Cape Town - The Amazing Race is back on the Sony Channel this month with more thrills, upsets and adventures than ever before including the first ever public start of the race as well as the unveiling of a gripping new game-changing element.
It’s the world’s most famous reality show and winner of 13 Emmy Awards so the producers were out to do something special to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
In contrast to the starts of previous challenges, typically held in private or restricted-access locations to prevent potential spoilers, the race kicked off with the first ever public start of the 11 new teams from New York City’s famous Times Square.
Meet the contestants
There is a good combination and mix of teams with brains pitted against brawn. Among the competitors are married professional surfers Bethany Hamilton and her husband, Adam Dirks. Hamilton is a shark attack survivor whose story was told in her memoirs and the film Soul Surfer.
There’s also a pair of Survivor alums: Keith Tollefson and Whitney Duncan, TNA wrestling stars Brooke Adams and Robbie E Strauss; Boston firefighters Michael Ward and Scott Strazzullo as well as “unabashed spazz’s” and food scientists Amy DeJong and Maya Warren.
The Save
There is another new game-changing element called ‘The Save’. The team that finishes first in the premiere episode will be awarded this new prize which they can use to rescue themselves if they come in last during a particular leg of the race and face elimination.
Teams this season will be put to the test as they travel through eight countries and 20 cities.
See detailed maps here.
The Amazing Race Season 25 premieres on the Sony Channel (DStv Channel 127) on Sunday, 30 August at 19:35.