The latest series of the BBC's Celebrity Race Across the World was thrown into disarray when the entire competition was forced to a sudden stop due to major safety concerns in Guatemala.
Race Paused Amid National Unrest
During the episode that aired on Thursday, November 13, contestants were informed that their journey was being paused for safety reasons. The show's narrator confirmed that local protests had escalated into a national uprising, leading to blocked highways and clashes in cities across the country.
This dramatic halt affected two pairs of celebrities directly. Roman Kemp and his sister Harleymoon, who were en route to their next checkpoint, received a stark message informing them of the national strike and roadblocks. Similarly, Anita Rani and her father Bal, who had been enjoying a lead in the race after spending the night in the Guatemalan highlands, found themselves unexpectedly trapped.
Contestants React to the Lockdown
Anita Rani captured the frustration of the moment, stating, "We're in lockdown in Guatemala. So basically, we're trapped now." She expressed concern that their hard-won advantage was evaporating, worrying, "What if it goes on for days? Is the race over for us?"
Her father, Bal, offered a more philosophical perspective, advising her, "Nothing we can do, so why worry about it?" Anita conceded, acknowledging the duality of her feelings about the situation completely beyond their control.
Meanwhile, the other contestants, Dylan Llewellyn with his mum Jackie and the couple Molly Rainford and Tyler West, managed to avoid the turmoil entirely by travelling on a different route.
Resuming the 5,900km Journey
Thankfully for all involved, the tense situation eventually eased. After the safety update was issued, the contestants were given the all-clear to resume the race when it was deemed safe to do so.
The celebrities are competing in a formidable challenge, racing 5,900km across Central America from Isla Mujeres in Mexico to the Guajira Peninsula in South America.
Celebrity Race Across the World continues to air on BBC One.
