 and Alex, 20, from Bradford, who came a close second.
Audiences had warmed to the business software specialist and his unemployed son as the show went on, and were bitterly disappointed when they failed to cross the finish line first.
‘Sorry, but after that nastiness towards Darron and Alex in Thailand I’m miffed that Tony and Elaine won. At least Darron and Alex completed it without any lying and scheming,’ wrote one disappointed fan.
Tony and Elaine Teasdale, retired physical education teachers from North Yorkshire, won Race Across the World and enjoyed a glass of champagne to celebrate their win
Father-son duo Darron, 48 and Alex, 20, from Bradford, came second but won the audience over by developing their bond while on the show
Some viewers said Elaine and Tony had played tricks in order to win and did not deserve to win the race
The fact Tony and Elaine played a ruthless game did not win them a lot of sympathy, and many viewers complained they did not deserve their win.
During the series the couple had lied to and misdirected other competitors when their paths crossed, in order to advance further themselves.
‘I will honestly be so distraught if Tony and Elaine win this whole race over Darron and Alex,’ wrote one viewer, before the results came in.
‘Damn, the only team I didn’t want to win. Such greedy moaners, Alex and Darron should have won,’ wrote another.
Race Across the World’s viewers were really disappointed when Darron and Alex did not win the race
Teams grew more and more competitive every week, and some resorted to scheming in order to advance toward the Singapore check-point and lose the other team.
Viewers applauded the father and son duo, as they manage to complete the race without any ‘nastiness.’
‘Tony and Elaine may have won the race, but Darren and Alex have one the heart of many watching them embrace each other and become closer whilst making the journey,’ summarised one viewer.
‘Darron & Alex were the true champions. Not a nasty word or underhand manoeuvre, should be proud of them,’ commented one viewer.
At the start of the competition, Darron said he hoped the adventure would help his son get out of his rut of always taking the easy option,
But as the show went on, audience noticed a change in the young man’s attitude.
Viewers were really rooting for Darron and Alex to win the race and said they won ‘the hearts of many’
‘Darron and Alex are the real winners for me,’ shared a viewer.
‘Gutted Darron and Alex didn’t win. They are the true winners. Watching Alex grow into a man and the father/son bond develop has been TV gold.’
The pair acknowledged how close they had become thanks to the show.
‘I’ve learned a lot about my dad along the way,’ Alex, that’s the main thing
‘We’ve bonded more than either of us really expected
‘Before this journey we were estranged father and son, really,’ said Darron.
‘Now we’re father and son, and we’ll always be that, but I think now we’re friends as well, he added, before him and Alex hugged it out.
‘What an amazing journey it’s been, what a phenomenal time we’ve had together,’ the emotional father said.
Alex and Darron congratulated Elaine and Tony for winning the competition and said they had had an amazing journey and had come from ‘estranged’ father and son to ‘friends’
There was no hard feelings between participants, however, as Tony, Elaine, Alex and Darron enjoyed viewing parties together as the show aired, along with fellow contestants Josh and Felix and Natalie and Shameema.
At the end of the 50 day journey from London to Singapore, ‘ecstatic’ Elaine and Tony shared a glass of champagne to celebrate their win as they reflected on their time of the show.
‘We’ve beat all these youngsters, how that has happened I’m not quite sure’, said Elaine.
Elaine and Tony said they were ‘ecstatic’ and ‘elated’ following their win. ‘We’ve beat all these youngsters,’ joked Elaine
The couple said they had learnt many lessons from the countries they passed through, but most pertinent of all was that everyone they met had been proud.
Tony told the Press Association: ‘We could learn more pride. More pride in our country in general.
‘People were so passionate wherever we went. For them, where they lived was the best place in the world to be.
Elaine added: ‘Smile more, hospitality and more pride in your surroundings. That’s what we could learn.’
The couple travelled 12,000 miles across two continents and 21 countries to beat four other teams.
Best friends Shameema (left) and Natalie (right), both 38, arrived in third position behind Tony and Elaine and Darron and Alex
Best-friends Shameema, from Manchester and Natalie, from London both 38, arrived in third place.
Josh and Felix, both 32 and from London, almost did not make it to the finish line, but thanks to the generosity of Shameema and Natalie, who lent them some money they completed the race.
The move pleased audience, as the two men had played a tour on the women earlier in the episode and sent them in the wrong direction.