Beijing Express is back on M6, only three months after the end of its All-stars edition, broadcast over six weeks at the start of the September school year. This time, it will not be the emblematic duos of the program who will compete with their red backpacks, but new pairs, unknown to viewers. The show, born in 2006 and still broadcast on M6, is celebrating its twentieth season! To live up to the event, the production returned to a continent that it had hitherto little explored and planned many surprises. We tell you everything you need to know about this edition in Africa, entitled The Route of the Legendary Tribes !
What is the release date of Beijing Express, The route of legendary tribes on M6 and M6+?
After slipping onto the Saturday box during the All-stars edition, The epic of the Maharajas, Beijing Express returns on Thursday, as usual. The broadcast date was announced shortly before Christmas: season 20 will arrive on M6 and M6+, the channel's new replay and streaming platform, Thursday, January 16, at 9:10 p.m.. Viewers will then discover the ten pairs who make up the cast this year.
Souls here Beijing Express, The route of legendary tribes ?
As since its launch in 2006, at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, it is Stéphane Rotenberg, loyal to the program and to the M6 channel, who will present this 20th season. This birthday means a lot to the 57-year-old host, which saw more than 200 candidates parade, covering more than 200,000 km across nearly 50 countries !
What are the particularities of this anniversary season? Beijing Express ?
To celebrate the birthday of Beijing Express with dignity, the production brought back a twist not seen for eleven years: the mystery passenger! From the second episode, celebrities will join the adventure and will have the destiny of a partner in their hands. Élodie Gossuin, Glenn Viel (who does not speak a word of English), Bruno Solo, Norbert Tarayre or even Yoann Riou will have, for example, to hitchhike, look for accommodation or participate in the tests in place of the candidates, or even final duel! . “This role stresses them a little because they see in the eyes of the pairs that they have to be good straight away”, laughed Stéphane Rotenberg during the press conference held in mid-December at M6. “Some cried, broke down… and we will be entitled to well-felt insults!” added the producer. Other celebrities will arrive during the show but their names have not yet been revealed.
Who are the candidates for this season 20 of Beijing Express ?
Ten pairs will take the start of Beijing Express, The route of legendary tribes. Among them, we find a never-before-seen duo configuration with Adrien and Patricia, who are friends 30 years apart.
Étienne and Judith, lovers of the North (27 and 26 years old)
Very close friends, Étienne and Judith have been a couple for seven years and have tried many times to participate in the show. This season 20 is the right one for the two lovers who share everything and have fun cultivating their physical resemblance. Through this adventure, they wish to test their relationship, but also hope to be the big winners in carrying out several joint projects: their marriage and buying a home.
Patricia and Adrien, friends 30 years apart (58 and 30 years old)
It's an unexpected pairing but one that risks wreaking havoc with viewers who will discover their strong character, especially that of Patricia. Formerly obese, she loves to surpass herself and is keen on sport. She will have to boost her friend Adrien, who is lazier. Despite their differences, they share many things and want to show that together they are stronger.
William and Christophe, the two brothers (56 and 54 years old)
The two Aveyron brothers often argue but always end up patching things up. Christophe is the messy one in the family, unlike William, a maniac and pro-organization. Very complementary, the two brothers are also very united, especially since the death of their father.
Lionel and Eva, father and daughter from Francs-Comtois (53 and 21 years old)
It’s a duo that could well move the audience. Eva will have to take it upon herself despite her strong character to experience this first trip, and not least, with her father Lionel. He wants to show his resilience to his daughter after having had cancer surgery last year. Their complicity will be their asset in the adventure.
Max and Hélène, the internet couple (39 and 37 years old)
Barely a couple, Max and Hélène test their relationship in the best possible way: by making a Beijing Express ! The two lovebirds met only six months ago. Hélène, a traveler at heart, wants to introduce this universe to her lover, more of a homebody, who will undoubtedly have to step out of his comfort zone!
Mattéo and Esmeralda, the Belgian cousins (22 years old)
The two cousins could just as easily be brother and sister, they are so inseparable, despite their differences. Esmeralda also wants to take advantage of this show to show that she is much more than an apparently superficial young woman. Since the death of her mother, she can count on the unfailing support of Mattéo, on whom she can also rely during the hard times of the adventure.
Otis and Enzo, geek friends (19 years old)
Otis and Enzo's bond began during their college years. Now students, they want to open up to the world and discover new cultures, far from screens. Their friendship was also forged through their similar family history and they count on their mutual understanding to go far in Beijing Express.
Amandine and Alison, twin sisters (32 years old)
Both mothers, the twin sisters want to experience an adventure together, which they can tell to their children when they return. They are obviously very close despite some differences: Amandine prefers to analyze before acting while Alison is more impulsive. They want to win the competition to offer their family a dream vacation.
Cécile and Marion, the students (27 and 21 years old)
Two former Miss France candidates are in the casting this season! They are Cécile, 2nd runner-up to Diane Leyre, and Marion, 2nd runner-up to Indira Ampiot. Cécile is now a 6th year Pharmacy student at ESSEC, and is involved in humanitarian actions for education in Africa. As for Marion, passionate about fashion and cycling, she is preparing the launch of her clothing brand.
Moâde and Ludovic, the pair of strangers (30 and 34 years old)
Like every year, an unknown pair will be formed at the start of this season in Tanzania. For this 20th edition, it is Moâde, the good sociable friend, and Ludovic, the solitary accountant. The first is curious about everything (an engineer, he is also a moonwalk expert and a lyrical singer) and more determined than ever. The second is sure of himself, frank and direct but also very routine and sees Beijing Expresswhich he has followed since the first season in 2006, as an opportunity to get out of his tidy daily life. Will they be able to agree to go far in the competition?
What is the journey of Beijing Express, The route of legendary tribes ? Where was the 20th season filmed? Where will the final take place?
For the third time since its creation, Beijing Express sets off on the roads of Africa. The first trip to this continent took place during season 7, with The route of the big beasts. The production wanted to reproduce the experience during season 14 but had to interrupt filming due to confinement linked to the Covid-19 epidemic. The teams were repatriated from Ethiopia while only the images in Uganda could be recorded. Filming resumed a few months later, but had to be confined to Greece and Turkey. For this anniversary season, production has charted a course in Southern Africa. The route begins in Tanzania, at the foot of Kilimanjaro, with a detour to Zanzibar, before leaving for Mozambique. The pairs still in the race will discover South Africa before reaching Lesotho, “One of the countries in the world with the fewest cars per capita”specifies Thierry Guillaume, the producer. Finally, the grand finale will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Beijing Express, The route of legendary tribes : will there be a second part of the evening?
Good news for fans of the program: the show will continue on Thursday evenings on M6, with the return of an iconic pair! Ryad and Louison, emblematic candidates for season 18 in 2024, put on their shoes again for an exceptional adventure. In the second part of the evening, in Beijing Express: Who can beat Ryad and Louison?the duo who maintains the record for victories in the final duel will face other notable candidates from the show. They will meet face-to-face both in events and in hitchhiking races.. This will be the opportunity to meet Ludovic and Samuel, the Belgian brothers, but also Thomas and Mathieu, the lumberjack brothers, or even Romain and Laura, winners of season 18 and Étienne and Vanessa, pairs of unknowns from season 15.
Who won the last season All-stars, Beijing Express, The epic of the Maharajas ?
The last season of Beijing Express was an All-stars editionwhich took place in a single country, India. Favorite pairs of the public (like Hoang and Quyen who participated in season 5!) returned to take their revenge or secure their title. The final in New Delhi pitted the camping leaders Clément and Émeline against Jean-Claude and Axel, the grandfather and his grandson. It was the latter who won the season. But a great first in the history of Beijing Expressthe pair left empty-handed since he had zero euros in his kitty when he crossed the finish line. A consolation prize has been planned, which still reassures the production.
