Celebrity Race Across The World 2024 line-up reveal their biggest challenges, winning strategies and secrets that might surprise viewers | HO

Our familiar faces will say goodbye to lavish transport, smartphones and bank cards and instead must rely on their skills, cunning and ingenuity as well as the kindness of strangers

Celebrity Race Across the World returns for a second series from 9pm on Wednesday 14 August on iPlayer and BBC One.

The four new famous faces embarking on an epic 12,500 km race of a lifetime are: broadcaster Jeff Brazier and his son, Freddy; actor Kola Bokinni and his cousin, Mary Ellen; broadcaster Kelly Brook and her husband, Jeremy and Radio 2 host Scott Mills and his husband (then fiancé), Sam.

Their journey begins in Belém, Northern Brazil – the gateway to the Amazon – and will pass through five checkpoints across the length of South America, to reach the finish line in the Andes, Frutillar in Southern Chile.

But how are they feeling about taking on the challenge? And what will the tactics be? We caught up with the teams to find out…

VHW

Meet The Teams

Jeff Brazier and his son Freddy

Why did you want to take part in the series?

Jeff: I wanted to take part because firstly, the travel element is an absolute privilege, the last celeb lot went through 24 countries apparently, what’s not to love about that experience?

But also to share it with my son and to be able to make those memories. He’s not a child anymore, he’s a young adult – I feel like at some point he’s going to move out and I’ll lose him. So, I guess I’m just trying to squeeze every last bit out of him that I can.

Freddy – Is it something you’re looking forward to doing with your dad?

Freddy: Yeah, definitely. I can’t wait, I think it’s amazing, it’s a wonderful experience. And I’m so grateful I’m able to take part in this.

Is the time that you’ll get to spend together one on one really important to you both?

Freddy: Yeah, 100%. It’ll be nice to spend that time with Dad, just me and my dad. Dad’s got a busy life, he works a lot and there aren’t loads of times where we’ve done stuff just the two of us. But when we do I’m really lucky whether it’s going to the cinema, going to the driving range, it’s all good.

Would you say that you’re both quite adventurous?

Freddy: Yeah!

Jeff: Yes and no. I am a really safe sort of person, I guess I’m not an adrenaline junkie, I’m not a major thrill seeker whatsoever, but I do own a campervan. And I like to get out and sort of adventure in that context. Sounds very middle-aged to me. Fred is a massive risk taker and free obviously, in a lot of ways.

What kind of travellers are you? Do you like your creature comforts, your five-star luxury?

Jeff: I can appreciate all things, I can rough it and we hope to be doing a little bit of that on the adventure – but I can also appreciate some of the luxuries, some of the places that we’ve been to and experienced have been a privilege as well. So whichever way it comes, they all give you something, something that you take away and never lose.

How competitive are you both? Are you in it to win it?

Jeff: We’ll do our best and hope that that’s good enough. I’d love nothing more than Fred being the first name in the book when it comes to the last leg. Every other leg I just don’t think it matters whatsoever. Sometimes being first comes at the expense of really taking in the experience of it. So, I think it’s important to get the balance of that and we’re not going to base how good a time we’ve had on whether we were the first name in the book every week.

How do you feel about travelling without mobile phones, credit cards?

Jeff: Perfect.

Freddy: Credit cards, not a problem.

How about your mobile?

Freddy: I don’t think that will be too bad either. I think people would expect me to be like “No, I won’t be able to live without it.” But I very rarely have a phone, I’ve lost quite a few of them in the past and there have been times where I’ve gone long periods without a phone. So, I don’t think I’ll find it that hard and plus I’m not going to need it, I’m not really even going to be thinking about it. I’m going to be living it up with my dad in loads of different countries.

Jeff: Who says “Living it up with their Dad.” Cool. What parent wouldn’t want their 19-year- old to be off of technology? That would be absolutely amazing, to just see him fully engaged in what we’re doing and where we are.

What are you imagining your biggest challenges might be during the trip?

Freddy: Lack of sleep. There’s going to be a lot of that, but I can function on a lack of sleep, or so I like to tell people and I like to think. Sleeping rough, like not in an actual bed, like sleeping on the floor of a boat or on a bench. I’ve probably slept on a bench before at some point in my life.

Jeff: I don’t know why but I’m not worried about anything for some reason, I’m not even nervous. I think there’s something about not knowing where you’re going that sort of blocks you from the reality sinking in, that you’re about to go to many places over the next five weeks. So, for me, I’m just looking forward to doing it.

Freddy: My main worry, it might even be a fear actually is bugs, especially mosquitoes. I just can’t stand them, even seeing a bug, just makes me itchy and I feel like ‘Oh brilliant, I’m going to get bitten, this bug is going to land on me’, if we’re somewhere hot. I’ve seen it every time I go away, I am the kid that burns and has about 80 bites all over him. It’s not it, it’s just not it.

What roles do you think you’ll take in the race?

Jeff: There’d be no point in us going and me just taking over and doing everything, no point whatsoever. Fred’s 19 now, not 14 so I want to empower and encourage Fred to take the lead as much as possible without also just being like “It’s just up to you.” We’re going to be a team in every sense, but I think it would make more sense for him to take control at times. However, I think we’ll probably agree on the fact that as much as I want to empower him, I also think the budget should probably sit around my waist.

Freddy: 100%

And what do you think your strengths and weaknesses are?

Jeff: Well, Fred’s strengths are that he moves at a million miles an hour, so as long as we’re heading in the right direction that will be an asset. Fred’s weakness is that he can’t run at a steady consistent pace, he has to sprint and then stop for a while and then he might sprint again for a while. For some reason, he just hasn’t got the ability.

Freddy: No, I can jog. I can’t sprint with that bag, it’s too heavy.

Jeff: I think we’re both very resilient. I think we’ll both have the ability to suck it up when things are difficult maybe because we’re really cold or we’re not sleeping somewhere particularly comfortable. I think Fred’s major superpower is probably his ability to go up to people and ask questions about what we need or when we need a lift.

Have you picked up any tips from previous series?

Jeff: I’ve watched most of them. Because I love the show for starters but also for research I guess and it’s really interesting to see where people seem to get it right and where some people seem to get it wrong, but it also can be quite exposing on the relationships that we’re watching as well.

Freddy: Very different to what Dad said, but mine is don’t get cabs unless it’s really, really needed. If you can afford to stay overnight and get the first transport to the next stop, fine but I’ve seen it too many times where people just rush to get a taxi, and then not have much of their budget left.

Jeff: I think people worry themselves so much that they’re falling so far behind that they’ll be eliminated or something like that. So, I think it’s just keeping calm and being like we don’t need to go to that expense, that’s a bit knee-jerk. Let’s just sort of chill out and just take a hit.

Have you got a strategy going into the race?

Jeff: Not one that we’ve discussed, not really. But we’re going to look to sleep in a tent as much as possible. As much as it’s safe to do so because it saves the expense of the hotel.

Freddy: I wanted a pop-up tent, but Dad said that apparently, they’re quite hard to put down.

Jeff: Not just that, but carrying them around is difficult because they’re like a big circle. We’ll find out when we go to buy one.

Do you think you’ll cope well during a crisis? Are you calm under pressure?

Jeff: Really calm.

Freddy: I would say I am as well but I don’t know if Dad would agree.

Jeff: Well, I can’t wait, I feel like I’m going to learn so much about Fred. Because we’ll be in situations that usually you might avoid or be like, “Nah, I’m going to let somebody else sort of deal with this.”

Freddy: I think it will be a challenge because I must say I’m not the most patient person. I think a lot of people in the family can vouch for that. And this is really a game of patience as well, waiting hours and hours for trains.

Jeff: Being stuck on buses for a long time. Yeah, we’re going to be tested.

Freddy: I don’t actually know how some of the teams sit at train stations for hours, I’d have to go on a walk. I’d have to do something.

What do the rest of your family think of you doing this together?

Jeff: Everyone’s really excited for Freddy to be able to have this adventure, I think everyone is hopeful that’ll give him some real perspective and stuff that he can take and build on. So yeah, everyone is like, “Go for it.” We’re all behind him, lots of support for Fred.

Are there any particular stories that stick out from times when you’ve travelled together before?

Freddy: Go on, I know you want to tell it.

Jeff: I love telling this story because Freddy has always looked like he’s short of confidence in lots of ways. We all went to Scotland, I contacted a guide who took us off the beaten path and it was really raining. It was not a great day to be doing what we were about to be doing, and 20 minutes in we realised that we were climbing a cliff face. Bobby, his brother, turns around and he’s like, “I don’t want to do this. I want to go down I’ll meet you later or wherever.” And the guy’s like “The only way down is up.” and carried on.

And I was like, Oh, I’m about to learn a lot about my sons here, because this is gruelling, this is absolutely the last thing that they would really want to be doing. And all I know is that despite the wind and the rain, the danger of it at times, and the complaints that I got from his brother, this one didn’t moan once. He looked like he took it all in his stride and I was like, there you are, look at that strength and that grit and that ability to withstand and that ability to support others while everyone’s going through it. I saw it all in that whole day’s experience and I don’t like to let him forget it.

Freddy: Not to give myself up or nothing but I climbed a mountain the day before that as well. And I think that its actually what helped because I could not feel my feet, because of the day before.

Jeff: That wouldn’t have helped, that would have made it even harder.

Freddy: No because I couldn’t feel it, I could not feel my feet, the whole walk. I could feel my legs though, wow.

Jeff: A defining moment. So, I want to see some of that Freddy, and I’m sure I will. See some real grit from this one.

Freddy: I better get on the running machine tonight then.

Where would be your dream destination to race through?

Jeff: I want to be up a mountain, I want to be next to a lake, I want to be on a beach. I want all those things. I want to see a waterfall.

Freddy: And I want a mountain next to a waterfall, I actually said this to someone the other day, I don’t want to be doing any really big climbs. But if it’s to a waterfall that I can actually jump in, then I will do it. I don’t want to climb up a massive mountain and then have to come down. I’m doing loads of steps here with a big weighty bag on my back, the last thing I want to do with that bag is climb a mountain, knowing that I’ve got all this walking to do after that.

What are you hoping to get out of this experience?

Jeff: Firstly, I’m going to lose some weight. Secondly, I want to learn about my son. Third, I want to have an incredible experience, I want to make friends. I want to be absolutely overblown with the joys of seeing how kind strangers can be and how wonderful humanity is. And I want to see my son grow. That’s quite a lot, isn’t it?

Freddy: Yeah, Dad covered quite a lot of what I would have said there. I’d say for me, just spending that quality time with my Dad and making memories that I’ll hold with me for the rest of my life and that I can tell my kids in the future. And making new friends there, finding myself. Well, I’m not lost. But figuring out more about myself and who I am. And like Dad said the kindness of other people, I like talking to strangers to be honest with you.

What will be the most surprising thing viewers will learn about you?

Jeff: Our relationship, people have got the gist of my relationship with my eldest son, but they don’t know anything about Fred, so I suppose that will all be completely new. How we work together will be interesting as well.

Freddy: Not only our relationship, but who I am as a person as well, as I try and stay out of the picture as much as possible.

Name the top 3 creature comforts you’ll struggle to live without’?

Freddy: There’s not much that were particularly attached to… Maybe my pillow, it fits right to my neck as I’m a side sleeper.

Jeff: For me there’s nothing that I’m attached to, for everyone I think it’ll be difficult without their phones, when there’s a moment of silence, or boredom and you usually fill that by picking up your phone and looking on Instagram. I actually welcome the opportunity to not be distracted and be more present. I’m glad to be off it for 5 weeks.

Name the most annoying habit your partner will struggle with / you will struggle with your partner?

Freddy: I don’t think Dad’s very annoying. When we’re arguing, he’s not very aggressive, not very shouty, but he does it in a very passive aggressive way, a very calm way and that kind of gets in my head.

Jeff: I would say with Fred there’s an element of man-spreading, sometimes arriving at a negative conclusion before we’ve even tried anything. Hopefully that’ll be something that changes and that’ll be something that I’ll have to be very patient with. I always like to see the possibility and opportunity. I think it might be useful we see things differently and we can meet in the middle.

What’s it like having a famous dad?

Freddy: For me he’s just my dad.

Tell us a secret about you both that will surprise viewers?

Jeff: Freddy has a sense of smell like an animal.

Broadcaster Kelly Brook and her husband, Jeremy

Why did you want to take part in the series?

Kelly: I think Jeremy and I were looking for a new adventure to go on together and we love to travel. And this just seemed like the dream to get to the airport and not know where you’re going. That is like a dream, to go to the airport, be given a plane ticket and just go.

Jeremy: It will be challenging though.

Kelly: It’s challenging, it’s exciting, you can’t really plan anything. And it’s just the authentic experience.

Jeremy: You don’t have this kind of experience every day. So, I think this was the right moment to do it.

Was the time that you’ll get to spend together one of the things that made you want to do this?

Jeremy: I think so. I’ll be with my wife 24/7, so I think it’s amazing.

Kelly: I think to have that quality time together and not be just having those kinds of boring conversations, like “Who’s walking the dog? “What should we have for dinner tonight?” To going “Should we get on this bus or that bus?” “Or should you do that job or this job?” It’s checking out of normal life and just living this parallel life of two backpackers. This was something we probably would have done if we were teenagers, but we never had that experience. So, we get to experience it together. So yes, it’s amazing.

Would you say that you’re adventurous?

Kelly: I would say when it comes to travelling, we are adventurous, but we definitely don’t step too far outside of our comfort zones in terms of we always travel safely.

Jeremy: We’re adventurous with limits maybe.

Kelly: Yeah, we like our home comforts. We like air conditioning when we get to a hotel, we like a minibar, we like an airport transfer, and all of those things are just going to be completely removed. But then when we’re actually in a place-

Jeremy: She wants to see everything, she wants to explore everything. I’m the same, but I do also like to relax.

How competitive are you both? Are you in this to win it?

Kelly: I think we’re definitely in the race to win it. We definitely want to give it our best shot. We’ve never done anything like this before so, we don’t know how good we’re going to be. And we don’t know who the other contestants are. So, it’s going to be, well we might have to change our game plan depending on what we see and how well we do. But at the moment, we pretty much know our strengths and our weaknesses.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Kelly: Jeremy’s really good at economising with the money. I’m really good at planning the route.

Jeremy: Kelly is more spontaneous.

Kelly: Jeremy will calm down all the terrible situations we’re going to find ourselves in, so he won’t add to the stress.

Jeremy: I think we’re a good combo together.

How do you feel about talking to strangers? Is one of you going to find that easier than the other?

Jeremy: This will be for Kelly because I’m more shy. I think I will speak to strangers because I don’t have a choice and because it’s a race and I want to win. But Kelly will be better than me… She’s more charming so she will speak in a better way.

Kelly: Yes, but I only speak English whereas Jeremy speaks Italian and French. So, he’s got more languages so sometimes I think he might be forced to communicate more than me because he might speak the language of wherever we’re going. That’ll be frustrating for me because I love to communicate and love to try and blag things. Whereas Jeremy is quite polite and shy and he’ll be like “I’m not asking for that” and I’ll be like “Just ask him if we can get an upgrade” and he’ll be like “Shhhh.” So, that’s going to be frustrating for me, to let him take the lead if we find ourselves somewhere that speaks his language.

How do you feel about travelling without mobile phones or credit cards?

Kelly: As a model, I travelled a lot without a phone so I’m used to that. But obviously, it’s been a long time.

Jeremy: We work with our phone 24/7. You wake up and check your emails, your messages. Now, everybody needs a phone, it’s a part of our lives, social media and everything. So, I’m quite happy to give my phone away and do a 5-week experience without it.

Kelly: We’ll actually have a conversation as a married couple!

What do you imagine your biggest challenge is going to be on the trip?

Kelly: I think it’ll be the different climate changes, packing well is going to be challenging. I think maybe the food might be challenging.

Jeremy: Yeah, the food. Not being ill. Good food is probably going to be hard. Maybe, sleeping in not dirty places?

Have you picked up any tips from previous series, celebrity or otherwise?

Kelly: Well the thing is, we watched the other series, and we looked at their routes and where they went and they’ve pretty much covered the whole world. And we’re like well, what’s left? And that’s how we’re trying to figure out where we’re going. But obviously, there are a million and one different routes you can take between checkpoints. So it’s very hard to plan anything.

Have you got a strategy?

Kelly: We haven’t actually got any strategies at all, have we?

Jeremy: We speak about this. I think we’ll probably have a strategy the first day when we arrive there. Because now it’s so easy to say a lot of things before the race, but when we arrive there, there will be something we never knew.

Kelly: Our strategy might be to save money we’re going to walk everywhere. And then half an hour of walking with a rucksack we will be exhausted. We don’t know how we’re going to feel. So, I think we know our strengths and weaknesses and we are just going to not have any expectations and just embrace whatever it is that’s thrown at us. And just try and be measured and calm. No panic.

Jeremy: Yeah, we need to give our best. That is the most important thing.

Have you packed anything for the trip that you can’t live without?

Kelly: I mean, to be honest, I’ve packed things that I never thought I’d ever need in my life. I’ve packed a mosquito net, memory pillow, fleece sleeping bag liner and a water filter. When I go online shopping now, all the things that are suggested to me have completely changed. I’m like oh my god, who am I?

Any luxuries or anything that will remind you of home?

Jeremy: I’ve got a Dragon Ball diary for notes and money.

Kelly: To be honest, there’s not a lot of room to put anything. I’ve got my little digital camera. I’m going to take loads of pictures, i’m going to try and get into my photography while we’re out there.

Would you say that you cope well under pressure?

Kelly: Jeremy definitely, because he’s an athlete. So, this is where his athleticism comes into play because he is good.

Jeremy: I’m used to a lot of pressure in my life so I think I can cope very well. Maybe after two days, I will cry. I think I will try to keep the situation as stress-free as I can.

Kelly: That’s where I’m going to rely on Jeremy a lot. I think he’s strong mentally and physically. I’m the weakest link.

What does your family think about you doing this together?

Jeremy: My mother and sister are happy because they’re coming to look after the dog. They’re excited for us.

Kelly: Everyone just wants to know where we’re going, where we’re starting. And obviously, we can’t tell anyone because we don’t know ourselves!

Are there any particular stories that stick out from times when you two have travelled before?

Kelly: We’ve definitely had that experience in Spain when we’ve been visiting friends, where we’ve been waiting for a train that is 45 minutes late. Our friends were like, “This is completely normal.” So, I think that’s going to be quite interesting to get used to other people’s schedules, and things not necessarily being on time or showing up. I’m not opposed to hitchhiking.

Where would be your dream destination to race through?

Kelly: I’d love to do the Greek islands where you just Island hop. I don’t think I’d want to race through it though – I think I’d want to absorb it all and the history.

Jeremy: It could be Mumbai, or China, Tokyo, maybe through North Korea! Or south. Or down to Australia, I think we’ll go to Singapore first.

What are you hoping to get out of the experience?

Kelly: I’m hoping to see parts of the world that I would never get to see. Parts of the world that are so off the beaten track. I think seeing the authentic place will be fantastic. I think just us being a couple together, creating new memories together will be amazing and spending that quality time. We haven’t had a honeymoon so this is like our honeymoon.

What a crazy honeymoon this will be!

What will be the most surprising thing viewers will learn about you?

Kelly: I would say so far, and its actually already been commented on, is how organised we are. Our packing is pretty organised, we’re trying to travel as light as possible, and that is part of our strategy. So I think people will be quite impressed by how clean and tidy we are.

Name the top 3 creature comforts you’ll struggle to live without?

Jeremy: I’ll miss cooking myself, and my shower.

Kelly: I’ll miss my beauty routine. I’ve tried to bring lotions and potions with me, but its so heavy, I’ve got like 4kg worth of make-up and serum, and I just know I’m going to have to whittle that down to hardly anything. 4kg is a lot when you’re carrying it on your back.

What’s the one reason you’ve chosen to undertake this challenge with Jeremy?

Kelly: I just really wanted us to go on an adventure together. And I just knew that this is the kind of trip that we’d never organise. We’re here in a hotel, and usually I’d be on my phone, I’d be researching the best restaurants in the area, I’d be talking to the concierge to find out about day trips, if there’s any boats we could be chartering! I’m so on it with the travel its such a freeing experience not to be doing anything. It’s like a holiday from organising a holiday.

Name the most annoying habit your partner will struggle with / you will struggle with your partner?

Kelly: I’ve been a bit jet lagged today and Jeremy was literally up at 5am and because he doesn’t have his phone, nothing will occupy him, so he was jumping up and down like an excitable child, opening windows, wanting me to get up, he’s like a coiled spring.

Jeremy: I think I’ll be waiting for Kelly, as I wake up early, I’ll be waiting for her to get ready.

Tell us a secret about your famous partner that will surprise viewers?

Jeremy: If it’s a secret, I can’t tell you! I guess she’s really organised and that will help us to win.

Actor Kola Bokinni and his cousin, Mary Ellen

Why did you want to take part in the series?

Mary Ellen: Kola called me and was like, “Hey, Mary, do you want to be a part of the show with me?” I was like, “Oh my God, you thought of me?” I just want to create memories with my cousin, I suppose, and go on the adventure of a lifetime.

Kola: It’s not so many times that you get to do something like this. Obviously, I’ve travelled with my job but I’ve always had to play other characters. But to do something and it’s me, and with my family and I’ll get to see what we’re all about, and test our mustards a little bit. So, that’s the reason why I wanted to do it, to just experience a different side of life and the world.

Was the time that you two will get to spend together a key factor in it?

Mary Ellen: Yes of course it is.

Kola: We used to hang out a lot, but then Mary moved to Ireland.

Mary Ellen: Yeah, I moved. And obviously, we don’t spend enough time or as much time as we used to. So, it’s going to be great to catch up and make some new memories.

Kola: We’ve been on holiday together before, and what they say is if you can go on holiday with someone, you can do anything, right?

Mary Ellen: I like that. Us against the world.

Would you say you’re quite adventurous?

Mary Ellen: Yes, definitely. We’re always open to go on an adventure, let’s see what’s there, we’re always up for the craic.

Kola: Mary’s up for it more than I am… I’ve seen some stuff that she’s done in the past and I do not want to do that! She’ll go into the sea in England, where it’s cold, she’ll just go in there.

Mary Ellen: Yeah, it’s quite therapeutic.

Kola: I’d rather drink cement.

What kind of travellers are you both? Do you like your creature comforts or five-star hotels?

Mary Ellen: I mean I think we all love a 5-star hotel, don’t we? I mean we love a spa hotel especially. But I can sleep standing up, I will be very happy anywhere just as long as I’m safe and there are no spiders.

Kola: As long as at the end of the day I can get a nice massage and jacuzzi.

Mary Ellen: You haven’t always been that way.

Kola: Is that not available? Is there a travelling masseuse coming with us? Basically, yeah I’ve gotten used to a lot of creature comforts.

How competitive are you both? Are you in it to win it?

Mary Ellen: I really want to win this. I’ve never really been competitive, but the closer I’m getting to the race, I’m a bit like “Do you know what? I’d be pretty psyched if we won”. Again, I’d be the type of person that if I really took to someone I’d be like, “Oh go on. You go ahead.” But, nah, not this time. I really want to win, just to let you know. I do want to win. It would be a great achievement.

Kola: It just takes a lot to win, you’ve got to be willing to race.

Mary Ellen: And sleep on the side of the road.

How do you feel about not having mobile phones or credit cards?

Mary Ellen: I actually feel really excited about being disconnected from the world. Just the pressure of social media and having to respond to people, knowing that I can separate from that is great. But it’s just how dependent I’ve become on Google Maps for example. Using my phone for navigating, that’s going to be the biggest like “Oh my god if we could just Google this.” That’s going to be the biggest adjustment.

Kola: That would be bare easy if you had a phone. It’s going to take some adjusting. We’re going to have to find things to talk about after one day.

Mary Ellen: Who said I’m going to talk to you? I’m bringing a book so you’re going to have to talk to yourself.

Kola: Bringing a book? Ah, mate, you’re going to be one of them ones? Are you going to be reading Eat, Pray Love? I might have to buy some word searches and a sudoku. I swear to god, if you come back with a tattoo!

What do you think your biggest challenges are going to be whilst you’re on the race?

Kola: Not spending money on silly things. Like remember that time you went to Barcelona and you came back with a tattoo on your neck?

Mary Ellen: Yeah, and I don’t regret it.

Kola: It says “I love my love.” Grammatically incorrect.

Mary Ellen: He’s dragged me for so long, it’s not grammatically incorrect. Interpret it however you like, that’s the beauty of it, hon.

What roles do you think you’ll take in the race, will one of you look after the budget will one of you be better at speaking to strangers?

Mary Ellen: I think I will be really good at speaking to strangers. I’m bringing a watch that can set an alarm. So I’m going to be very, very organised. I’m going to try and manage our fun.

Kola: You know what it is, I’m probably going to be the person that’s going to have to rein it back to the race. She’s going to be there, wherever we are, she’s going to adopt the culture and be like “Yeah, I’m moving here.”

Mary Ellen: I do genuinely feel like you’ve got great, warm energy. So once I’ve warmed them up, you can sweep them in and charm them. You’re incredibly charming.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Mary Ellen: I think Kola’s charming, but I think he’s going to get carried away and have too much fun.

Kola: Mary gets lost in the sauce.

Mary Ellen: We both do. Hence why I’ve got a watch. I’ve got a watch to have an alarm, to stop us getting lost in the sauce.

Kola: She’s going to get lost in everything. She’s going to feel like this is her life now. And it’s like no, we have to move on to another area. Trust me mate, you’re going to see it. Like two days in.

Have you watched and picked up any tips from previous series?

Kola: Just be yourself. Because at the end of the day, human nature is to make mistakes. And if you go left when you should have gone right, that’s it, isn’t it? Don’t punish yourself because you’ve lost half an hour.

Mary Ellen: What I learned as well, is to work smart, not hard. I think just if we want to have the experiences and have fun, be mindful of the accommodation, the form of transport, how quick we’re going to get there.

Have you got a strategy going into the race?

Kola: Not really, you can’t have a strategy when I still don’t know where I’m going to be flying to. I can work out a strategy when I’m boots on the ground. I can’t have a strategy when I don’t know where I’m going. Because I could be completely wrong.

Mary Ellen: Landmarks, I’m going to pay attention to landmarks on the maps.

Have you packed anything for the trip that you can’t live without?

Mary Ellen: Perfume. Listen I know you don’t like bad smells.

Kola: I’ve got clothes, shoes, jackets, a towel.

Mary Ellen: I’ve also got a little keyring.

Would you say you both cope well during a crisis? Are you calm under pressure?

Mary Ellen: I think me and Kola tend to just tequila our way out of those, if I’m being honest.

Kola: You know what our superpower is, me and Mary, we can sniff out a pub.

Mary Ellen: We do have serious chats having a drink. And then we come up with a plan usually. We’ve been drunk and that’s when we get stuff done really.

What does the rest of your family make of the two of you doing this trip together?

Mary Ellen: They have all said, I don’t think Kola could do it with anyone else. And I agree. But they have all said to me “Good luck” because they know what we’re like.

Kola: They said “You know what have a good one. And I’ll see you at the end of it.”

Where would be your dream destination to race through?

Mary Ellen: My dream would be Southeast Asia, like Indonesia, Cambodia all those places, or South America. Because if we’re in South America we can be salsa-ing the whole time. And then the third would be India. I don’t know it’s really tough, I’d love to go to South Africa too.

Kola: There are loads of places that would be amazing. I haven’t been to all those places that Mary just mentioned, I haven’t been there. So you know to see that side of the world, as long as there’s no flying dragons you know, I’ve seen some stuff on TikTok. Like spiders in the sky, just a sky of spiders, stuff out of your nightmares. Like dragonflies as big as this table.

What will be the most surprising thing viewers will learn about you?

Kola: If I answered that now, I’d just be guessing. I’m lucky enough that in my job, a lot of people do the organising for me, so me left to my own devices it’s going to be a learning curve.

Name the top 3 creature comforts you’ll struggle to live without’?

Kola: I really like things like the internet, films, entertainment… also restaurants and pubs.

Mary Ellen: I would say my family, just waking up and being able to make myself an omelette. My own utensils, frying pan. My own routine.

Name the most annoying habit your partner will struggle with / you will struggle with your partner?

Mary Ellen: We’re on different climates.

Kola: She likes stuffy and smelly.

Mary Ellen: He likes dry cold air. He loves the air con and I don’t. Were already bickering. He likes to be borderline getting the flu. Another one would be his organisation. I’m already having to pick up the pieces after him and I didn’t realise how bad he’d become at organising or even looking after his stuff.

If there’s one thing you hope this race will change about you / your relationship – what is it?

Mary Ellen: We’re really close as it is, I think just to have incredible memories and stories that we can tell together. Usually our stories are quite wild, but I think we might have some more wholesome stories to tell.

What’s it like having a famous relative? How will this race change them?

Mary Ellen: It’s exciting, I’m incredibly proud. It’s also inspiring, the whole family’s faces light up when Kola’s name gets mentioned.

Does celebrity matter when undertaking such a challenge?

Mary Ellen: No, but if he gets recognised, if there’s an opportunity to take advantage of a fan, I will!

Tell us a secret about your famous partner that will surprise viewers?

Mary Ellen: One thing that I discovered about him that I was really shocked about was that he knows almost every song to every musical you can think of. He also has a whole playlist dedicated to it. This macho man isn’t so macho!

Radio 2 host Scott Mills and his fiancé, Sam

Why did you want to take part in the series?

Sam: When Scott and I were first asked to take part in the series, it was kind of a no-brainer, that it’s an opportunity where you can just switch off in the world and see places that you’ve never seen before. You’ll probably go to places that you wouldn’t choose to go, if you look at a map you probably wouldn’t go “Let’s go here.” Scott loves his travel magazines so Scott will plan our holidays, he likes to go to new places, but this is probably going somewhere that we will never go to again. And it’s just seeing parts of the world together. Obviously, we get married this year so for us, it’s the year of big challenges: this, marriage. So, it’s just kind of like doing it all at once and getting it all done.

Scott: Before we get married, everyone says the holiday test is you know you could be with somebody if you go on holiday with them. This is like that times a thousand. Not that I have any doubts that Sam is the one for me, but there will be times in this, I imagine, when it will get stressful. And I think I’m expecting it, I don’t know, but I’m expecting it to be big highs and probably big lows. So, if we can get through this, we can get through anything basically. I have no doubt that we will but that’s part of the reason why I wanted to do it. I also really just want to throw my phone away for a bit. I wouldn’t be able to get to do this again.

What’s the reason that you’ve chosen to do this challenge with each other?

Scott: I like to do something every now and again, where I challenge myself and do something that I thought the younger me would never do. So, whether it be Strictly, I kind of knew I wouldn’t be able to really do that but I gave it a go and I felt a sense of accomplishment because of it. Recently, I did a pantomime, I’ve never been on stage in my life, and I’ve never had to learn lines before. And then suddenly, before you know it, you’re doing 40 shows over Christmas. At one point, when I got the script, I said to Sam, “I don’t think I’m going to be able to do this.” I think there’s something inside me that likes the challenge, almost being scared of not being able be able to do something, and waiting to find out. And this is another one of those. It just happens that they’re coming in quick succession.

Sam: I think, as well, in the time we’ve been together, obviously, he’s done a 24-hour- treadmill challenge for Children in Need, that he didn’t think he’d be able to do. A big change was going from Radio One to Radio Two, that was a massive change.

And then the Panto. So for me, I see Scott putting himself out there, challenging himself. So, it’s nice to be able to do that with him. And also, you know, together we can do that and I can be part of that journey. I’m always there at the end congratulating him.

Scott: Yeah, he’s always there and we’ve been together quite a few years now. So he’s seen quite a lot of these personal achievements for me. And, of course, lovely supportive Sam, he’s always there with a balloon normally at the end, and a cake going “Yay!” He’s great. But he has never been part of one of these experiences, that’s another reason I wanted to do it.

Sam: Yeah, me and Scott always see each other as a great team and his weaknesses are my strengths, his strengths are my weaknesses. So, we work really well together. And I think, from my point of view, whenever Scott wakes up he’s always on his phone, that’s how he does his work. He doesn’t sit at a computer and do work, he’s always communicating, texting his team for the radio and he’s always thinking ahead, anything he sees, he tries to turn it into a radio idea. So, he’s consumed on his phone, even at the weekends. And even if we go on holiday, if we get a week holiday he’ll probably switch off for a day or two, and then he’s on his phone because he constantly likes to be in the loop. So, for me to have Scott’s undivided attention, an opportunity that he’s not going to be distracted.

You know, even if we’re just taking the dog for a walk if a call comes in or an email comes in, Scott is always the one that has to reply straightaway. So, for me to have that opportunity of Scott’s undivided attention is going to be great, because obviously, we’re just going to work together there. It’s going to be that time where we can’t escape each other but it’s nice that we could spend that time together with no distractions.

Would you say that you’re quite adventurous?

Scott: I think I’m one of the least adventurous people I know, which is why I’m doing this. Because even, for instance, things like doing even a half marathon, if you had said to my parents, Oh yes Scott when he gets to his 30s and 40s, he’ll be doing half marathons they’d be like “That’s not true.” I’m just not that person but I just like putting things in my way to see if I can navigate them.

Sam: I’m not very adventurous, in travel, or in life, really. I like what I like. So, if I go on holiday, it’s usually a beach holiday, somewhere in the sun. Food-wise, I like what I like and I don’t diverge from that. I don’t like spice. I don’t like fish, I don’t like tomatoes, mushrooms, I’m really plain. Scott always jokes that when I moved to London, I’d never had avocado before. That was the whole thing, he was like “Oh my god, you’ve discovered avocado.” I was like, “Yeah, I don’t have that in Wales.” We obviously do but it’s something that I would never have tried before. Even if I went for lunch with my mother in London, and I would have avocado and eggs, she’s like “You’ve changed.” So, this will really take me out of my comfort zone.

What kind of traveller are you? Are you used to five-star hotels, creature comforts?

Scott: I think I went camping once and that was when I was a kid with school and we went to the New Forest, not quite the same as this. If you lived on the South Coast, where I’m from, you just went camping in the New Forest, that’s what you did. Holidays are really important to me, so important. Travelling is really important to me, it’s my favourite thing to do.

Sam: Yeah, not necessarily a five-star hotel. Growing up, I went from school to uni to work. So, my holidays would just be package holidays or hotels by the sea, by the pool. I think I always had that niggling thought in the back of my head that I would love to go travelling.

You see people that go to Australia for three/four weeks, or even three months a year. And I think it’s because in my friendship group none of us took that plunge to do it. I never thought “Oh, that’s for me.” either. So, I always had that niggling thought in my head, I wish I’d gone travelling to see more of the world. I think it’s just because of the way things happen. So, to have that opportunity now is really exciting. I’m not apprehensive about the possibility of sleeping on a train, or sleeping on a bus. I feel that’s the backpacking experience, I’m having that probably 12 years too late but at least I’m having it.

Scott: Yes, it’s the same for me. When all my friends were backpacking, I was doing the radio when I was 16. And I never had a gap year because I never went to uni. I’ve never done it but all my friends have. A bit later but here we go!

Can you name the top three home comforts you’re going to struggle to live without?

Sam: Our dog, talking to friends and family and EastEnders. We watch that every night so that’s going to be a struggle, not knowing what’s going on!

Scott: We’re both close to our families, I’m close to his family and my family. I mean I speak to his dad more than I speak to most people actually. So, it’s weird not having the contact. And also I speak to my mum every day, so I think she’s going to find this quite hard.

How competitive are you both? Are you in it to win it?

Scott: Like I said when I do these things, I’m more “Am I going to be able to do it?” Then “I’m going to win it.” It’s like the treadmill thing, I was like “I don’t think I’m going to be able to do it.” And the panto, “Not sure I’m going to be able to do it.” I always do it and it always seems to work out okay. I’m not win, win, win like Sam is. He really is.

Sam: I am competitive, as well as going on the show to have the experiences, it’s a competition at the end of the day so you do want to win. But also, I feel that if you sacrifice coming first, to have a great experience that you’ve never done before, that you possibly might never do, if we miss out because we diverted and went to see this waterfall for example that’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, and if we missed that first spot because we did that, I think we’ll walk away winning from our experience. So, I think either way, if we don’t win, we’ll still win from experience, that’s a cliche thing to say, but I want to win.

And how do you feel about travelling without mobile phones or credit cards?

Scott: It will be weird. We haven’t started yet so we haven’t been exposed to what’s going to happen. It will be odd having to be very careful about the choices that we make. But I’m quite looking forward to it. I think it will be good, but ask me again at the end!

Sam: Travelling without a mobile, obviously, it’s everything in your palm, your maps, your directions, your translator, your wallet. I’m really good with directions, so if I go somewhere once, I know my way around. Whereas Scott’s the opposite, he can go on holiday and he’ll finally get to know his way around the hotel as we’re checking out. He’ll always have to put the sat nav on to go to the train station, even though he goes there every day. So for me, I’m not worried about the directions, but I’m useless on geography and where everything is, whereas Scott’s good at that. So, although we haven’t got our mobiles and our wallets and everything, we’ll help each other with our strengths and weaknesses. But it’s still going to be difficult that you just can’t pull it out and say “Help me please!”

Tell me about your strengths and weaknesses?

Scott: As Sam said, I’m really bad at directions. Really, really bad. Sam will be the saviour there.

Sam: I think I know my way around, I’m really good at budgeting. I like to make sure that we set aside enough money all the time. So, I’ll put the washing machine on a bit later, because it’s a cheaper tariff, I like to get a bargain. So, I will make sure that we get the best price for the best bus or whatever mode of transport. So, budgeting is my strength.

Scott: I’ve always been quite rubbish with money, Sam is Captain Spreadsheet, so he’ll do that. He’s very good at budgeting and I will take that on board. However, when we’re tired and hungry am I going to listen to him?

How are you at talking to strangers?

Sam: We’ll make each other do it. I think Scott, despite being on the radio, he is very shy. So, he will be like, “No, you do it.” And I’ll be like “No, you do it.” I’m hoping his Eurovision experience of going to different countries that he wouldn’t necessarily go to and have to talk to people where English is not their first language will be his strength. I’m hoping that his spirit from that will be pulled in. But I think, obviously, if you don’t talk to anyone, then you’re going to suffer. So, I think for me it’s make or break. The worst they can say is no.

Scott: I think I will try to make people understand us, and make us some new friends, hopefully. I really enjoy soaking up new places and this is one of the places in the world that I have not been. But you’re right sometimes with Eurovision, it is whoever wins, so you know, within a year you’re plonked in Azerbaijan. But I’m the one person that if we’re allowed, if we have time, I will go walking about and just look and experience it. I love it. And trying to help what we’re trying to do by understanding a bit more about the culture and the people.

Can both of you name the most annoying habit you’re going to struggle with each other?

Sam: Scott will probably go for ease and comfort over budget, so he’ll push for taxis or maybe better trains. I think that’s something that will annoy me, Scott will just go for the easiest option on this route.

Scott: That’s true. Sam likes to over prepare. For instance, I don’t know what I’m doing next week. He’s so organised and I’m not, but that’s what I think makes us a good team.

Sam: I like to have everything planned, so if you ask me what me or Scott are doing in three week’s time, I’ll know. Whereas if you ask Scott what he’s doing, he’s like ‘I don’t know. I live by the day.’ So, Scott’s strength is he can live by that day, and he’s not fazed by not knowing what’s going to happen. So, whereas I’ll panic going, we haven’t got a strategy, we don’t know what we’re doing. He’ll be like “Yeah, that’s fine.” Because that’s his nature, he doesn’t need to know what’s happening in three weeks.

Sam: I think I’ll probably annoy you because I need to know the route we’re going.

Scott: That’s it, he needs to know everything, He wants sometimes to know answers to things that haven’t got answers yet.

Sam: You only get one checkpoint at a time. You can only plan one journey at a time.

Scott: That’ll be annoying for him.

Have you watched any of the previous series and picked up any tips?

Sam: Yes, we’ve watched it. We got into it in lockdown, we binged it. And we sat back thinking imagine having that experience. And I think one of the biggest things we’ve taken from it is don’t lose your money. Because if you lose your money, you’re out. If we decide to get a taxi and it costs us 10% of our budget, at least we can work that back a little bit. If you lose your money, it’s game over.

Scott: Oh yeah. I think what I would say is, I know it’s a race but I think you also have to take a bit of time, not too much, but a bit of time to realise where you are and take it in. Not to the point where you’ve taken yourself out of the race. But I mean, just to be like, we’re never going to get to do this again, this is part of the experience. I also think you should probably work when you can, is what I’ve taken from it.

Sam: I also just think from the last series the relationship between Harry and his mum was just really heart-warming. How they worked together, how they bounced off each other and how they helped each other get through each different bit, each of them struggled at different points. Looking back at that, I want people to go away and go, Sam and Scott have got that nice relationship where they help each other and just kind of get on.

What’s your strategy going into the race?

Sam: Our main strategy is not to rush. So, despite it being a race, I think if you rush, like anything in life, if you rush into decisions, you will probably regret them. If you sit back, just think about it and double-check, then you might get further because you haven’t made a rash decision.

Scott: Just to take a bit of time for ourselves, as well as realising that we are trying to beat three other couples. But this is an important thing for me, where we’re both just not on our phones, we’re living in the moment and we’re talking, we’re chatting. And we’re probably actually finding out things still about each other on this trip.

Have you packed anything for this trip that you can’t live without?

Sam: I can’t go anywhere without a pack of custard creams. Scott and I went on a weekend away, and I opened my case and there was a pack of custard creams there and he was like “Sam, we’re in Spain.” I’m like you never know, you might not be able to get them. It’s just something for comfort.

Scott: I’ve packed a jar of coffee because I’m pretty terrible in the mornings without it, I know it’s an addiction.

Sam: I’ve also packed a journal because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I want to document every day. Although five weeks away sounds like a long time. It’s going to go so fast because we’re going to be moving. So, I just want to kind of have that memory to look back on.

Would you say you cope well in a crisis? Are you calm under pressure?

Scott: No, absolutely not. Sam is, very much so. I’ll be like, “Oh, there’s no bus so, we’re never going to get one again.” And he’ll be like, “It’s okay. There’ll be one in 3 hours.” He calms me all the time. We’re a good team I think well, we’ll find out.

Sam: I’m calm under pressure, depending on the situation. But I’m kind of an optimist. So, if some crisis is happening I’m like, “It’s fine. It’s fine. We can do Plan B. We can do Plan C. There’s other opportunities.” Scott is a pessimist, if we miss a bus, and there’s a bus in say an hour, Scott will be like “We might as well go home, race done. We’ve just missed the bus.” I’m like “Yeah but there’s another bus in an hour.” “Yeah, but there’s no point now, we’ve lost. We’ve lost.” So that’s kind of where we’ll also bounce off each other. But for me, in a crisis, I’ll try and look at the positives out of it.

And what does the rest of your family make of you doing this trip together?

Sam: A bit jealous. Obviously, when Scott was asked to do it they were all like “Oh, can I do it with you?” I was like “No, it’s me!” But like with anything that we do, they’re really supportive and really excited about it. And kind of a bit worried that we’re obviously off grid for five weeks, two months before our wedding. So, I’ve put some responsibilities to my mother, that she’s got to answer some of the questions because obviously when we come back, there are seven weeks till the wedding and some decisions need to be made. So it’s a lot of pressure. Most of it is done. It’s just the odd bits. But yeah they’re really excited about it and supporting us through it.

Scott: When I told my mom she was like “What, no phone?” I was like “I mean, that’s the idea. To kind of switch off.” But it took my mum a while to get her head around it.

Has being a public figure impacted the way that you travel?

Scott: Only I think in the way that you can afford to go on nice holidays, I’m not a flash person at all, but the one thing I probably do spend my money on is holidays, that’s important downtime for me. We go on lots of holidays together but we also go with our families quite a lot as well.

Sam, what’s it like having a famous fiancé?

Sam: Obviously, it allows me to do amazing things like this, and travel the world and go to amazing places and great events.

Scott: You just generally forget and that’s kind of how I like it.

Sam: When we go to places outside of London, if we go back to my home in Wales, if we go to Cardiff for food – people will stop Scott. You kind of remember then. And I think also because Scott’s on the radio, that people will naturally just hear the voice. So, if we’re sat somewhere and we’ve been sat there for a while, just looking at the menu, and then we start talking – the table next to us will then glance up because they recognise the voice.

Scott: If I go for a night out with Rylan, I love him very much, he’s one of my best friends but I couldn’t deal with his fame. We have to have an emergency exit wherever we go if it’s too much. Let’s be honest and I would say this to his face, he does invite it: the teeth, the hair, the everything. But that is not for me. And that’s also why I think, me and him get on because we are polar opposites. But I don’t want to be a celebrity where you have to work out where the escape plan is if it all gets too much. Of course, he loves it. But I see this a lot with him and I’m like, that’s not for me.

Do you think celebrity matters when you’re undertaking this kind of this challenge?

Scott: I very much doubt it. No, I don’t think it will at all. I think that things like this are a good leveller as well, for people to just go “Do you know what, a few people know you in the UK, the worlds massive. Unless you’re an international film or pop star it doesn’t really matter, does it?

What will be the most surprising thing viewers will learn about you?

Scott: The thing is on the radio it is you but it’s the best version of you. It’s you at a party. Now, you can’t be like that 24/7, that’s exhausting so I think that people will see the real me. The thing is with radio as well is that it’s so personal. There are people who have listened to me for years, or grown up with me. You’re a voice there every single day so people, unlike television maybe, people really feel like they know you. But they don’t really because they’re only getting three hours. And they’re getting the best of you for three hours every day. But you feel like a friend to them.

People will see the ‘actually I’m a bit tired today or I’m in a bit of a mood or I’ve got a headache or this is all quite a lot to take in’. You never see that side of me because it’s not there on the radio. So, I’m looking forward to people seeing me as an actual person.

Where would be your dream destination to race through?

Sam: I think last year was quite good because you had all the different aspects. You had hot weather, you had cold weather, so you kind of experienced all the elements. So, I think places that will challenge us. But for me, it’s just experiencing different places that I would never go to.

If there’s one thing that you hope that this race will change about you or your relationship what would it be?

Scott: Just to live in the moment a bit more I think.

Sam: Even if we don’t win, and we get to that finish line, at least we’ve got to that finish line together. And the decisions that we’ve made are together. So, I think in the year that we’re getting married, and doing this challenge, it’s just to cement us as a relationship even stronger. Hopefully!

Scott: You see we don’t even really argue we have disagreements and are a bit snappy and tired but we don’t argue. So, I’m interested to see if that remains the same.