Duo remain best friends after Race Across The World

Alfie Watts (left) and Owen Wood (right) have taken part in the BBC show

Two friends who took part in BBC programme Race Across the World said their relationship had remained intact despite dealing with the stress of their adventure.

St Albans school mates Alfie Watts, 20, and Owen Wood, 21, were one of five duos who had to race across Asia between Japan and Lombok without their phones or access to bank accounts.

Mr Watts said: "We came out of the show thinking we were argument free. I don't think we had any arguments but to be honest we might not recollect exactly what happened."

Mr Wood added: "When we finished our race you get the time to reflect - so much happened, but at the end of the day the person you did it with is arguably the biggest part of it."

Five duos take part in the show for a chance to win £20,000

The BAFTA-award winning series returns to BBC One on Wednesday.

Duos will cross six seas and eight borders as they make their way to the finish line on the Indonesian island of Lombok, where the first to arrive claims a cash prize of £20,000.

The two best friends admitted it was a challenge not having access to technology.

Mr Watts, who is a referee for Hertfordshire Football Association, said: "It's really difficult because you don't have Google translate... You really do have to use your ingenuity."

Both competitors said their friendship had remained intact after taking part in the show

The duo said they were still able to communicate with locals to find the best places to eat as people in the continent were much friendlier than they are at home.

Student pilot Mr Wood, who turned 21 during filming, agreed: "Local knowledge is better than Google half of the time - more than half the time actually, 90% of the time."

Episode one of the eight part series is available on Wednesday evening on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.