JOURNEY to success

Destination X's executive producer DAVID CLEWS shares the behind-the-scenes secrets of the magical mystery tour

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Geography tests at school weren't half as much fun as Destination X, the hit adventure game in which competitors traverse Europe on a special bus with blacked-out windows while trying to decipher cryptic clues as to their exact whereabouts in a quest to win £100,000.

With just four instalments left in the debut 10-part series, the remaining players must work harder than ever to crack the challenges set by host Rob Brydon to earn extra hints that could prove crucial when they each have to place an X on a map indicating the place they believe they are, as the person furthest away is eliminated.

For the production team, keeping the show on the road was no mean feat. Not only did they need to maintain the secrecy surrounding the locations at all times, there were also the logistical challenges such as border crossings, tight timetables and even toilet stops!

TV Times caught up with executive producer David Clews to find out more...

Was it difficult planning an itinerary that would give the show lots of variety?

Trying to find a route that's manageable and not too far to travel, but which brings in iconic exit locations for each Destination X [when an eliminated player learns where they really are], was definitely a complicated process! Obviously there are millions of different routes, but we wanted to do it in a sustainable way, where we didn't feel like we were constantly zigzagging across Europe.

What were the most challenging aspects of keeping the locations secret from the players?