BBC reality series have been some of the biggest hits of this year, with The Traitors and Gladiators keeping families glued to the TV. Now, another popular show is returning for a celebrity edition.
Race Across the World invites a group of pairs to make their way across a continent (or large country) with a limited budget, no phones and no prior knowledge of what part of the globe they’ll be starting from.
If you want to know when Celebrity Race Across the World UK returns, who the contestants are and where it will be taking place, we have everything you need to know. You can also read up on everything we know about the celebrity edition of The Traitors.
When does Celebrity Race Across the World UK 2024 air?
You’ve not got long left to wait, as Celebrity Race Across the World returns on Wednesday 14 August at 9pm BST on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Each episode will then air weekly. However, BBC iPlayer will debut the first two episodes back-to-back, so you can watch next week’s early.
Celebrity Race Across the World UK 2024 will feature six episodes in total.
Where is Celebrity Race Across the World UK 2024 taking place?
We’re heading to South America this year, with the race kicking off in Belém, Northern Brazil – the gateway of the Amazon.
Each pairing will have five checkpoints across the continent, before reaching the final destination in the Andes, Frutillar in Southern Chile. The journey is around 12,500 km in length.
Is there a trailer for Celebrity Race Across the World UK 2024?
Yes! You can watch the first trailer below:
Who are the pairings for Celebrity Race Across the World UK 2024?
Four celebrities will be jet-setting off with their loved ones for the adventure of a lifetime. You can read their full profiles over on the BBC press website.
TV presenter Jeff Brazier and his son Freddy
Jeff Brazier first gained fame as a contestant on Shipwrecked. After that, he presented the likes of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! NOW!, Finders Keepers and This Morning.
Joining him will be his son Freddy, who is looking forward to bonding as a family on this adventure: “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.”
Meanwhile, Jeff is looking to get the most out of his travels: “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.”
Broadcaster Kelly Brook and her husband, Jeremy
Broadcaster, model and actress Kelly Brook is best known for Survival Island, Fishtales, Celebrity Juice and Britain’s Got Talent. Her husband Jeremy Parisi, who she married in 2022, will be joining her for the show.
For Kelly, this series is a dream come true: “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.”
Meanwhile, Jeremy will find the social side perhaps a tad more challenging: “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.”
Actor Kola Bokinni and his cousin, Mary Ellen
Kola Bokinni shot to fame thanks to the Apple TV+ hit, Ted Lasso. He’s also appeared in Black Mirror and Top Boy.
He’s bringing along his cousin, Mary Ellen, who was honoured to be chosen. “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.”
Mary Ellen is excited to get stuck into the next location, but Kola is keeping his eyes on the prize. “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.”
Radio 2 host Scott Mills and his fiancé, Sam
Radio DJ Scott Mills was a staple of Radio 1 for years with Chris Stark, and now hosts his own show on Radio 2. He’s taking on Race Across the World with his husband (then fiancé), Sam.
For Scott, this adventure will be the ultimate challenge before the pair tie the knot: “…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.”
The pair are used to standard beach holidays, and Sam discusses how they’re looking forward to something different. “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.”
How to watch Celebrity Race Across the World UK 2024 from abroad
The only issue with Race Across the World returning so soon is that it may clash with any summer holiday you’ve got planned.
If you can’t wait until you are home to catch all the action, then never fear. You can still access BBC iPlayer live, with the help of a VPN.
VPNs (virtual private networks) allow you to browse the internet securely and privately by rerouting your IP address. One of the main benefits of using a VPN is that you can connect to servers from across the world, so websites believe that you’re based in a different country.
We’ve found NordVPN to be the best for unblocking BBC iPlayer thanks to its wide range of servers, affordable pricing and easy interface. There are other options you can check out.
If you’re travelling when Celebrity Race Across the World UK 2024 is on, then you can use this method – if you have a TV licence, of course. You can find further information in our iPlayer VPN guide.
Here are the steps you need to take:
Sign up for NordVPN
Jim Martin / Foundry
You can sign up here. By default, the Complete plan is selected, but if you only need the VPN, click on Get Standard. At the top, choose between a two-year, one-year and one-month plan.
Follow the prompts to create your account and pay.
Install the NordVPN app
Jim Martin / Foundry
If you’re using a phone or tablet, just head to its app store and search for NordVPN, then install it.
If you’re on Windows, then log into your NordVPN account in a web browser, go to the Downloads section and click Download app next to Get NordVPN for Windows. Run the downloaded file to install it.
Launch NordVPN
Jim Martin / Foundry
Launch the app, and sign in using the email address and password you entered when creating an account with NordVPN. On Windows you should see a screen like this, but other apps are very similar.
Either use the list of locations (the word icon at the top left) or scroll the map to the UK and tap on Connect to London. If prompted, allow NordVPN to set up a VPN connection. You might have to enter your Windows password or, on a mobile device, your passcode.
Wait until the VPN is connected
Jim Martin / Foundry
You should see a message to tell you the VPN is connected. You can see this with the green CONNECTED and a padlock above United Kingdom.
Open iPlayer
Jim Martin / Foundry
Open the BBC iPlayer app or, on Windows, head to the iPlayer website.
Sign in with your BBC account (create one if you haven’t got one) and then find something to watch. It should play just fine as the VPN makes it appear that you’re in the UK.
Author: Hannah Cowton-Barnes, Entertainment Editor, Tech Advisor
As Tech Advisor's Entertainment Editor, Hannah is the resident expert in all things streaming, film and TV. Before joining Tech Advisor in 2019, she studied Theatre and Performance at the University of Leeds and created a website dedicated to geek culture and lifestyle. She's also reviewed a whole range of gadgets including flagship smartphones, wearables and styling tools. Outside of Foundry, she's written freelance pieces for Polygon, Metro and Den of Geek, and is proud to be a Women Techmakers Ambassador for Google.