Roman Kemp has revealed that a popular BBC show made him realize that "life is really worth living sometimes." The television personality, who has openly discussed his struggles with depression and panic attacks, shared his thoughts while offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at Celebrity Race Across the World.
A Transformative Experience
Roman teamed up with his sister Harleymoon for a grueling 5,900km race across the Caribbean and the Pacific coast of Central America. They competed against Molly Rainford, Dylan Llewellyn, and Anita Rani, each accompanied by a partner. Starting from Mexico's Isla Mujeres and finishing at Colombia's Península de La Guajira, the teams traveled without air travel or smartphones.
Roman said the experience had a profound effect on him. Recalling a particularly impactful leg where he trekked through jungle and "tribal cemeteries" before chopping down trees, he noted that his "whole perception of happiness was altered."
Finding Joy in Simple Moments
Speaking on The Runna Podcast, Roman said: "I remember getting quite emotional in those moments because my whole perception of happiness was altered there. Everyone always says, 'Ah, people with less are so much happier.' But genuinely, my perception of happiness changed."
He continued: "I looked at life differently in those moments. I've been through times where I didn't want to be here anymore. If things had gone differently, I might not have experienced something like that. It made me realize life is really worth living sometimes."
Roman, son of I'm a Celebrity star Martin Kemp, added that entering a situation without knowing how it will end can be "the most beautiful thing in the world."
Romantic Encounter Recalled
This revelation comes after a woman who went on a date with Roman Kemp described what he is like in person. Jodie Carnall, who appeared on Take Me Out, went on a date with him after participating in the celebrity edition in 2016.
Jodie told Zingo Bingo: "He was lovely. He liked my personality. He was very reassuring because he's used to filming. I would have dated him again." She added that they kept in touch for a while and she would have liked to see him again. "It was an activity date, and he was just so nice and reassuring."
Jodie felt more confident during her second stint on the show, partly because of Roman's demeanor. "I felt a lot better for the Roman Kemp one because I'd done it once before. Also, he was just so nice and reassuring. It made it more fun instead of nerve-wracking."
