Channel 4’s Worlds Apart may recall Race Across the World, but makes up in heart what it lacks in originality

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Back in 1841, Charles Dickens observed, “It’s something special when those newly born love us.” Almost two centuries later, every grandparent would agree that the love between generations continues to bring immense joy. We see this heartwarming connection in stories like Home Alone, where Kevin befriends Old Man Marley. Our eyes welled up when the lonely widower Carl found companionship with the adventurous Russell in Up. Even the gruff and hardened Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino showed a softer side thanks to his young Korean neighbors.

The Channel 4 executive behind Worlds Apart seems to be using a similar formula, creating a show that compensates for a lack of new ideas with plenty of warmth. The concept is clearly inspired by Race Across the World: six young, inexperienced British travellers – labelled “Gen Z,” meaning they’re not the very newest generation, but do have passports – are paired with older pensioner partners, meeting them for the first time on the streets of Tokyo. This description prompted many of us to quickly search online to understand the cutoff between Millennials and Gen Z (it’s 1996/7, for those curious). Back in Japan, these pairs navigate the city, working to solve puzzles, collect coins, and compete for a £50,000 prize.

In other scenes, retired doctor Tony connects with Emma (18), who was raised in the care system, and he clearly feels for her. He remarks, “She’s amazingly resilient.” Meanwhile, an elderly man named Colin offers young Charlotte a high compliment, saying, “She’s not what I thought young people were.”

The main takeaway is simple, though it’s perhaps not as groundbreaking as some believe. The Humanitas nursing home in the Netherlands is well-known for its program where students receive free housing in exchange for dedicating 30 hours each month to spending time with the residents. Similar initiatives exist throughout Europe, and the UK has its own Homeshare program, where seniors offer a spare room to younger people at a lower rent in return for help and companionship. This type of program deserves more attention. And Channel 4 has explored similar ideas before, as seen in their show Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds, which highlighted the positive effects of bringing different generations together.

A report released last year by the London School of Economics highlighted that workplaces which value the unique skills of every generation are most likely to foster innovation and achieve growth. Beyond potential financial gains, it’s obvious that bringing different generations together is beneficial for everyone. It can help combat loneliness among older individuals, and younger people can learn valuable life lessons and gain wisdom from their elders – including understanding the consequences of being unprepared.

Worlds Apart, like most reality TV shows, has to acknowledge that the participants’ willingness to be filmed often outweighs other issues. We hear from Barbara, a widow, who enjoys being active, but admits, “but when I come home, there’s no one there to tell.” Her expression brightens when she meets Katie – “I love your eyelashes” – and Katie immediately responds, “I love your dress”. This show isn’t really focused on age differences; it’s about the kindness of strangers and how that leads to unexpected friendships. And that’s a truly meaningful thing.

Worlds Apart begins on Tuesday 7 October at 9.15pm on C4

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2025-09-30 03:10