The new season of BBC's Celebrity Race Across the World has sparked debate among viewers, with some questioning whether the cast members truly qualify as celebrities. The show returned to screens last month, challenging a new group of famous faces to complete an epic 7,500 km journey.
This year's cast includes singer Ella Eyre and her close friend Nana, sports broadcaster Jeff Stelling and son Matt, influencer Princess Andre and her brother Junior Andre, alongside musician Sam Ryder and his tour manager Kaz. The contestants are currently racing from Borneo through Southeast Asia to Australia, with the third leg of the race set to air in tonight's episode.
Fans question celebrity status
The programme has faced online backlash, with viewers taking to social media to voice their complaints. One unimpressed viewer wrote: "Ok here we go again. #raceacrosstheworld with so-called celebrities. Influencers and off-spring of Z listers are NOT celebrities."
Someone else shared the same opinion, posting: "I'm going to watch Race Across The World because I like the show but aside from Sam I'm really not fussed by the other 'celebs' I mean Katie Price's kids? Really?" A Reddit user commented: "Children of mildly known celebrities are not celebrities, BBC."
Defenders argue fame in their own right
Not all viewers agree with the complaint, as some have argued that Princess has built a celebrity status in her own right. One defender on Reddit said: "Princess has had 3 seasons of her own reality show on ITV, plus been in 10+ different ITV shows of her parents remarkably expansive universe of reality shows. Starting with 'Kate and Peter the baby diaries' where she was the eponymous baby." The same fan added: "That's what celebrity is - people know who you are and she undeniably has that."
Someone else chimed in with: "Though Junior and Princess don't have notoriety on their own merits in the same way some other contestants do, you also can't say that they're not famous in their own rights because they have been in the public eye since they were born." While a third shared: "Who doesn't know about Katie Price and her children? You could even argue they are probably the most widely known people on the show."
Support for the Andre siblings
Despite the backlash, Junior and Princess have emerged as one of the favourite duos from this season. Last week, fans gathered online to voice their support for the brother and sister. One said: "Anyone else really rooting for Princess and Junior Andre in race across the world or is it just me?" To which another watcher replied: "Yes I am too as they're learning so much. I love how they interact with the locals and show kindness and respect. They're doing pretty well."
Celebrity Race Across the World continues tonight at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
