Celebrity Race Across the World is a British adventure reality television series that challenges famous personalities and their relatives to travel across unfamiliar countries without the luxuries normally associated with celebrity life. Instead of relying on flights, expensive hotels, or unlimited spending, contestants must navigate public transport, manage a limited budget, and work together to reach checkpoints along the route.
The show offers viewers a different perspective on well-known personalities, revealing their problem-solving skills, relationships, and personalities under pressure. From unexpected travel challenges to emotional conversations between family members, Celebrity Race Across the World combines adventure, competition, and personal discovery in an engaging television format.
Celebrity Race Across the World: Profile Summary
| Profile Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Show title | Celebrity Race Across the World |
| Original title | Celebrity Race Across the World |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Celebrity reality, adventure, travel competition |
| Original broadcaster | BBC One |
| Streaming platform | BBC iPlayer, subject to availability |
| Based on | Race Across the World |
| Format | Celebrity pairs racing across international routes |
| Main focus | Travel, teamwork, budgeting, and personal relationships |
What Is Celebrity Race Across the World?
Celebrity Race Across the World is the celebrity edition of the BBC’s popular travel competition, Race Across the World. The programme brings together well-known personalities and people close to them, asking them to complete a long-distance journey while working with limited money and without relying on the usual conveniences of modern travel.
Unlike conventional reality competitions, the show does not centre on physical eliminations or studio challenges. Contestants must make practical decisions, choose affordable routes, communicate with local people, and decide how to spend their limited budget. Their relationships often become just as important as their navigation skills.
The series also gives audiences an opportunity to see celebrities outside their usual professional environments. Without smartphones and familiar comforts, contestants must rely on their instincts, patience, and companions to make progress.
Celebrity Race Across the World 2026 Cast
The fourth series began on October 28, 2026, with four teams embarking on a journey from Kuching in Malaysian Borneo to Melbourne, Australia. The route covers approximately 7,500 kilometres across three countries and two continents.
The 2026 contestants are:
Ella Eyre and Nana
Singer-songwriter and childhood friend
Ella Eyre is a British singer-songwriter known for her distinctive voice and collaborations with other musicians. She gained major recognition through the song “Waiting All Night,” recorded with Rudimental, which won British Single of the Year at the 2014 BRIT Awards.
For the competition, Ella is travelling with her childhood friend Nana Pepera. Their long-standing friendship gives them an established connection, but the demands of navigating unfamiliar places and managing a tight budget will test how effectively they work together.
Jeff Stelling and Matt
Sports broadcaster and son
Jeff Stelling is a respected British sports presenter best known for his long association with Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday. His career in sports broadcasting has made him a familiar figure to football fans across the United Kingdom.
He joins the race with his son, Matt. Their journey offers an opportunity to explore their relationship in a setting far removed from the sports studio, where teamwork and quick decisions matter more than broadcasting experience.
Princess Andre and Junior Andre
Influencer and musician, and siblings
Princess Andre and Junior Andre are siblings known to the public through their famous parents, Katie Price and Peter Andre. Princess has developed her own profile in entertainment and social media, while Junior has pursued music.
The pair enter the competition as a family team. Their challenge involves adapting to unfamiliar surroundings, working within a restricted daily allowance, and making decisions together without the convenience of internet access or credit cards.
Sam Ryder and Kaz Coles
Singer and best friend and tour manager
Sam Ryder rose to international prominence after representing the United Kingdom at the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest with his song “Space Man.” His performance earned him second place and helped establish his profile with a wider audience.
He is competing alongside Kaz Coles, his best friend and tour manager. Their friendship and experience travelling together could help them navigate the race, although the programme’s strict restrictions create a very different challenge from touring as a professional musician.
How Does Celebrity Race Across the World Work?
The competition follows a straightforward principle: teams must travel from a designated starting point to a finish line, reaching checkpoints along the way. The first team to complete the route wins, making efficient planning and spending essential.
Contestants cannot simply book flights or use their bank cards to move quickly between destinations. Instead, they must investigate available transport options, use physical maps, seek information from local residents, and make decisions about where to sleep and eat.
The 2026 edition gives each contestant a budget of £26 per day. Teams must use their money carefully because an expensive journey or unexpected delay can leave them with fewer options later in the race.
The format also encourages interaction with people along the route. Asking for directions, learning about local customs, and finding affordable accommodation can become important parts of the experience. These moments help make the programme a travel series as well as a competition.
Celebrity Race Across the World Route in 2026
The fourth series begins in Kuching, in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, and finishes in Melbourne, Australia. The journey introduces contestants to several environments, from tropical forests and remote communities to major urban centres.
The route is particularly ambitious because it spans three countries and two continents. Teams must reach five checkpoints before continuing towards the final destination, with approximately 7,500 kilometres separating the start and finish.
Travelling across this distance without air travel requires careful consideration of transport connections, border crossings, schedules, and costs. A seemingly convenient route may not be the cheapest, while a budget-friendly option may take considerably longer.
The 2026 series also marks the celebrity edition’s first journey to Australia. Its route gives the programme a different geographical challenge from earlier editions, which travelled through Europe, South America, and Central America.
Career Highlights and Series Timeline
The programme has developed its own identity by combining the appeal of celebrity television with the unpredictability of long-distance travel.
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2023: The first celebrity series featured Alex Beresford and his father, Noel Beresford, alongside Harry Judd and his mother, Emma, Billy Monger and his sister, Bonny, and Melanie Blatt and her mother, Helene. Alex and Noel won the competition.
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2024: The second series featured Scott Mills and Sam Vaughan, Kelly Brook and Jeremy Parisi, Jeff Brazier and Freddy Brazier, and Kola Bokinni and Mary Ellen Moriarty. Scott Mills and Sam Vaughan won.
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2025: Roman Kemp and his sister Harleymoon Kemp won after racing through Central America. They finished just ahead of Tyler West and Molly Rainford.
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2026: The fourth series began on October 28, introducing the teams of Ella Eyre and Nana, Jeff Stelling and Matt, Princess and Junior Andre, and Sam Ryder and Kaz Coles.
The latest series is still underway as of October 31, 2026. Its eventual winners have not yet been determined, so any claim naming a 2026 champion would be premature.
Net Worth and Earnings
There is no single confirmed net worth for Celebrity Race Across the World because it is a television programme rather than an individual. The personal wealth of its contestants also varies, and private financial information is not necessarily available to the public.
Celebrity contestants may earn money through their established careers, including music, television presenting, acting, social media partnerships, and other professional activities. However, participation in the programme does not establish how much any contestant earns for appearing.
Main Income Sources
The contestants have different professional backgrounds and potential income streams:
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Music: Recording, songwriting, live performances, and music-related projects.
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Television: Presenting, broadcasting, acting, and entertainment appearances.
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Social media: Brand partnerships and other commercial collaborations, where applicable.
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Professional management and business activities: Work connected with established careers and documented ventures.
These are general income categories, not verified earnings from the programme. No reliable public figure establishes the individual appearance fees or total earnings of the 2026 cast.
Lifestyle and Public Influence
One of the programme’s biggest attractions is the contrast between contestants’ familiar public lives and the difficulties they face on the road. Famous personalities who are accustomed to professional schedules must suddenly deal with delayed transport, unfamiliar languages, budget restrictions, and uncertainty.
The format can also change how audiences perceive celebrities. Viewers see them negotiating, compromising, solving problems, and supporting their companions rather than simply performing in front of cameras.
The relationships between contestants are central to this appeal. Friends may discover how differently they approach money, while parents and children may need to adjust their usual roles. These interactions provide much of the show’s emotional depth without requiring scripted drama.
The programme also highlights the experiences of local communities and the places contestants visit. Their journeys can introduce viewers to destinations they might not otherwise consider, while demonstrating how ordinary travel decisions influence an international adventure.
Where to Watch Celebrity Race Across the World
The 2026 series airs on BBC One and is available through BBC iPlayer, subject to regional access and platform availability. New episodes are scheduled for Wednesdays at 8 pm in the United Kingdom.
Viewers interested in earlier editions can also explore previous series to see how different celebrity teams approached the challenge. Each season features a new route and different relationships, giving the format fresh challenges and outcomes.
Conclusion
Celebrity Race Across the World combines celebrity culture, international travel, budgeting, and personal relationships in a competition that rewards resourcefulness rather than fame. Its appeal comes from watching familiar personalities navigate unfamiliar situations while depending on the people travelling beside them.
The 2026 series brings together Ella Eyre and Nana, Jeff Stelling and Matt, Princess and Junior Andre, and Sam Ryder and Kaz Coles for a demanding journey from Borneo to Melbourne. With a limited budget and no reliance on smartphones or flights, the teams face a challenge that tests their patience, planning, and teamwork.
As the competition continues, Celebrity Race Across the World offers viewers a compelling mix of adventure, cultural discovery, and unscripted human moments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Celebrity Race Across the World?
It is a British reality competition in which celebrities and people close to them race across international routes using limited budgets and local transport. The show focuses on navigation, teamwork, and the relationships between contestants.
Who is in Celebrity Race Across the World 2026?
The fourth series features Ella Eyre and Nana, Jeff Stelling and his son Matt, Princess and Junior Andre, and Sam Ryder with his friend and tour manager, Kaz Coles. The teams began their journey in Kuching, Malaysia.
Who won Celebrity Race Across the World in 2025?
Roman Kemp and his sister Harleymoon Kemp won the 2025 series. They narrowly beat Tyler West and Molly Rainford to the finish line in Colombia.
Where does Celebrity Race Across the World 2026 start and finish?
The 2026 race begins in Kuching, Malaysian Borneo, and ends in Melbourne, Australia. The route covers approximately 7,500 kilometres across three countries and two continents.
How much money do contestants get on Celebrity Race Across the World?
For the 2026 series, each contestant receives a budget of £26 per day. They must use this money for their journey and other expenses while following the competition’s restrictions.
Where can I watch Celebrity Race Across the World?
The programme airs on BBC One in the United Kingdom and is available on BBC iPlayer, subject to availability. Broadcast schedules and access may differ by region.
