An “All Stars” season of Pékin Express, The Epic of the Maharadjas, has been scheduled for the start of the 2024 school year on M6, with a list of emblematic candidates up for grabs…
The return of Pékin Express has been scheduled for the start of the 2024 school year, starting Saturday, September 14, at 9:10 p.m. on M6, just a few weeks after the end of the 18th season a little earlier in the year. This new season is an “All stars” season, in other words bringing together former emblematic candidates of the program since its creation. A special edition that promises to set the screens on fire. Entitled “The epic of the Maharadjas”, it is not based solely on the performances of the pairs in the past. “It is not the prize list that comes as the first criterion”, specified Thierry Guillaume, producer of the show, during the press conference before the broadcast. The production focused on the popularity of the candidates, in particular by analyzing the feedback from fans on social networks. “We know who are the favorites of the people who watch us”, adds William Lebugle, deputy director of programs at M6.
Pékin Express, L’épopée des Maharadjas thus sees the comeback of Rose-Marie and Cinzia in particular, the best friends who were unfortunate finalists in season 14. Their complicity and determination had won over the public during their first participation, and they intend to take their revenge this year. The father and daughter, Claire and Christophe, big winners of this same season 14, are also putting their title on the line. They face other pairs who, just like them, have left their mark on the show. Among them, Clément and Émeline, a duo of camp counselors, who had narrowly escaped the final in season 17. They face Nathalie and Angie again, the unknown accomplices of the same season, who had made a strong impression with their unexpected chemistry.
Fabrice and Briac, the unknowns of season 12, are also making their return. Their unlikely duo had captivated viewers, and this new edition will be an opportunity for them to prove that they can go further. Jean-Claude and Axel, his grandson, from season 15, are also there, ready to do battle once again. Finally, Hoang and Quyen, the brother-sister duo from season 5, are back almost fifteen years after their first participation, bringing with them all the experience acquired since their time there.
An adventure in the heart of India, revisited trials
Pékin Express is known for taking its candidates to exotic and unexpected destinations. For this season, the production has chosen to focus solely on India. A bold bet allowing viewers to discover this fascinating country from a new angle. “We will go to Pushkar, in the Thar Desert, but also to the Switzerland of India,” explained Thierry Guillaume. India, with its varied landscapes and rich traditions, seems like a perfect playground for the pairs who, despite their past experience, can be destabilized by the scale of the change of scenery.
Unlike some previous seasons, this All Stars edition of Pékin Express does not offer any major new rules. The fundamentals of the game remain unchanged, as confirmed by the producers during the press conference. However, this does not mean an easy adventure. “There are new events, but no, there is no new rule,” specified Thierry Guillaume. Fans will notably find the white flag, introduced in season 18, which is making its return to spice up the competition.
In addition, the production decided to include “wink” events, such as replaying a key event from the first season of certain pairs, a nostalgic tribute that promises moments rich in emotion. “A way to relive differently certain great moments in the history of Pékin Express”, underlines William Lebugle.
The dose of lightness and funny moments that the production strives to inject from season to season is also a promise in 2024, with events specially designed to entertain not only the candidates, but also the viewers. “From the first event, we tried to destabilize the pairs with a very special biscuit tasting event,” confides Thierry Guillaume.
Second and third part of the evening: the novelty continues
Alongside the main program, Pékin Express also offers a second part of the evening entitled Débrief Express: Retour sur la course. This segment, already present in season 18, allows the former emblematic candidates to react live to the events of the episode. Installed in the Pékin Express apartment, they relive with humor and emotion the highlights of the adventure.
But that’s not all. A third new evening part, Les trésors de Pékin Express, is making its appearance. This program looks at key moments in the history of the game, retracing the journey of the most notable duos from past seasons. A real dive into the show’s archives, narrated by Stéphane Rotenberg, which promises to delight long-time fans.