Celebrity Race Across the World is back, with a new group of celebrities travelling from southeast Asia to the southeastern coast of Australia without taking a single flight. The series airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Wednesday, October 28.
Contestants Princess and Junior Andre, Ella Eyre and Sam Ryder, along with their partners, share their experiences of the challenge, which sees teams navigate with only a map and a budget of £26 per person per day.
Teams and Route
Starting in Kuching, Malaysia, each star must race to five checkpoints across three countries and two continents, with the finish line in Melbourne, Australia. The four celebrity duos are media personalities and siblings Princess and Junior Andre; singer-songwriter Ella Eyre and her childhood friend Nana Pepera; singer Sam Ryder and his best friend and tour manager Kaz Coles; and veteran sports broadcaster Jeff Stelling and his son Matt.
Princess, 19, and Junior, 21, children of former glamour model Katie Price and her ex-husband Peter Andre, say they loved doing the experience together. Junior reflects on the intensity of the sibling dynamic during the race.
Contestants Reflect on the Challenge
Junior says: "I think when you're doing things as brother and sister, you know, siblings argue all the time. So taking on something that intense and spending that much time together, constantly in each other's space, is a real test, isn't it? But we love each other, and we were happy to do it together. I think we did come out of it a bit closer."
Princess adds: "I don't think I realised just how challenging it would be. I'd watched a few episodes before, so I assumed it wouldn't be that hard and that people would help you along the way. But you're actually doing it all by yourself. I found it quite difficult adjusting to life without my home comforts, staying in places you don't know you'll end up in, and dealing with the lack of sleep and food. It was really hard, but genuinely one of the best things I've ever done."
Junior admits that while he was up for the challenge straight away, his sister needed a little convincing. "After a bit of conversation, we pretty much came to the conclusion that we had nothing to lose. Why not? We're young, wild and free, so let's just do our thing!"
Friendships Tested and Strengthened
Eyre, 32, says she can't have imagined doing this challenge with anyone else other than Nana. "It was an absolute perfect winner," says the London-born singer. "I've known Nana for over 20 years, and we went to boarding school together. So we've been in close proximity for a long time. We lived together. She is literally family."
She adds: "I think it's going to test any relationship because it's such a unique experience. Looking back, I can't think of a challenge we didn't face, so I think we were better equipped than we realised. I was really impressed by how well we worked together when things got tough, and how we managed to get through the really difficult moments while still finding something to smile and laugh about. That was one of my biggest takeaways from the experience. When things got hard, we really showed up for each other, and that was really special."
Pepera says the experience made her see her friend in a whole new light. "I think because we know each other so well, we already had a good understanding of how we'd each react under different stresses and emotions," she says. "But it was really interesting to see Ella in a whole new light, because we'd never done anything like this together before. It was really eye-opening to see that different side of her, and we got on really well throughout."
Coles, who manages the finances on Ryder's tours, says he took control of the budgeting side of things. "We made sure every decision was made together, talking through as much of the logistics as possible before deciding what to do," says the Scottish tour manager. "If one of us wanted to do something and the other had a different idea, we'd talk it out and go with whatever made the most logistical sense. I took care of the budget, which was a natural role for me. As Sam's tour manager, I'm usually the one looking after the money and that side of things, so it was easy to fall into that routine."
Lessons Learned Along the Way
Speaking about what she learned throughout the journey, Princess says: "I think it taught me how important it is to live in the moment. Everyone is so glued to their phones these days, but when you don't have yours, you realise how much more of the world you see and take in. In a way, it forced us to socialise, too. At checkpoints, we'd play cards and chat with everyone, and it was so much fun. I also learnt that I'm capable of more than I think. I tend to doubt myself a lot, but after doing this, I feel so much more confident. It's made me realise that I can do anything."
Junior adds: "For me, it showed me just how beautiful the Earth is and how many incredible places there are. Some of the things we saw looked like something straight off a postcard. You'd look at them and think, `Is that AI, or is it real?' And then you realise it's real, and you're actually there seeing it for yourself. It showed me just how magical the world is."
Celebrity Race Across the World airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Wednesday, October 28.
