The Amazing Race 15: South African Premiere

Starts: Sunday, 18 April at 19:45

Continues: Sundays at 19:45

Speed is of the essence in the fifteenth season of the seven-time Emmy® Award-winning reality series The Amazing Race, spanning eight countries in just 21 days on one of the fastest courses ever assembled. Covering 25,000 miles and visiting Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Sweden, Estonia and the Czech Republic, this season also features the quickest elimination in the history of the series, sending one of the twelve teams home before they even leave the starting line. A new twist also sees the remaining teams facing the "Switchback," one of the series' most infamous Roadblocks, as well as a surprise appearance by one of America's most beloved entertainers, a visit to the world's tallest building and a spicy take on a Japanese game show.

"This season we wanted to keep the Racers and our fans on their toes and make sure no one gets too comfortable," says Bertram van Munster, executive producer and co-creator of The Amazing Race. "We're adding some new surprise elements, including our quickest elimination ever, as well as revisiting one of the most challenging Roadblocks our teams have ever encountered during our past 15 seasons.” This refers to the infamous Stockholm Roadblock from Season Six, when one team member had to unroll up to 270 bales of hay in an effort to uncover the next clue.

Season 15 features another diverse cast of Racers, including a former Miss America, two members of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team, two professional female poker players, plus the first-ever Racer with Asperger's Syndrome, all vying to take home the $1 million prize money.

The Amazing Race has won seven straight Emmy® Awards for Outstanding Reality Competition Programme, scooping the coveted award every year since the category was first introduced.