BBC’s Destination X sparked viewer outrage during Wednesday night’s fifth episode when contestant Josh received an unprecedented power to sabotage a fellow competitor.
The twist allowed him to relocate another player’s marker by 250 kilometres from their selected location.
Josh targeted Nick, the former athlete who had demonstrated considerable skill and strength throughout the competition.
The strategic move could prove devastating for Nick’s chances in the game where contestants must accurately guess their location.
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The reality programme, presented by Rob Brydon, typically eliminates the contestant whose guess falls furthest from the actual destination at each episode’s conclusion.
However, Wednesday’s instalment broke from tradition, leaving audiences on a cliffhanger without revealing who would depart the coach.
Social media erupted with criticism as viewers condemned the twist’s impact on the competition’s integrity.
One frustrated fan posted on X: “WHY do these shows always throw in stupid twists?! What do you mean Josh can move someone’s pinpoint 250km away….. that’s just straight up cheating as he’s obviously going to choose the best player (Nick) and how is that fair? #DestinationX.”
Another viewer warned: “If #Nick goes on that ridiculously unfair twist I’m going to be savage #DestinationX”, whilst a third declared their intention to stop watching entirely if Nick faced elimination due to the sabotage.
The backlash intensified as more viewers joined the chorus of disapproval. “Moving the X is so unfair. Nick will be gone,” one fan predicted, while another dismissed the twist as “s**t”, announcing they were abandoning the programme.
Several viewers argued the twist fundamentally altered the programme’s nature.
“Having a competitor move someone’s pin 250km away from their guess makes a mockery of the show, just becomes a game of luck and randomness rather than skill (including deception) and intelligence,” one frustrated fan wrote on X, adding they would likely stop watching if Nick departed as a result.
Another viewer described the power as “sabotage” that “ruined the game”, whilst someone else complained: “Well I liked DestinationX until tonight’s episode.
“Adding special abilities to totally change someone’s guess and then ending on a cliffhanger is rubbish. It felt fresh and interesting until now #destinationX”
The controversy follows previous criticism about contestants’ geographical knowledge, which viewers had already deemed “appalling” in earlier episodes.
The £100,000 prize competition, which combines elements of Race Across the World and The Traitors, challenges contestants to deduce their location through various clues and games.
Despite the controversy, some viewers maintained their enthusiasm for the programme. “Why has Destination X drawn me in?
“I was a perfectly normal person until last night and now I’m spending part of my day wondering who gets dumped from the show tonight. Team Nick. #DestinationX,” one supporter posted on X.
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Another fan praised presenter Rob Brydon’s dramatic hosting style, writing: “Rob Brydon in his Bond villain era, I love it #DestinationX”. (sic)
