Leg two of the Around The World In 80 Days challenge is under way and Apprentice stars Nick Hewer and Saira Khan are already up against it.
Funny men Frank Skinner and Lee Mack didn't make it to the border between Turkey and Iraq to meet them as arranged so the leg two celebrities had to travel further out to Cappadocia to collect the all-important baton.
In just 14 days they have to be in Kazakhstan, over three thousand miles away through war-torn Iraq and volatile Iran, to hand over to Countryfile presenters Julia Bradbury and Matt Baker.
As Nick and Saira set off, they receive bad news. Iran's borders are closed due to civil unrest sparked by the Presidential elections. This is a big setback and Nick and Saira must find another way.
They decide to travel north into the old Soviet Republic of Georgia and then east to the shores of the Caspian Sea in Azerbaijan. They hope to catch a ferry to the little-known country Turkmenistan, drive through Uzbekistan, and finally cross the border to Kazakhstan.
Through Georgia and making good progress, with only 200 miles to the Caspian Sea, the duo take a moment to relax. Saira heads for the shops with the Children in Need auction in mind and Nick opts for a haircut.
Back on the road they hitch a lift to the shores of the Caspian Sea, but again their plans are thrown into turmoil.
They get news that their visa applications to Uzbekistan have been rejected, meaning the only option is to sail direct to Kazakhstan, which involves a huge detour across one of the most hostile deserts on earth.
With confusion over when the next ferry leaves for Kazakhstan, the duo take up their previous Apprentice roles and Nick sets Saira a task – to commandeer a boat to take them across the sea, but the language barrier proves too much and she fails. Nick tells her "You're Fired!".
Stranded for some three days on the shores of the Caspian Sea they finally board a ferry and are back on their way. It will take Nick and Saira a week to drive to the handover point on the terrible Kazakh roads, but they don't have that much time.
Fast running out of options it looks like there is no way they can meet their deadline. Will this resourceful pair make it to the handover in time?
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