Race Across the World 'surreal' for brothers

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Evie Lake

BBC News, North East and Cumbria

BBC/Studio Lambert Brian Mole (left) and Melvyn Mole (right) at the Great Wall of China. They are wearing their hiking equipment including rucksacks. They are smiling and looking to the right of the camera.

Two brothers who competed in the TV series Race Across the World said the experience and associated public recognition still does not feel real.

Melvyn and Brian Mole, who are both in their 60s, formed one of five teams who raced more than 14,000km (8,700 miles) across China, Nepal and India to try to win £20,000.

Ahead of Wednesday's final episode, Melvyn, a driving instructor who lives in Middlesbrough, said appearing on the show was "a surreal journey" which did not end with filming.

But the pair, who admitted to not having been on holiday with each other since the 1970s, believed the experience brought them closer together.

"From the minute we got the call, it's been a surreal journey and it still is," Melvyn told BBC Radio Tees.

"I've been on breakfast TV, Loose Women, it doesn't happen to me."

BBC/Studio Lambert Melvyn and Brian discussing their route in a cafe. Both are pointing at a location on a large map on the table.

Melvyn also said other driving instructors and even examiners have asked for photos with him.

"It's unbelievable isn't it, that people are asking for photographs of Melv," Brian said.

He confessed they have loved watching the show back because of how much of the scenery the contestants miss while racing.

"It's quite amazing to watch the footage," he said.

"It is quite nice for us because the pictures that we see on the screen, Melv and I don't actually see because normally our heads are down, we're in a taxi, we're in a train, we're on a bus and that's our life for eight, nine weeks."

'We're very lucky'

Aside from the locations, appearing on the BBC show allowed the brothers to talk about their childhood.

Brian was sent to boarding school while his older brother stayed at home and attended the local state school, which they said impacted their relationship.

But the race saw pair grow closer, even joking they want to end up in the same retiring home.

"We're very lucky to have got the experience that we had and we certainly enjoyed grasping every opportunity and seeing as much of the world as we can," Brian said.

"Tonight's going to be special one because obviously it's the final and we'll see what happens to us."

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