The celebrity cast putting their explorer abilities to the test in the inaugural celebrity version of Race Across The World has been announced.
The BBC series will include McFly star Harry Judd, ITV weather presenter Alex Beresford, All Saints vocalist Mel Blatt, and racing driver Billy Monger, each with a family member.
They’ll race from Marrakech, Morocco, to Tromso, Norway, at ground level, with a teaser earlier revealing stunning vistas of beach communities, secluded islands, and large cities – and even a reindeer hauling a sleigh.
Alex, who made headlines in 2021 when a dispute with Piers Morgan saw the Uncensored host going off air, will compete with his father Noel, while Mel, 48, will be accompanied by her mother Helene.
Harry, 37, will race alongside his mother Emma, and Billy, 24, will compete alongside his sister Bonny.
The pairs will embark on a race spanning 24 countries and more than 6,200 miles (10,000km), through the Mediterranean’s seaside ports and beaches, historic cities, the Alps, the Baltic States, and snowy Scandinavia, without air travel or a phone and with only the cash equivalent of flying to their final destination.
They will have to earn extra money by working along the journey, much as in the civilian series, and rely on the goodwill of strangers for lifts and extra aid.
Explaining why he wanted to take on the challenge, Alex, 42, said: ‘I thought it was a fantastic opportunity to do something that we’ve never done before.
‘Neither of us have ever backpacked, so it’s a new experience. And, also, just to see some amazing places!
‘Across continents and across countries, and you’re getting to see everything at ground level, so it’s completely different to just flying over – getting to immerse yourself in different cultures and communities.’
Shine A Light singer Harry added: ‘I never travelled when I was younger. I travelled with the band, but I never properly did backpacking and I always wanted to.
‘I think the same applies for my mum – she always wanted to but started a family when she was 22.’
Mel said she wanted to do it ‘for the experience, to be out of my comfort zone, to do something that I wouldn’t necessarily choose to do on my own.’
She added: ‘I’m definitely up for challenges and pushing myself… And this is what Mum does all the time!’
Discussing embarking on the race with his sister, Billy added: ‘We’ve spoken about travelling before, but it would probably be a little bit different to what I imagine this is going to be like – in terms of doing everything on such a budget and staying in hostels and being tight on money for food.
‘With this opportunity, I spoke to Bon about it, and she said it could be quite cool. So, we sat down and watched the previous series and got more and more into it and then decided why not!’
Celebrity Race Across The World will be on BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year.
