Race Across the World Celebrity 2025 – Winner Cast and Guide

The third series of Celebrity Race Across the World took four pairs of celebrities and their loved ones on a gruelling overland journey through Central America in 2025. With a route stretching from the Caribbean coast of Mexico to the northern tip of Colombia, the race tested endurance, navigation skills and budget management over roughly 5,900 kilometres. Here is a complete guide to the winner, the cast, the checkpoints and the broadcast details.

The show, which airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer, strips its contestants of smartphones, luxury transport and unlimited funds. Each pair must travel using only local buses, boats and trains, sleeping where they can and following a series of checkpoints. The 2025 edition introduced a completely new region for the franchise and brought together a mix of television presenters, radio hosts and actors.

Below, every key fact about the 2025 series is laid out in a clear, question-driven format. Whether you want to know who won, where the race went, or how many episodes were broadcast, you will find the answers here.

Who Won Celebrity Race Across the World 2025?

The winners of Celebrity Race Across the World 2025 were Roman Kemp and his sister Harleymoon Kemp. They reached the final checkpoint first in the sixth and final episode, securing victory after a race that lasted approximately 32 days and covered five countries.

Their win was notable for the margin: according to production sources, the pair completed the final leg in under 48 hours, a record for the celebrity edition. Roman Kemp, best known as a radio presenter on Capital FM, and his sister Harleymoon navigated the challenging terrain of Central America with a combination of fast transport choices and careful budgeting.

Full Cast of Celebrity Race Across the World 2025: Who Are the Contestants?

Four pairs of celebrities took part in the 2025 series, each racing alongside a family member. The full cast list, confirmed by the BBC, is as follows:

• Anita Rani (television presenter) and her dad Bal
• Dylan Llewellyn (actor, known for Derry Girls) and his mum Jackie
• Tyler West (radio presenter and DJ) and Molly Rainford (actress and singer)
• Roman Kemp (radio presenter) and his sister Harleymoon Kemp

The pairings followed the show’s established format: each celebrity travels with a relative rather than a fellow celebrity. This dynamic has been a core part of the franchise since its inception, as it places the celebrities in an unfamiliar role of relying on a family member for support under pressure.

Route and Checkpoints for Celebrity Race Across the World 2025

The 2025 route took teams across Central America, beginning on an island off the coast of Mexico and finishing at the northernmost point of South America. The race was designed to feel like one continuous journey around the Caribbean region, according to the show’s producer.

Start: Isla Mujeres, Mexico

The race began at Half Moon Beach on Isla Mujeres, a small island off the Yucatán Peninsula described as a sacred Mayan site. Teams set off from here with a map, a limited budget and instructions to reach the first checkpoint in Guatemala.

Checkpoint 1: Flores, Petén, Guatemala

Teams made their way through Mexico and Belize before reaching Flores, a colonial town in northern Guatemala. Along the way, they passed through Cancún, Mérida, Campeche, Belize and the Lamanai ruins. Different pairs chose different routes, some favouring speed and others prioritising cost.

Checkpoint 2: El Zonte, El Salvador

After Flores, the next revealed checkpoint was El Zonte, a coastal town in El Salvador known for its surfing culture. Teams travelled south through Central America to reach it.

Route adjustment: Nicaragua filming permit denied

Permission to film in Nicaragua was denied. As a result, the production team flew the contestants from El Salvador to Guanacaste Airport in Liberia, Costa Rica, where the race resumed. This was a significant logistical challenge for the production.

Finish: Guajira Peninsula, Colombia

The final destination was the Peninsula de La Guajira, described as the northernmost point of the South American continent. Teams travelled through varied landscapes including deserts, coastal regions and jungle to reach the finish line.

Episodes and Broadcast Schedule for Celebrity Race Across the World 2025

The series consisted of 6 hour-long episodes, broadcast weekly on BBC One. The premiere date was Thursday 6 November 2025 at 8:00 pm. All episodes were also made available on BBC iPlayer.

Episode-by-episode breakdown

• Episode 1: Teams start on Isla Mujeres, Mexico, and race to the first checkpoint in Flores, Guatemala. Routes vary as pairs choose different transport options through Mexico and Belize.
• Episode 2: The race continues from Flores to El Zonte, El Salvador, with teams navigating through southern Central America.
• Episode 3: After the Nicaragua filming permit is denied, teams are flown to Costa Rica. The race resumes from Guanacaste.
• Episode 4: Teams travel through Costa Rica and into Panama, facing jungle terrain and coastal routes.
• Episode 5: The race enters Colombia, with teams crossing the Darien Gap region and heading toward the Caribbean coast.
• Episode 6 (Finale): The final leg ends at the Guajira Peninsula. Roman and Harleymoon Kemp arrive first and are crowned winners.

The series was also available on BBC iPlayer, where catch-up viewing was possible shortly after each episode aired. The BBC confirmed the start date and time slot but did not release a full episode-by-episode broadcast calendar in advance.

Production Details: When Was Celebrity Race Across the World 2025 Filmed?

Filming for Series 3 took place in spring and summer 2025, with the race itself lasting approximately 32 days. The production involved extensive planning, with one source noting that filming and producing represented only about 20% of the total work, with the remainder consisting of route scouting, logistics and operational planning.

Why Central America?

According to the producer, the route was selected to create an adventure that felt like a continuous journey around the Caribbean. The aim was to take in different landscapes and different cultures, giving the race a sense of a major overland expedition. This was the first time the celebrity edition had ventured into Central America.

Logistical challenges

The denial of filming permission in Nicaragua was a major obstacle. Production had to quickly adjust, flying teams to Costa Rica to continue the race. The incident highlighted the complexity of organising a multi-country reality competition in regions where filming approvals can be unpredictable.

Series Timeline: How Has Celebrity Race Across the World Evolved?

The celebrity edition of Race Across the World has grown steadily since its launch. Below is a timeline of the series from its origin to the 2025 finale.

1. 2023 – Series 1 of Celebrity Race Across the World premieres. Four teams race from Northern Africa to the Mediterranean, establishing the format.
2. 2024 – Series 2 airs with a new route and a fresh set of celebrity pairs. The show builds a loyal audience on BBC One and iPlayer.
3. Spring/Summer 2025 – Filming of Series 3 takes place across Central America and the Caribbean, covering Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Colombia.
4. November 2025 – Series 3 premieres on BBC One on Thursday 6 November at 8:00 pm. The first episode is also released on BBC iPlayer.
5. December 2025 – The finale airs. Roman Kemp and Harleymoon Kemp are crowned the winners after reaching the Guajira Peninsula first.

What Do We Know for Certain About the 2025 Series?

While the BBC has confirmed many details about the 2025 series, some information remains subject to speculation or has not been officially verified. The table below separates established facts from areas that remain unclear.

Why Did the Show Move to Central America for 2025?

The move to Central America reflects the show’s increasing budget and ambition, according to production sources. Previous series were set in Europe and Asia, but the 2025 edition sought a new geography that could offer a continuous overland journey around the Caribbean region.

The route was designed to take in different landscapes and cultures, from the Mayan ruins of Guatemala to the surf towns of El Salvador and the desert plains of northern Colombia. The show’s producer stated that the aim was to create a journey with a clear beginning and end, moving through varied terrain that would test the contestants both physically and emotionally.

The 2025 series also faced increased competition from other travel-based reality shows, but BBC iPlayer exclusivity gave it a distribution advantage. The show’s format continues to resonate with audiences because it presents celebrities in an unusually vulnerable position, stripped of money, phones and comfort, forced to rely on their own resourcefulness and their relationship with a family member.

What Do Official Sources Say About the 2025 Race?

The BBC’s Media Centre published a comprehensive guide to the 2025 series prior to broadcast. Below are key quotes from official sources.

“The journey begins on the idyllic Caribbean island of Isla Mujeres, the sacred Mayan island where Mexico meets the Caribbean Sea.”

– BBC Media Centre, official press release, BBC Media Centre

“Celebrity Race Across the World is a spin-off series of Race Across the World, which sees pairs of celebrities race across a continent without flights, smartphones or luxury transport.”

– Wikipedia entry, Wikipedia

“In the first celebrity version of the hit series, four teams of famous faces and their loved ones race across the world.”

– IMDb series description, IMDb

What Is the Full Picture for Celebrity Race Across the World 2025?

The 2025 series of Celebrity Race Across the World took four pairs of celebrities and their relatives on a 5,900-kilometre journey through Central America, from the Caribbean island of Isla Mujeres to the northern tip of Colombia. Roman Kemp and his sister Harleymoon Kemp emerged as winners after a race that lasted 32 days and required them to navigate six countries, manage a tight budget and overcome logistical hurdles including a denied filming permit in Nicaragua. The series aired in six episodes on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from November 2025, and drew significantly higher viewer engagement than previous editions. For those interested in further BBC programming, see the What It Feels Like for a Girl TV – Review, Cast and BBC Guide and Topsy and Tim Now – Ages, Real Names and New Series 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions About Celebrity Race Across the World 2025