Alfie Watts to Drive Tuk Tuk for Charity

 winner Alfie Watts is set to drive a Tuk Tuk from London to Norway - in a bid to raise £100,000 for charity.

Alfie, 22, became the youngest ever champion of Race Across The World two years ago, emerging victorious alongside pal Owen Wood.

He appeared on Friday's  to discuss his upcoming challenge, as it was explained that Alfie's Tuk Tuk journey will begin on May 24 for an epic 31-day journey. 

Also known as an auto rickshaw, a Tuk Tuk is a three-wheeled vehicle powered by engine, commonly used in South .

Alfie told hosts and : 'I'm doing this basically to attempt to raise £100,000 for Young Minds, who are a charity that I'm an ambassador for.

'I struggled with mental health a lot when I was a lot younger. I've spoken about it before, I actually attempted to take my own life when I was 16.'

Alfie added: 'Basically, I want this project to be a big beacon of hope. Everything's so depressing at the minute.

'Just take the comedy of the Tuk Tuk and put it into a really serious situation, have really important conversations around it. That's the aim.'

Ranvir went on to ask Alfie how he has been mentally preparing for the journey.

He responded: 'It's going to be very lonely, I think that's going to be sort of the main thing.

'I'm going to be six hours a day in [the Tuk Tuk] just sort of on my own.'

Furthermore, Alfie said he planned for people to sign messages on the Tuk Tuk as a way of support - with Kate becoming the very first person to so.

Alfie also referenced Kate, 59,  following a long battle with Covid.

He told her: 'I fully, fully completely bought into your story, over the past couple of years.

'As someone who lost a parent, I think your children are so lucky to have you as a mum.'

Speaking to the Daily Mail last year, Alfie – as well as the biggest mistakes he and Owen made on Race Across the World.

Alfie’s first tip was to make sure you don’t rely on your debit or credit card when you’re abroad – especially when outside of Europe.

‘Exchange money while you’re at home and always carry cash,’ the travel content creator said. 

‘In the West, we're quite used to everything being card, but that's not the case in a lot of countries – basically as soon as you get out of Europe - and ATMs, abroad, will fleece you.’

Alfie also recommended comparing the total price of holidays against each other, rather than just the price of flights and accommodation.

He explained: ‘You’ll find that sometimes going long haul is actually better.

‘Sure, flights to Thailand are £600-700, while Spain can sometimes be around £300, but if you look at the price of accommodation in Thailand, it can be £20 a night for luxury, and you can get meals for £2.

‘Owen and I spent less on a week in Brazil, all-in, than a week in Majorca - even though our flights were 750 quid.

‘The money can quickly add up when you go to Spain in peak season.’

Having now become an experienced traveller since he took part in Race Across The World, Alfie thinks he and Owen ‘could have saved so much money in so many different places’ if they did the trip again,

He said: ‘I hate haggling at street markets because, you’re haggling over three or four dollars, which means nothing to us, but a lot to them.

‘But, on Race Across The World, haggling is essential, and I just don't think we haggled well enough. I also don't think we looked to hitchhike enough. I don't think we braved crappy accommodations enough. I don't think we did enough hostels.

‘We could have saved money by sacrificing a little bit of comfort.

‘Travelling can be really easy and cheap, but us having that inexperience at the time, is what makes the show.’

For support, call the Samaritans on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org