As a seasoned traveler and adventurer, reading about Freddy and Jeff’s Race Around the World journey brought back memories of my own escapades. Their story resonated with me, as I too have found myself in situations where my competitive spirit clashed with my laid-back approach.

Add Celebrity Race across the World to your watchlist

For the second edition of their global race series, four celebrities along with a family member embarked on a journey from Belem, Brazil’s northernmost point, to Frutillar in southern Chile. Along the way, they must pass through five checkpoints, receiving no special privileges as participants. This includes radio host Kelly Brook and her husband Jeremy Parisi, DJ Scott Mills and his fiancé Sam Vaughan, Ted Lasso actor Kola Bokinni and his cousin Mary Ellen Moriarty, and TV presenter Jeff Brazier and his son Freddy.

KELLY BROOK

MODEL AND RADIO PRESENTER, 44, AND HER HUSBAND JEREMY PARISI 39, MODEL AND JUDOKA

What inspired you to take part?

The idea originated from my representative. Over a weekend, Jeremy and I marathoned through every series available. I never imagined I’d endure an eight-hour train ride without my phone! However, given that we had recently gotten married and hadn’t taken our honeymoon yet, the timing seemed fitting; it was a unique opportunity for us to embark on something far from our usual comforts. And Jeremy, who is fluent in languages due to his Italian birth and French upbringing, is exceptional at them.

JEREMY We’d done so much travelling together, but nothing this special.

Kelly, you mention in the series that it’s time for viewers to see the real you?

KELLY The timing of this show was perfect, as it gave me the courage to express myself more freely about my identity. For the past few weeks, I’ve been sporting a rather unattractive but comfortable jumpsuit. Similarly, if I needed an upgrade on an overnight bus, it wasn’t about being high-maintenance, it was about finding comfort! Unfortunately, Jeremy is quite competitive and didn’t want to spend extra money. Many of our friends have teased that our relationship might not survive this challenge, but we’ve been together for ten years and understand each other well; he’s always been the analytical one while I serve as the guide.

JEREMY We’re a good team!

What were your highlights of the journey?

JEREMY Discovering new cultures.

As a dedicated enthusiast, I recently took a break from constant connectivity and it felt fantastic! Stepping away from the well-trodden paths, immersing myself in the local culture was an unforgettable experience. The warmth and generosity shown by strangers truly left me awestruck. I can’t emphasize enough how much this adventure has broadened my horizons.

Did RatW change your life?

KELLY Prior to my recent race, I had always avoided using public transportation out of fear of being identified, but upon returning, I found myself hopping onto the subway without a second thought. Nowadays, I find myself effortlessly navigating buses and trains, and it’s incredibly freeing.

JEREMY (PARAPHRASING) I’ve become more outgoing. During the race, I talked to countless individuals, and once we returned home, I began engaging in conversations with strangers on the street. I’m also not as moody. I guess you could say I’m less… “French”!

SCOTT MILLS

RADIO 2 DJ, 51, AND HIS HUSBAND SAM VAUGHAN 34, RADIO PRODUCER

How was RatW for you?

SCOTT The craziest experience of my life – one that even my adventurous job hasn’t quite matched – was this: We traveled to Brazil, where the temperature soared to nearly 50 degrees and the humidity was unbearable, making me feel drenched all the time. Interestingly, we got married in Spain shortly after our return, turning what could have been a honeymoon into more of a reverse honeymoon experience due to the intense conditions we faced during this trip.

ME I went in blind, yet I trained myself physically by jogging around the garden while carrying a hefty pack a week prior to our departure. However, I didn’t anticipate how mentally taxing it would be. Looking back, it was both an incredible and challenging experience – one that I can’t help but reflect on fondly.

Were you ever close to quitting?

As a movie reviewer, let me share my experience: In this cinematic journey, I found myself yearning for escape at certain moments. The indispensable role of Sam in managing our limited resources was profound. Frugal to the core, he embodied the epitome of thriftiness in the most endearing manner. However, when the exhaustion from late-night bus rides set in, I longed for a simple cup of coffee. Yet, our budget-conscious companion would gently remind us that we couldn’t splurge on such luxuries.

Sure thing!

I can’t tell you how much I wanted to get out of there at times

Did RatW change your life?

During the race, I picked up just as much knowledge as I have over the past three decades or so. My self-assurance has increased significantly due to the necessity of seeking assistance from people who barely speak English. Previously, I detested discussing my emotions, but during the race, it was unavoidable to share them. Now, I take time to guide tourists who appear lost, mirroring how I felt during the race.

SCOTT I’ve learned the value of patience. In London, it might mean waiting six minutes for the Tube, but during races, we sometimes had to endure 11-hour waits at bus stations with no phones and minimal food supplies. Interestingly, when they offered us our phones back at the end, we declined, choosing instead to keep them until the next day.

JEFF BRAZIER

TV PRESENTER, 45, AND HIS SON FREDDY 19, MODEL

When did you realise how tough RatW would be?

MARY With my years of experience in interpersonal relationships, I can confidently say that a strong bond like mine with Fred is built to withstand most challenges. However, language barriers have always been a tricky obstacle in my past encounters, and I’m afraid they might pose problems once again.

On the night bus, I found it extremely challenging to quieten my overactive thoughts.

Hi Freddy! In the initial race, how did your approach of being a bold adventurer yet not always the best decision-maker play out for you?

Freddy, it seems I had overlooked my previous statement, but indeed, that was me. In the heat of the competition, I learned to make wiser choices and now, being back at home, I’m committed to maintaining this newfound wisdom – and taking fewer chances along the way.

In my case, appearing on TV with my elder son, who up until then had kept a low profile, was a daring move since his brother Bobby is an actor, model, and contestant for “Strictly” in 2023. I took the chance, hoping the benefits would outweigh the risks, and they did.

Dad is competitive but denies it

Did you manage to see the sights, too?

As someone who has navigated through countless challenging situations, I must say that part of the race was a living nightmare. I had a strategy in mind that I wanted to share with Fred, but at that moment, he didn’t seem keen on it. Dealing with Brazilian transportation is like trying to tame a wild beast, and unfortunately, in this case, my plan went straight out the window due to its unpredictable nature.

Dad may seem relaxed, but he secretly loves a good competition. On the surface, I prefer to go with the flow, but deep down, I’m also competitive.

What were the highlights of the race?

JEFF The assistance given to us while we were struggling as naive travelers, and how significantly it affected each stage of our journey.

In my case, witnessing Dad embrace his playful spirit was a special moment for me. We experienced a type of joy that we hadn’t known earlier, such as frolicking in the ocean side by side.

KOLA BOKINNI

ACTOR, 31, AND HIS COUSIN MARY ELLEN MORIARTY 28, STUDENT

You spent lots of time together as kids. What did you find out about each during RatW?

KOLA I found out that I can spend five weeks with my little cousin without us killing each other.

It turns out that Kola is rather shy – quite unexpectedly so when it comes to chatting with new people. However, if someone knows him from Ted Lasso, that seems to change things. I also discovered that he has a strong preference for sweets over regular meals; Haribos take priority over food in his diet.

Was RatW as you expected it to be?

Frankly, I didn’t catch many episodes of the series. It differed significantly from my assumptions. I assumed they would merely pretend to steal credit cards, only to return them once the cameras stopped rolling. However, it seemed that genuine backpacking and budgeting were required instead.

MARY ELLEN We had to fend for ourselves!

Did you agree to prioritise winning or having fun?

MARY ELLEN In the initial stage, we ended up spending more time than expected at a seaside tavern – it didn’t occur to us just how deep we were getting ourselves involved.

In simpler terms, our previous discussions about racing and abstaining from alcohol were forgotten as soon as we started our journey. If you’re looking for a way to entice someone who’s easily swayed, a trip to Brazil might just do the trick!

What were your most memorable moments?

In the initial phase, while Mary visited the restroom, I secretly purchased two beers from a nearby stand without informing her.

In the following sequence of events, two days after discovering we owed £187 for a taxi ride, Kola unexpectedly pulled out the beers he’d previously purchased. This led me to forgive him…

2024-08-09 20:35

On Your Marks!