A New Reality TV Show Faces Challenges
BBC’s latest reality TV show, Destination X, has been described as “The Traitors meets Race Across The World.” This comparison sets high expectations for the show. However, after watching the first two episodes, it seems unlikely that the show will live up to these lofty expectations. There is one key issue that I believe is causing its downfall.
Hosted by Rob Brydon, Destination X starts with 13 strangers meeting at a busy airport before boarding a claustrophobic coach with opaque windows and no idea where they are going. Contestants must rely on clues to figure out their location in Europe, with each episode ending in a challenge where players try to pinpoint their location on a map. The player who is furthest from the correct spot is eliminated.
When I first heard about Destination X, I was convinced it would be one of the standout moments in television in 2025. I believed it could be a true giant in reality TV. But after watching the first episode, it became clear that I was way off the mark. The show felt like a chore to watch. The game, which sounded simple on paper, was muddled. The clues were hard to distinguish from the red herrings, and the spectacular landscapes that make travel shows great were intentionally hidden.
This is not the fatal flaw, though. Destination X has already made a big mistake that can’t be fixed in this series. No matter how the game unfolds or how much the players turn on each other, the show won’t reach top-tier status with this cast, who are simply fine. I actually like them all as people, but they’re not reality TV stars.
Reality television isn’t the Olympics and shouldn’t be treated as such. The second series of The Traitors was unmissable because its winner, Harry Clark, was so good at deception. He might even be recruited by the secret service. But The Traitors wouldn’t have been the same without characters like Linda Rand, who gave herself away quickly and made wonderful mistakes.
If you had to be a qualified dancer to compete on Strictly, it might be more spectacular, but it definitely wouldn’t be as fun. I believe that reality television lives and dies by its casting. A great format gets you so far, but it’s the characters that keep viewers invested.
After three episodes of Destination X, I can safely say I like everyone on that coach. I’d probably have a lot of fun with them if I met them in person. But great people and great reality TV stars aren’t the same thing. This is proven by the ill-judged casting for Destination X.
However, there is one real character on that bus. London cabbie Daren wants to use the £100,000 prize money to buy his wife, Jackie P, a new kitchen. He’s built his career on knowing the streets of the UK’s busiest city, but he’s easily one of the weakest players in Destination X.
Thankfully, if Destination X is commissioned for another series, which I really hope it is, this problem can be easily fixed. Players should be handpicked for their personalities, not for their ability to run marathons, fly planes, or be nuclear engineers.
Reality television is at its best when it shows how extraordinary ordinary people can be. Diane Carson was just like many people you could meet at the pub or sit next to on the Tube, but she accidentally became a star because of her natural, high-camp energy.
Destination X needs a Diane if it’s ever going to grab the attention it deserves. Aside from Daren, there’s no one I’m rooting for.
Destination X airs Wednesdays and Thursdays on BBC One. If you have a story you’d like to share, get in touch by emailing jess.austin@.co.uk. Share your views in the comments below.