Working round the clock, contract negotiations and how the route’s really decided: Celebrity Race Across the World secrets revealed

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The popular show Celebrity Race Across the World is back for a third season, and this time, the celebrities are embarking on an exciting journey along a particularly beautiful and varied route.

Four well-known personalities and their families are embarking on a trip through the Caribbean and along the Pacific coast of Central America. While the show appears to be a simple travelogue with beautiful scenery and extensive travel, a great deal of behind-the-scenes planning makes it all possible for viewers at home.

As viewers follow the couples exploring new countries and dealing with language barriers, the production crew—both locally and in the UK—carefully monitors their journey, prioritizing their safety while letting the story unfold naturally.

Ever wondered how this show is made? Before the new season began, series producer Phil Lewis and director Lewis Price explained the complex process of filming the show, revealing details many viewers might not be aware of.

As the series producer, I basically handle everything from start to finish. That means I’m responsible for choosing the cast, planning the routes we travel, making sure everyone stays safe, and ultimately, shaping how the show looks in the final edit. It’s a lot, but I love being involved in all aspects of production.

Over three seasons of Race Across the World, celebrities and the filming team have journeyed from Morocco to Norway, Brazil to Chile, and now, they’re tackling a route from Mexico to Colombia.

Lewis explained they aim for a journey lasting around 32 days. They have both their standard and celebrity versions of the trip, and always plan a route to fit that timeframe.

We’re planning a long and varied adventure, taking us through diverse environments – from mountains and deserts to jungles and oceans. Each episode will stand on its own, but the entire series will also have a larger, overarching story.

Before the celebrities begin their journey, a team tests the route without knowing where they’re headed. This guarantees they face the same challenges and surprises as the celebrity pairs will.

Lewis explained that the race participants are accompanied by security, a medic, and a production crew member who manages all the necessary logistics. Tracking their expenses along the route helps determine the appropriate budget for all the race contributors, who can then supplement that amount as needed.

We aim for a balance – challenging enough to be engaging, but not so difficult that it’s frustrating, and not so easy that it lacks substance. Finding that sweet spot is tricky.

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Although it seems like a fantastic trip in theory, coordinating a group of eight people plus the crew creates a lot of logistical challenges.

Lewis explained that the experience offers a unique adventure, something money can’t buy – even for the cast members who travel frequently, this is unlike anything they’ve ever done.

This trip is an experience money can’t buy. The biggest challenge is making it truly unforgettable, even though it’s a difficult place to navigate.

Lewis explained that many places only have one main route, but this location offers several different ways to travel, and it’s important to ensure those routes are safe.

We’re committed to maintaining a sense of genuine emotion and safety. We have measures in place to ensure the experience feels real without putting anyone at risk.

To keep everyone safe, we have a team with the celebrities and their families, plus a dedicated team in London working 24/7.

“The race never stops.”

Price was one of the people on the ground, working as an embedded producer and also leading a team.

Many people assume the film crew stays in comfortable hotels between shots, but that’s not the case at all. As Price explained, the core team – consisting of Harleymoon, Roman Kemp, and the producer/director – are the ones roughing it. They’re the ones sleeping on floors and traveling by bus, and Price shares in that experience completely.

Price is tracking the teams’ progress and simultaneously updating the London team on everything they do.

Lewis mentioned he receives around 2000 WhatsApp messages daily, detailing the team’s activities, locations, and choices. This constant communication helps track the project’s progress and ensures every storyline is fully resolved, just like in any well-made production. He emphasized that stories need a clear beginning, middle, and end.

We’re following the developing story closely, and we’re receiving frequent updates from our team in the field via WhatsApp.

The team also has a versatile member who handles both security and provides medical assistance if anyone gets hurt.

In addition to everything else, we also have a researcher and a local facilitator. The facilitator speaks the local language and manages release forms for everyone involved, confirming their permission to be filmed. The researcher usually communicates directly with the producer or director, letting them know they’ll be traveling in a support vehicle, often ahead of the main bus. This ensures someone is there to meet them when they arrive.

Okay, so the stars and their partners have hit the first challenge point, which is great! Now I’m really on the edge of my seat wondering who’s going to race ahead to the next one, and who’s unfortunately going to struggle to keep up. It’s anyone’s game at this point!

Celebrity Race Across the World continues on BBC One and iPlayer on Thursday 13th November at 8pm.

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2025-11-07 10:39