Viewers of the hit BBC show Celebrity Race Across The World were left utterly astonished this week after learning the true age of actor Dylan Llewellyn.
The Age Revelation That Stunned Fans
Best known for playing schoolboy James Maguire in the beloved Channel 4 series Derry Girls and university-aged roles in other productions, many fans had assumed the actor was significantly younger. The revelation that Llewellyn is actually 33 years old sent shockwaves across social media platform X.
One stunned viewer posted: 'Dylan's 33. Thought he was a young pup.' This sentiment was echoed by another who wrote: 'Dylan is 33? I thought he was like 17.' The disbelief continued with comments like 'How is Dylan 33' and the simply astonished 'Dylan is 33?!?!!'
Despite these age gaps in his earlier roles, the actor has more recently portrayed characters closer to his real age, notably starring as PC Kelby Hartford in the popular BBC series Beyond Paradise, a spin-off of Death In Paradise.
Team Tortoise Wins Viewer Hearts
While the age revelation surprised fans, Dylan and his mother Jackie have quickly become audience favourites on the reality competition. The premise of Celebrity Race Across The World sees four teams of two journeying across Central and South America without mobile phones and on a limited budget.
All four teams began their race in Isla Mujeres in the Caribbean Sea, tasked with reaching Colombia's Penisínsula de La Guajira, 5,900km away. Anita and her father Bal reached the first checkpoint a remarkable 23 hours earlier than everyone else, followed by Roman and Harleymoon Kemp, who narrowly beat Molly Rainford and Tyler West despite bus troubles.
Dylan and Jackie ended up in fourth place, a massive 29 hours and 36 minutes behind the leading pair. However, their laid-back approach and decision to enjoy the stunning sights along the way, including their hilarious attempt to book a room at a hospital for overnight accommodation, has made them what fans are calling 'everyone's winners'.
Viewers quickly branded them 'team tortoise' and joked that the pair seemed to think they were on a relaxed family holiday rather than a competitive race.
Audience Reaction and Affection
The public's affection for the mother-son duo has been evident across social media platforms. One fan expressed their admiration, writing: 'Love Dylan & his mum - so laid back & great attitude to the whole experience.'
Another added humorously: 'Dylan and his mum must be a week behind by now', while a third shared: 'Dylan and Jackie are already my favourite contestants, they're so normal'. A fourth viewer remarked that their holiday-like approach mirrored how they would behave on the show themselves.
Despite their significant time deficit and what some might call a less than competitive strategy, Dylan and Jackie have proven that sometimes winning the audience's heart matters more than winning the race itself.
Celebrity Race Across The World continues to air on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
