Cliff Notes – What is Channel 4’s new TV show competition Worlds Apart and how does it work
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Inter-Generational Pairing: The show features six Gen-Z contestants paired with six pensioners, highlighting the contrast and potential for collaboration between different age groups during a treasure hunt in Japan.
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Cash Prize and Challenges: Contestants compete for a £50,000 cash prize, engaging in various challenges that test their teamwork, adaptability, and perception while collecting coins to increase their chances of winning.
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Social Experiment: Billed as a social experiment, “Worlds Apart” aims to challenge generational assumptions and foster new friendships through shared travel experiences and adventures.
What is Channel 4’s new TV show competition Worlds Apart and how does it work?
Worlds Apart follows 12 contestants as they embark on a treasure hunt in Japan (Picture: Channel 4/Steven Landles)
Channel 4 has launched Worlds Apart, a brand new reality show in which contestants compete for a ‘life-changing cash prize’ of £50,000.
What is Channel 4’s Worlds Apart about?
A five-part series, Worlds Apart will follow six Gen-Z Brits who have never travelled independently, as they’re introduced to six pensioners who thought their travelling days were a thing of the past.
As they’re whisked away to Japan for a one-of-a-kind treasure hunt, the 12 contestants will be sorted into inter-generational pairs and put to the test, where they’ll find themselves competing in challenges, uncovering clues and answering questions, all while journeying across the Asian archipelago.
According to Channel 4, ‘teamwork, adaptability, and perception’ are key to the contestants’ success, with the unlikely duos encouraged to combine their knowledge and experiences to avoid elimination.
With each challenge, the teams are invited to collect as many coins as possible to win the jackpot.
Six Gen-Z Brits are teamed up with six pensioners (Channel 4/Steven Landles)
The contestants are competing for a cash prize of £50,000 (Channel 4/Steven Landles)
‘I’m so excited about Worlds Apart,’ Commissioning Editor, Genna Gibson, said. ‘I’ve seen in my own family how generations can feel miles apart – but bring them together and you realise they share more than you think.
‘Japan, with its unique blend of ancient traditions and cutting-edge modern life, is the perfect backdrop for these journeys,’ she continued.
‘It’s been a joy to witness first-hand these pairs of strangers from different walks of life share unforgettable travel experiences and emerge with new friendships.’
What time is Worlds Apart on TV today and where to watch it?
Billed as a ‘social experiment to challenge assumptions, and prove that age is just a number,’ Worlds Apart will premiere on Tuesday, 7 October at 9:15pm, following The Great British Bake Off.
Following its debut, Worlds Apart will also be available to stream on 4.
Worlds Apart full confirmed line-up
Aaron
Aaron, 18, hails from Blackpool (Picture: Channel 4)
Aaron is one of the show’s six Gen-Z contestants. Hailing from Blackpool, the 18-year-old has only travelled abroad once before, visiting Mallorca with his mum as a child.
Describing himself as ‘funny, resilient, and trustworthy’, Aaron, who is facing the prospect of homelessness, is determined to win the cash prize, hoping to buy a flat of his own, take driving lessons and go on a lads’ holiday.
Charlotte
Charlotte works as a checkout assistant in Swansea (Picture: Channel 4)
A 25-year-old checkout assistant from Swansea, Charlotte loves to chat, describing herself as ‘bubbly, outgoing, nuts, and funny’.
Prior to Worlds Apart, she had only been to Switzerland and Paris after months of saving. If Charlotte were to win, she’d use the money to buy her mum an electric wheelchair.
Emma
Aspiring songwriter Emma would love to use the prize to record her own music (Picture: Channel 4)
West-End enthusiast Emma dreams of becoming a songwriter. Having grown up in and out of foster care, the 18-year-old student has never travelled independently before, though she has visited Orlando, Florida, and New York.
Hoping to inspire her siblings, Emma would love to use some of the prize money to record her own music.
Katie
Katie, 21, has never been on holiday before, with the exception of a childhood trip that she was too young to remember (Picture: Channel 4)
‘I have never been on holiday before. I grew up without much money and have enough to just get by… winning the money would change my life,’ said 21-year-old Katie.
A community support worker from Warrington, Katie’s aspirations include volunteering in Kenya, becoming a social worker, owning a home with a garden, and travelling the world.
Lawrence
24-year-old Lawrence is looking to the future after growing up in the care system (Picture: Channel 4)
After spending his childhood in the care system and selling drugs, Lawrence decided to turn his life around and recently completed a three-year HR apprenticeship.
As he looks ahead to the future, the 24-year-old would use the £50k prize to support underfunded youth services in his local community and build a recording studio to help his musical ambitions become a reality.
Tende
Tende has never travelled far without his family (Picture: Channel 4)
19-year-old Tende was adopted from Uganda when he was just six months old by a family of doctors and moved to a village near Oxford.
While Tende has travelled, he has never ventured far without his family. Should he bag the jackpot, the student would love to spend some of it on his mum, although tickets to a Taylor Swift or Beyoncé concert wouldn’t go amiss.
Barbara
Barbara, 80, has been daunted by the idea of solo travel since her husband died (Picture: Channel 4)
Among the pensioners is Barbara, a hospice volunteer from Staffordshire. While the 80-year-old has enjoyed travelling widely, she’s been daunted by the prospect of travelling solo since her beloved husband, Colin, died.
With a chance of winning the prize, Barbara would use it to take her family on one big holiday abroad.
Colin
Retired plumber Colin loves to grab new opportunities (Picture: Channel 4)
‘I would describe myself as someone who doesn’t sit around waiting for things to happen. If I see an opportunity, I’ll grab it,’ explained Colin, a retired plumber from Ashton-under-Lyne.
Following the loss of his son Jason in 2020, the 73-year-old has made a point to embrace new experiences and challenges. Japan, in particular, holds a special place in his heart, as Jason had previously travelled there too. If he were to win, Colin would take his wife of 20 years, Sharon, on more trips abroad.
Julie
Karaoke host Julie is a full-time carer to her husband Harry (Picture: Channel 4)
73-year-old Julie found her dream job as a karaoke host, and continues to work in Soho, where her karaoke events have raised thousands of pounds for charity.
Married for 23 years, Julie is also a full-time carer to her husband Harry, who suffered a major stroke eight years ago. While she’s signed on to Worlds Apart for fun, Julie would also use the money to finance further care for Harry.
Rosie
Rosie, 68, previously lived in Portugal and Mexico (Picture: Channel 4)
Rosie, 68, has travelled extensively, and she has a talent for finding the best deals. Prior to her husband’s passing, Rosie had even lived in Portugal and Mexico.
While she continues to explore the world and meet new people, Rosie would love to take her entire extended family on a trip and buy some varifocals.
Tony
Retired GP Tony would love to share the prize with his family and support charities (Picture: Channel 4)
Tony, a retired GP, maintains a sociable and active lifestyle. After 40 years of marriage he came out as gay and has since found support in his then-wife, children, and grandchildren, while joining a gay choir.
The 69-year-old is keen to share the prize with his family and support homelessness charities in and around Manchester.
Val
Val, 71, is hoping to put her ‘grief on hold’ after losing her husband last year (Picture: Channel 4)
‘This trip for me is a godsend because since losing my husband, I have been down emotionally, and this could put a little bit of my grief on hold for a short time,’ Val, 71, revealed.
Originally from Jamaica, Val had moved to the UK at the age of 12, and later found love with her late husband Rupert in her early 50s.
A big believer in saying yes to new experiences, the retired mental health nurse would put the money towards hiring a villa in Jamaica so the younger generations of her family could see where their grandparents were raised.
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