Celebrity Race Across The World: Winners revealed in tense final
WARNING: Spoilers ahead!
Last updated 19th Sep 2024
Following the success of spin-off series Celebrity Race Across The World last year, BBC bosses confirmed back in November that they'd renewed the show for a second series, and now the series has come to an end, with one couple reaching the end point first.
With the final episode of Celebrity Race Across The World airing on Wednesday 18th September, take a look back at the epic journey. WARNING: The below article contains huge spoilers.
Which couple won Celebrity Race Across The World?
After a tense final leg of the race from Tilcara in Argentina to Frutillar in Chile, it was Scott and Sam who reached the final checkpoint first, winning the show with just 1% of their budget remaining.
Kolo and Mary-Ellen were in second place, two hours and 20 minutes behind the boys, also with 1% of their budget remaining.
Jeff and Freddy arrived 20 hours and 14 minutes later, with 5% of their budget remaining, whilst Kelly and Jeremy were the last couple to sign the book, 21 hours and 36 minutes after Scott and Sam. The pair ended with 0.5% of their budget.
When did it start?
Following the series 4 final of Race Across the World on Wednesday 29th May, a quick tease appeared on the screen, with bosses saying: 'A whole new race is about to begin! 💪 #CelebrityRaceAcrossTheWorld coming soon to BBC One and #iPlayer'. (sic)
Then, on Wednesday 31st July, BBC bosses confirmed the show would begin on Wednesday 14th August at 9pm.
Tim Harcourt, Chief Creative Officer, Studio Lambert said: “After the phenomenally successful run of the first celebrity series, and more recently the fourth series of the regular series - we can’t wait to bring audiences along with us to the huge South American continent and its jaw-dropping scenery, in a race which will push our celebrities and their loved ones to their absolute limits.”
Catherine Catton, Head of Commissioning, Factual Entertainment and Events added “We've been delighted by the success of celebrity Race Across the World, and are now incredibly excited to see some new famous faces and their loved ones take on this difficult yet highly rewarding race of a lifetime. We cannot wait to watch their journey unfold.”
Which celebs took part?
After weeks of rumours and teases from bosses, on Wednesday 31st July, four celebrities were unveiled for the second series. The line-up included:
Jeff Brazier and his son Freddy
Kelly Brook and her husband Jeremy
Scott Mills and his husband Sam
Kola Bokinni and his cousin Mary Ellen
What was the route?
The four famous faces and their family members embarked on an epic 12,500 km race of a lifetime, starting in Belém, Northern Brazil - the gateway to the Amazon.
The celebs passed through five checkpoints across the length of South America, to reach the finish line in the Andes, Frutillar in Southern Chile.
Each pair were given a budget of £1,100 for the entire journey.
Which pair made it to the first checkpoint?
Episode one saw all four pairs attempt to reach the first checkpoint in Canoa Quebrada, with Kelly and her husband Jeremy being the first to sign the book, one hour ahead of Scott and Sam in second place.
1) Kelly and Jeremy
2) Scott and Sam
3) Jeff and Freddy
4) Kolo and Mary-Ellen
Which pair made it to the second checkpoint?
Episode two saw this year's celebs attempt to reach the second checkpoint in Frutillar in southern Chile. It was father-and-son duo Jeff and Freddy who were the first to sign the book, closely followed by Kolo and Mary-Ellen. Scott and Sam were then 27 hours behind Jeff and Freddy.
1) Jeff and Freddy
2) Kolo and Mary-Ellen
3) Kelly and Jeremy
4) Scott and Sam
Which pair made it to the third checkpoint?
Episode three saw this year's celebs travel from Lençóis to the gigantic metropolis of São Paulo. It was Jeff and Freddy who arrived first, keeping their lead, with Kelly and Jeremy 8 hours 55 minutes behind them. Scott and Sam also made up some time, coming in 14 hours and 45 minutes later, whilst Kolo and Mary-Ellen arrived 16 hours and 6 minutes after the leaders.
1) Jeff and Freddy
2) Kelly and Jeremy
3) Scott and Sam
4) Kolo and Mary-Ellen
Which pair made it to the fourth checkpoint?
Episode four saw all four celebs travel out of Brazil's São Paulo, attempting to make their way to checkpoint four in Tigre, Argentina. The teams had to decide on a number of routes, with many travelling through Paraguay and Uruguay.
Scott and Sam clawed back 26 hours to reach the checkpoint first, with Kelly and Jeremy in second. Despite losing his passport, Kolo and Mary-Ellen somehow finished in third place, with Jeff and Freddy coming in last after getting lost in the water taxi.
1) Scott and Sam
2) Kelly and Jeremy
3) Kolo and Mary-Ellen
4) Jeff and Freddy
Which pair made it to the fifth checkpoint?
The fifth episode of the series saw this year's pairs attempt to get from Tigre in Argentina, to the 10000-year-old mountain town of Tilcara, which is far north of Argentina and 2,500 metres above sea level.
Despite taking different routes, all four pairs were neck and neck once they arrived in Tilcara, desperately looking to find the penultimate hotel checkpoint. After an actual foot race up the hill, it was Kolo and Mary-Ellen who signed the book first, closely followed by Jeff and Freddy, who were just seven minutes behind.
Scott and Sam arrived 15 minutes later in third place, with Kelly and Jeremy signing the book last, 39 minutes behind Kolo and Mary-Ellen.
1) Kolo and Mary-Ellen
2) Jeff and Freddy
3) Scott and Sam
4) Kelly and Jeremy
Who had the most money left at the end?
As the pairs reached the final checkpoint in Frutillar, Chile, money was tight for almost all of them, except Jeff and Freddy.
Jeff and Freddy: 5% budget
Scott and Sam: 1% budget
Kolo and Mary-Ellen: 1% budget
Kelly and Jeremy: 0.5% budget
Check out the first look photos below:
Celebrity Race Across The World first look
Celebrity Race Across The World first look
Celebrity Race Across The World first look
Celebrity Race Across The World first look
Celebrity Race Across The World first look
Celebrity Race Across The World first look
Celebrity Race Across The World first look
Celebrity Race Across The World first look
Celebrity Race Across The World first look
Celebrity Race Across The World first look
Celebrity Race Across The World first look
Celebrity Race Across The World first look
Celebrity Race Across The World first look
Celebrity Race Across The World first look
Celebrity Race Across The World first look
Celebrity Race Across The World first look
How many episodes?
Series two was made up of six, 60-minute episodes.
Episode one aired on Wednesday 14th August.
Episode two aired on Wednesday 21st August.
Episode three aired on Wednesday 28th August.
Episode four aired on Wednesday 4th September.
Episode five aired on Wednesday 11th September.
Episode six aired on Wednesday 18th September.
When was the final episode?
The final episode aired at 9pm on Wednesday 18th September, as the race came to a dramatic end.
What channel is it on?
Just like the normal show, the celebrity edition aired on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
When was it on TV?
Following the launch show on Wednesday 14th August, Celebrity Race Across The World aired every Wednesday night at 9pm on BBC One for six weeks.
How can I catch up?
The series is available to watch in full now on BBC iPlayer.
Tim Harcourt, Creative Director, Studio Lambert said: "Audiences seem pleased that the difficult and disarming undertaking of the Race was not watered down for well-known personalities and their loved ones.
"We are thrilled to be making another series for the BBC."
Series one is also available to binge.
Will there be another series?
Bosses are yet to confirm if Celebrity Race Across The World has been renewed for a third series, but due to the show's popularity and viewing figures, we suspect it will be!
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Race Across the World winners revealed in tense final