‘Men and boys need to see this’: Jo and Kush and the joy of Race Across the World

‘Men and boys need to see this’: Jo and Kush and the joy of Race Across the World

Nineteen-year-old Kush Burman sits in the ancient walnut forest of Arslanbob in western Kyrgyzstan, pausing from their search for nuts to contemplate his bond with Jo Diop, his close friend and travel partner. As emotions swell, Kush admits, “I think it’s only in the past couple of days that I’ve realised how much I value having Jo here,” reflecting on the support Jo consistently offers. “I just really appreciate the fact that Jo’s always up for sort of looking after me, in a way. I don’t think Jo will understand, like, the difference it makes. I mean, yeah, he’s my best mate.”

Both from Liverpool, Kush and Jo emerged as standout personalities in the BBC series *Race Across the World*, which wrapped up this week after documenting their journey from Sicily to Mongolia. Originally, they described their adventure as a “side quest” to complete before embracing adulthood. Yet as they navigated thousands of miles via bus, taxi, and on foot, their candidness and unwavering support drew attention beyond the race itself. Their friendship became a powerful counterpoint to ongoing discussions about toxic masculinity. This portrayal of kindness and camaraderie offered a refreshing contrast to the conflict-ridden dynamics prevalent in many reality television shows.

Behind the scenes, assembling the cast for the 7,500-mile challenge involved an extensive selection process, with producers exploring a wide range of ages and meticulously examining the nuances of prospective participants’ relationships. Fatima Salaria, an executive

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