TV Tonight: Celebrity Race Across the World continues in Borneo

Celebrity Race Across the World continues tonight as the four celebrity teams embark on the second leg of their epic journey across Borneo, with unexpected delays, dwindling budgets and a race to reach their next checkpoint.

The second of six episodes airs at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, as the teams travel through the heart of Borneo towards the modern metropolis of Balikpapan, on the island’s eastern coast.

With thousands of kilometres still separating them from the finish line, the pressure is beginning to build. And although some teams appear to be falling behind, this leg proves that fortunes can change very quickly.

What happens in Celebrity Race Across the World tonight?

The second leg of the race takes the teams across Borneo, where they must navigate limited public transport, unexpected delays and unfamiliar surroundings as they make their way towards the second checkpoint.

At one point, the bottom-placed pair are trailing the two teams immediately ahead of them by a considerable 18 hours. However, despite the apparent gap, all four teams find themselves travelling on the same bus to the same destination.

It is a reminder that being behind does not necessarily mean the race is over.

There are further problems for the teams who arrive in town after dark, particularly when they discover they have no local currency to pay for onward transport or somewhere to sleep.

Finding accommodation and keeping within their budgets is proving just as important as making progress towards the checkpoint.

Perhaps Sam Ryder and his best friend Kaz have the right approach. The pair have been carefully conserving their money by managing to secure free accommodation, giving them an advantage when it comes to making their budget last.

Elsewhere, the teams encounter unexpected complications, including a shared taxi travelling in completely the wrong direction.

But despite the difficulties, the race becomes increasingly close as the teams approach the Balikpapan checkpoint. By the time they reach their destination, the gap between the competitors has narrowed considerably.

With the teams still finding their feet, the second leg promises plenty of drama and demonstrates just how unpredictable this year’s competition could be.

Who are the Celebrity Race Across the World 2026 contestants?

Four celebrity pairs are taking part in this year’s series, embarking on an epic 7,500km journey without the usual luxuries of modern travel.

The contestants are:

Ella Eyre and Nana

Brit Award-winning singer-songwriter Ella Eyre is taking part alongside her childhood friend Nana.

The pair have known each other for more than two decades and see the adventure as an opportunity to enjoy an experience they never had when they were younger.

Ella said: “We met at school over 20 years ago. We never got to do a gap year.”

Nana added: “Now it’s our time to have that fun.”

Ella is confident that their friendship will help them through the challenges ahead, explaining: “There really aren’t that many people I could spend [several] weeks solidly with and still be able to laugh my head off.”

Nana is equally optimistic about their chances, saying: “We’re going to make a good team. I fear for our competitors.”

Jeff Stelling and Matt

Veteran sports broadcaster Jeff Stelling has teamed up with his son Matt for the adventure.

With years of experience behind him, Jeff believes the timing is perfect for him to take on a challenge of this scale.

He said: “Work’s been a massive part of my life. Now I don’t have quite the demands that I used to have, so it’s perfect timing.”

Matt believes their different experiences could work in their favour.

He said: “It’s all aligned. In my time in hostels I have to say, I didn’t see a single backpacker in their seventies.”

Jeff added: “My experience, your youth – what better combination could you have?”

Princess Andre and Junior Andre

Influencer Princess Andre is competing alongside her brother, musician Junior Andre.

The siblings are determined to show that they can make their own mark, rather than simply being recognised because of their famous parents.

Princess explained: “Everything we do, we get compared to our parents. But we actually have our own thing that we do.”

Junior is already thinking about victory and is eager to prove what they can achieve together.

He said: “We’ve kind of got a lot to prove. I’m so excited for this. I cannot wait to do this, we’re going to win.”

Sam Ryder and Kaz

Singer-songwriter Sam Ryder is taking on the challenge with his best friend and tour manager Kaz.

The pair first met in 2013 while touring in vans, and their shared experiences on the road could prove invaluable during the competition.

Sam said: “We met in 2013. Two kids touring in vans. We just got on like a house on fire, straight away.”

Kaz joked about their long-standing friendship, adding: “I’ve just been stuck [with him] for years.”

Sam believes their touring background will give them an advantage when it comes to finding places to sleep and making their money stretch.

He said: “I reckon we can smash this. Think about all the places we’ve slept over the years on tour.”

Their ability to find affordable or free accommodation could prove particularly useful as the teams tackle the latest leg of the race.

Who is Kaz? Find out more about him, here.

Where did Celebrity Race Across the World 2026 start?

This year’s Celebrity Race Across the World began in Kuching, in the Malaysian state of Sarawak in north-west Borneo.

Known as a gateway to the island’s vast wilderness, the city marks the starting point of an extraordinary 7,500km adventure.

From there, the four pairs must navigate their way across some challenging terrain, travelling through prehistoric jungles and the heartlands of Borneo.

The competitors will need to reach five checkpoints across three countries and two continents, with the ultimate destination being Melbourne, on Australia’s southern coast.

It is an ambitious route that will test not only their navigation and problem-solving skills but also their relationships, resilience and ability to manage their limited budgets.

How many episodes are in Celebrity Race Across the World 2026?

This year’s celebrity edition consists of six episodes, following the four pairs as they make their way towards the finish line in Melbourne.

Tonight’s instalment is the second episode, with plenty more challenges ahead before the winning team is revealed.

With the competition already proving unpredictable, the remaining legs could see the leaderboard change dramatically.

How to watch Celebrity Race Across the World tonight

Celebrity Race Across the World continues tonight, Wednesday, at 8pm on BBC One.

Viewers can also watch the episode live or catch up afterwards through BBC iPlayer.

With the teams facing a challenging journey across Borneo, tonight’s episode promises another entertaining instalment as the celebrities battle to keep their budgets under control and make it to the next checkpoint.

And with an 18-hour gap already being closed, nobody can afford to assume they are safely ahead in the race.

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