Race Across the World's Jo and Kush set powerful example for young people

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: Race Across the World's Jo and Kush set powerful example for young people2 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleRumeana JahangirandLouisa King ,North WestBBC/Studio LambertJo Diop and Kush Burman - seen here in Turkey - won fans with their friendship and mutual supportTheir Scouse charm warmed the hearts of seven million viewers and now the example set by Race Across the World winners Jo and Kush is impacting their former school. Lee Ratcliffe, head teacher at Calderstones School in Liverpool, says he felt a "gush of pride" at seeing the teenage friends triumph in the series' finale this week. Aged 19, the pair were the youngest competitors in the 12,000km adventure from Italy to Mongolia - taken without mobiles phones.

Mr Ratcliffe told Radio Merseyside his assemblies "have completely changed now off the back of this". "They will now be about the notion that these boys had the courage, the ambition - they took the risks to go. "The friends have said they will use their shared £20,000 prize to invest in getting on the property ladder after both their mums had been renting.

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Mr Ratcliffe described the former students as "magnificent, young gentlemen", adding that "for both boys behind the scenes there's a mum who has sweated blood and given tears to make sure that they get everything they and other children in their families need". "I think those mums deserve an enormous amount of credit and there's a lot for us all to learn from that kind of family unit. "Calderstones head teacher Lee Ratcliffe said "the whole city was rooting for them"The pair were praised by viewers for their mutual support during the two-month trip, which showed Kush's struggles after his much-loved stepdad Matt took his own life during the coronavirus lockdown.

Before the journey, Kush said he could get "very anxious" and viewers saw Jo provide space for him to decompress and - on at least one occasion - stay awake the night to let his friend get things off his chest. In the reunion episode, which followed straight after the final airing on One, Kush talked about seeing a counsellor to "help process my emotions and it's really, really helped", adding: "The one thing the race did teach is that it's ok to ask for help. "The pair have been widely praised for their openness, including by politicians promoting healthy masculinity, with former safeguarding minister Jess Phillips telling the Guardian: "There are nasty influencers we need to worry about, but men and boys need to see this, which is like their real lives.

"Being kind and looking after each other - that's real masculinity. "/Studio LambertThe teenagers also met various matriarchs trying to bulk them up during their travelsThere were also memorable lighter moments in the show, including when the music fans struggled to recall the four Beatles band members. Although Kush says "the biggest takeaway from the race is now we know all The Beatles".

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.