Race Across The World star James nearly risked his place in the competition when he experienced every traveller’s worst nightmare – and viewers were in shock.
The 21-year-old sales consultant has teamed up with his sister Betty, 25, for the hit BBC travel show, which sees pairs travel across continents without the internet and on a shoestring budget.
However, while en route to Lombok, having started the challenge in Japan, James suffered every traveller’s worst nightmare – he very nearly lost his passport.
In the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, Betty and James had perched on the side of the road to look at the map and decide on the best route to the next checkpoint in Thailand, opting to go via Battambang.
After making their decision, they hopped into a tuk-tuk, only for James to realise he was missing his bumbag, which contained his passport and all of their Cambodian money.
They immediately asked the driver to stop so James could jump out and leg it down the street to see if his bag was still there.
By a huge stroke of luck, it had been concealed in the bushes.
However, when James checked the contents he started to panic as he realised one of his possessions had been stolen.
Betty remained calm but told the producers if James’ passport was missing they would have to pull out of the competition, as they would be unable to enter Thailand.
Viewers were left staggered by the fact that James almost lost his passport, with one called Caroline stressing on X how ‘concerned’ she’d be in his shoes.
‘Yikes!!’ wrote Lindsay, who commented how ‘awful’ it would have been if the passport had disappeared for good.
‘I’d have the money belt and passport glued to my body 24/7,’ @FlopsyPickle remarked.
Another called Samuella stressed how ‘lucky’ he was that he did actually manage to get his passport back.
In a moment of good fortune, James’ passport was still in the bag, meaning that the brother and sister team could continue on to Thailand.
However, their Cambodian money – totalling £26.04 – had been stolen.
‘Thank God James still has his passport,’ wrote Pete, while Daniel added: ‘Good on the thieves for leaving the passport at least. Considerate I say.’
Elsewhere in the episode, mother and daughter team Eugenie, 60, and trainee clinical scientist Isabel, 25, clashed.
Teacher Eugenie told the producers: ‘It’s actually starting to get to me today. It’s the little digs and all the rest of it and being with Isabel 24/7 I don’t even get any space emotionally from it.’
After sensing her mother was not being her usual self, Isabel asked what had upset her.
Eugenie replied: ‘To be honest, I question why you want me on the race because at the moment I feel like I am your punchbag.’
Isabel said: ‘Mum I thought this would be an opportunity for us to get to know one another and connect emotionally.’
Eugenie explained that she felt Isabel was ‘irritated’ by her, with her daughter saying that she was simply impatient.
After confronting their issues head-on, they both decided to work on their communication.
Race Across The World airs next Wednesday at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
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