The BBC has confirmed that Celebrity Race Across the World will return on Wednesday, October 28 at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer. The new series will feature four famous pairings travelling from Kuching in the Malaysian state of Sarawak in North West Borneo to Melbourne, Australia — a first for the show.
Celebrity line-up and route
The confirmed pairs are Brit Award-winning singer-songwriter Ella Eyre with childhood friend Nana, sports broadcaster Jeff Stelling with his son Matt, influencer Princess Andre with her brother Junior Andre, and singer-songwriter Sam Ryder with his best friend and tour manager Kaz. They will leave behind phones, credit cards and home comforts, relying on local transport, their own resourcefulness and the kindness of strangers, with only a map and a budget of £26 per person per day.
The route begins in Kuching, described as the gateway to the island's vast wilderness, and ends in Melbourne, Australia. Jasmyn McGuile, commissioning editor at BBC Factual Entertainment and Events, said: "Audiences have been asking when the Race might reach Australia, so we are delighted that they will be able to experience this unique journey for the first time in Celebrity Race Across the World. With an adventurous start in Borneo's Sarawak rainforest, another series first, it makes for an unmissable opener for this year's celebrity teams."
Previous winners and new challenges
The new series follows the success of the earlier race this year, which saw Jo Diop and Kush Burman take the title. Last year's celebrity cast included Anita Rani and her dad Bal, Dylan Llewellyn and his mum Jackie, DJ Tyler West and Molly Rainford, and Roman Kemp with his sister Harleymoon, with the Kemp siblings winning in a tense finale.
A BBC statement said: "Leaving luxury behind them, these household names will be tested. Emotions will run high, and relationships will be transformed on an adventure as challenging as it is rewarding."
