| Race Around the World | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | Michael Rubbo |
| Directed by | John Lander |
| Presented by | Richard Fidler Zan Rowe |
| Judges | John Safran David Caesar Sarah Macdonald Tony Squires Sigrid Thornton |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 21 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | David Leonard (series 1) David Jowsey (series 2) |
| Producers | Paige Livingston (series 1) Deborah Boerne (series 2) |
| Running time | 30 minutes (1997–1998) 60 minutes (2026–present) |
| Production company | ABC TV |
| Budget | $1,217,837 (series 1)[1] |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | 2 June 1997 (1997-06-02) – 26 October 1998 (1998-10-26) |
| Release | 7 June 2026 (2026-06-07) – present |
| Related | |
| Race Around the Corner (1998) Race Around Oz (2000) | |
Race Around the World is an Australian travel documentary and competition series based on the Canadian television series La Course destination monde. Created by filmmaker Michael Rubbo and broadcast on the ABC, the series follows a group of filmmakers as they are sent to countries around the world to produce an original documentary.
The first two seasons were broadcast in 1997 and 1998 and hosted by Richard Fidler, a former member of the Doug Anthony All Stars comedy group. A third season began in 2026, with Endemol Shine Australia producing the series.[2]
Premise
For each series, eight "racers" were selected from video auditions from the Australian general public. The only stipulation for the video auditions was a lead-in of ten seconds of black. John Safran submitted his audition with ten seconds of yellow. The successful applicants undertook a brief course in documentary film-making, before deciding on an itinerary for their journey around the world. They were then given a digital video camera, and sent to their first destination.[3]
Over the next 100 days, the racers were required to devise, arrange and film a series of ten four-minute documentary films,[3] as well as a stand-by documentary and five "postcards". This gave them ten days to travel to their next destination, film the video, and send it back to the ABC in Sydney with detailed editing instructions.[4]
Production and broadcast
The series was brought to the ABC by filmmaker Michael Rubbo,[5] and was based on the Canadian television series La Course destination monde (1988–1999).[6]
It was broadcast as a weekly half-hour program, with four films shown per episode. Each film was then judged by a panel of three media and film experts, including David Caesar,[7] Sarah Macdonald,[8] Tony Squires[9] and Sigrid Thornton, as well as being put to a popular viewer vote. Points were deducted for late submissions.[10]
Two seasons were broadcast, both hosted by Richard Fidler, a former member of the Doug Anthony All Stars comedy group.[11] The series was directed by John Lander.
In late 2025, it was announced that a new season of Race Around the World would be broadcast in 2026.[12]
Seasons
Season 1 (1997)
- Ben Davies from Sydney
- Bentley Dean from Sydney
- Scott Herford from Sydney
- Daniel Marsden from Brisbane
- Olivia Rousset from Perth
- Claudia Rowe from Melbourne
- John Safran from Melbourne
- Kim Traill from Melbourne
Olivia Rousset was the winner of the first series, while John Safran (who had been disqualified) won the viewer's vote.[13][12]
Season 2 (1998)
- Cate Anderson from Kangaroo Valley
- Rachel Bannikoff from Canberra
- Tim Bryson from Adelaide
- Sheona McKenna from Melbourne[4]
- David Shankey from Brisbane
- John Thiris from Sydney
- Catherine Turner from Sydney
- Tony Wilson from Melbourne
Tony Wilson was the winner of the second series.[14]
Season 3 (2026)
- Mikaela Zuiderduyn
- Elliot Constable
- Jayden O'Neill
- Lucinda Price
- Kate McGuinness
- William He
Episodes
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 20 | 2 June 1997 (1997-06-02) | 4 August 1997 (1997-08-04) | |
| 2 | 20 | 17 August 1998 (1998-08-17) | 26 October 1998 (1998-10-26) | |
| 3 | TBA | 7 June 2026 (2026-06-07) | TBA | |
Season 3 (2026)
| Episode 1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contestant | Location | Film Title | Topic | Points |
| Jayden |  Philippines |
"Pamilya Muna (Family First)" | Dynamite fishing | 3 |
| Kate |  India |
"Live The Ultra Life" | People of Mumbai | 0 |
| William |  Egypt |
"Al Asmar" | Street vendors | 0 |
| Elliot |  Moldova |
"Between Life and War" | Ukrainian refugee crisis | 5 |
| Lucinda |  Nevada |
"The Kings of Pop" | Michael Jackson impersonators | 0 |
| Mikaela |  Alaska |
"Arctic Willows" | Iñupiat people | 1 |
| Judges: John Safran, Margaret Pomeranz, Claudia Karvan | ||||
| Episode 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contestant | Location | Film Title | Topic | Points |
| Jayden |  Peru |
"River of Gold" | Illegal gold mining in Brazil | 4 |
| Kate |  Greenland |
"A Universal King" | People of Nuuk | 3 |
| William |  Wales |
"The Rock of the Night" | Craig-y-Nos Castle | 0 |
| Elliot |  South Africa |
"Guardians of the Wild" | Anti-poaching | 0 |
| Lucinda |  Jamaica |
"The Pum Pum" | Dating in Jamaica | 1 |
| Mikaela |  South Korea |
"Sori (Sound)" | Foley artists | 1 |
| Judges: John Safran, Danny Philippou, Bruce Beresford | ||||
| Episode 3 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contestant | Location | Film Title | Topic | Points |
| Jayden |  China |
"Huaijiu" | Chinese ghost towns | 1 |
 England |
13 | |||
| William |  Costa Rica |
"La Pura Vida de la Abuela Tica" | People of Costa Rica | 2 |
| Elliot |  California |
"Edge of the Sea" | Bombay Beach | 3 |
| Lucinda |  Sweden |
"Allemansrätten" | Right to roam | 3 |
| Mikaela |  Morocco |
"Aṣl (The Source)" | Moroccan rugs | 0 |
| Judges: John Safran, Wayne Blair, Gracie Otto | ||||
Note: Kate was disqualified as her video was deemed to be a collaboration with her subject, Frankie McNamara.
| Episode 4 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contestant | Location | Film Title | Topic | Points |
| Brief: This week, the filmmakers had to include themself in their video. | ||||
| Jayden |  Arkansas |
"Safety First" | Gun culture in the United States | |
| Kate |  Vanuatu |
"In The Name Of God" | People of Vanuatu | |
| William |  Italy |
"I met a pianist in Pisa" | People of Italy | |
| Elliot |  Svalbard |
"Edge Of Survival" | Polar bears & Global Seed Vault | |
| Lucinda |  Taiwan |
"We Want Boyfriends" | Taipei Xia-Hai City God Temple | |
| Mikaela |  Brazil |
"Judgmental Day" | Valley of the Dawn | |
| Judges: John Safran, Kate McLennan, Alexei Toliopoulos | ||||
Notes
Legacy
Although receiving fairly high ratings for its timeslot, Race Around the World was a considerable logistical and financial drain on the publicly funded ABC. In 2000, the series, now entitled Race Around Oz, was restricted to the Australian continent because it was the Olympic year and the producers wished to focus on Australia.[15]
A youth-oriented program titled Race Around the Corner was produced by ABC Children's Unit with students (14–16 years of age) making low-budget local productions in the same style as Race Around the World.[16][17]
Host Richard Fidler later became a radio presenter and host of the Conversations radio show and podcast.[11]
Most of the racers from the series went on to pursue careers in media and film-making:
- John Safran came last on the first series (won by Olivia Rousset), despite winning the popular vote, because he was disqualified after the first round, in which he submitted a film in which he had covertly filmed priests giving confession in Rio de Janeiro.[18] Safran went on to produce and present several television programs, including John Safran's Music Jamboree and John Safran vs God for SBS, and John Safran's Race Relations for the ABC.[19] He would return to the race for the 2026 reboot, as one of the judges.
- Olivia Rousset, Bentley Dean, and Kim Traill have worked as reporters for the SBS program Dateline.[3][6]
- Olivia Rousset has won a Walkley Award for her video journalism.[13][12]
- Bentley Dean was nominated for an Academy Award for Tanna.[20]
- Kim Traill's book Red Square Blues: A Beginner's Guide to the Decline and Fall of the Soviet Union was published by HarperCollins in September 2009.[21]
- Catherine Turner was a reporter with Al Jazeera, and later Channel 7.[22]
- Scott Herford has a film production company,[23] and has produced several films.[24]
- Tony Wilson went on to host the breakfast show on Melbourne radio station 3RRR,[25] and has written a novel called Players (ISBN 1-920885-58-7).
- Ben Davies is the creator and producer of the Network Ten observational documentary series Bondi Rescue.[26]
In March 2025, a reunion and retrospective special was produced on Australian Story, titled "The Shoot Out".[27]
See also
References
- Parliamentary Debates (Hansard).: House of Representatives, Volume 219
- "This career-making travel show is making a comeback and casting is open". 4 November 2025. Retrieved 9 November 2025 – via www.abc.net.au.
- The SBS story : the challenge of diversity. University of New South Wales Press. 2008. ISBN 978-0868408392.
- Stevenson, Martin (17 April 1998). "Sheona focuses on TV race". The Examiner. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- Coslovich, Gabriella (26 January 2018). "How brothers Mark and Michael Rubbo have spurred each other's creative careers". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- The electronic reporter : broadcast journalism in Australia (2nd ed.). University of New South Wales Press. 2006. ISBN 0868404950.
- "a film for all markets". RealTime Arts. January 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- "Sarah Macdonald". ABC Radio. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- "How I became a TV Star". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 April 2003. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- "Race Around the World Rules and Regulations". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 20 October 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- Peatling, Stephanie (15 September 2017). "Richard Fidler confesses to radio's sound of silence and beautiful suspense". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- Purcell, Fiona (4 November 2025). "Race Around the World: ABC on the hunt for fearless content creators for global adventure". ABC News. Archived from the original on 4 November 2025. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- Christopher, Lissa (5 March 2007). "Walkley winner's solo journeys". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- Dubecki, Larissa (18 November 2006). "Convert to the cause". The Age. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- "Race Around Oz (2000)". The Screen Guide. Screen Australia. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- ABC Annual Report 1997–1998. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 1998.
- "Race Around the Corner (1998)". The Screen Guide. Screen Australia. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- "6 Aussies Celebs Who Became Famous From Winning Competitions". Hit Network. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- Compton, Leon (17 December 2009). "Crucifying John Safran". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- Wong, Tessa (25 January 2017). "The Oscar-worthy film inspired by a tribal song". Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- "Kim Traill has told the stories of Russia for almost 20 years". Conversations with Richard Fidler. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- "Cath Turner: Television Reporter, Channel 7". Samantha Wills Foundation. Samantha Wills Foundation. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- Laidlaw, Kyle (30 March 2025). "Australian Story revisits RACE AROUND THE WORLD and its legacy". TV Blackbox. Archived from the original on 30 March 2025. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- Scott Herford at IMDb
- "Of killer bees and jamborees". The Age. 19 June 2002. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- "Ben Davies – The Brains Behind Bondi Rescue". The Beast. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- "Race Around the World". ABC News. 31 March 2025. Archived from the original on 5 April 2025. Retrieved 5 November 2025.