This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine.
In the new season of Celebrity Race Across the World, sports broadcaster Jeff Stelling and son Matt join siblings Junior and Princess Andre, singer/songwriter Sam Ryder and his tour manager Kaz and singer/songwriter Ella Eyre and her childhood friend Nana, to travel 7,500km from Sarawak in Borneo to Melbourne in Australia, on just £26 a day per person.
Stelling, the oldest competitor, and son Matt reveal how they survived their adventures.
Jeff and Matt
Why did you take part?
Jeff: It's one of my favourite things on TV. We always said that if we did one reality show, it would be this.
Matt: In 2020, the route of the regular RATW was across Latin America. I'd just spent six months there, so I introduced the show to Mum and Dad to show them a taste of what I'd done. We were hooked.
Jeff, how did you feel about roughing it and coping without your phone?
Totally unprepared. I thought I'd be physically better than I was. Sleeping on the floor, with four-legged friends, was a shock to the system. It is the hardest thing I've done. At times, the target was just getting to the end of the day, but I got fitter as it went. It was also eye-opening to realise how much I depend on my phone. By the end, it was almost a merciful relief. Now, when I go for a countryside walk, I'll leave it at home.
How did the experience test your relationship?
Matt: I was nervous we'd clash, but we bounced off each other well. Any father and son will have disagreements, but we always managed to smooth things out.
Jeff: Put any two people together who are 70 and 26, and inevitably they'll have different approaches. There was always a compromise – often, that was me saying, "We'll do it your way, Matt…"
Any memorable encounters with wildlife?
Jeff: Thanks to a farmer we met, there's now a herd of goats named after the Stelling family. Poor old baby goat Matt has since been taken by a dingo, so he's no more.
What did you learn about each other?
Matt: Dad's one of the oldest people to have taken part. I was slightly worried about the toll on his body. But he kept pulling out surprises. He was great for a heart-to-heart, good at picking me up and sensible about money.
Jeff: He thrives on responsibility and enjoyed making key decisions. And you know what? I've made decisions on his behalf his whole life, so I was happy to let him.
Are you planning to travel together again?
Jeff: No. Matt's just bought a new house, so he can't afford to go anywhere at the moment…
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Celebrity Race Across the World starts Wednesday 28 October at 8pm on BBC One.
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