Race Across the World season 4, episode 3 spoilers follow.

Race Across the World has confirmed the reason why contestants were unable to go through China in the show’s latest episode.

On Wednesday’s (April 24) edition, the challengers were flown from Seoul in South Korea to Vietnam’s capital Hanoi, eschewing a usual rule banning flights, as they were informed that it was “not possible” to travel through China.

The show has now revealed why that was the case, a spokesperson explaining that timing and further issues in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic caused difficulties.

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“At the time of planning the route, due to time constraints and difficulties in travel in the aftermath of the global pandemic, it was not possible for production to travel through China and so a flight was organised from Seoul to Hanoi,” they said (via Yahoo).

The series has previously broken the rule due to global events, with season 2 contestants flying over Ecuador because of civil unrest in the country.

This week’s Race Across the World saw the season’s first elimination, with mother and daughter duo Sharon and Brydie the first to say goodbye after arriving last at the checkpoint in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

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“Unfortunately, someone’s got to go, and it was our time,” Sharon said afterwards, admitting they found this part of the race challenging.

Friends Alfie and Owen came first, followed by mother and daughter Eugenie and Isabel, then siblings Betty and James, and finally retired couple Stephen and Viv.

The episode also proved emotional, notably as Alfie set off a lantern in Hoi An in tribute to his late mother.

Race Across the World airs Wednesday nights at 9pm on BBC One, and streams on BBC iPlayer.

Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International.  Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every ‘t’ and dotting every ‘i’ as a sub-editor.