Celebrity Race Across The World 2024 winners crowned

The exciting finale of BBC One's Celebrity Race Across the World aired tonight (WEDNESDAY), where Radio 2 presenter Scott Mills and his partner, who was his fiancé at the time, Sam, became the first duo to arrive at the final checkpoint and were declared the champions.

In a thrilling conclusion where just two teams were vying for the top spot, Scott Mills and Sam Vaughan reached the summit of Osorno Volcano in Frutillar, Chile first. Actor Kola Bokinni and his cousin Mary Ellen Moriarty trailed behind, arriving 2 hours and 20 minutes later to claim second place. Broadcaster Jeff Brazier and his son Freddy, along with broadcaster Kelly Brook and her husband Jeremy Parisi, completed their climbs the next day, finishing in third and fourth places, respectively.

When they opened the guest book to find out they had arrived in Frutillar first, they couldn't contain their excitement. The two started jumping up and down, exclaiming, "Oh my God, we made it!" before sharing a heartfelt embrace, overwhelmed with joy.

Looking back on their win, which involved a journey of 12,500 km from the Amazon Rainforest to the Andes, Scott expressed his thoughts, saying, “I’m at a loss for words. When you open that book and see it empty of any other names, there’s no feeling quite like it.”

Sam chuckled and said, “I’m just happy we decided to toss a coin!”

He added, “Having an amazing experience and coming out on top is simply the best feeling.”

Scott expressed, “I can definitely say it’s an incredible feeling.” Still in disbelief over their victory, Sam adds, “We really won!” Meanwhile, Scott dabs his eyes, attributing the tears to the “chilly air.”

Reflecting on their experience in the race, Scott shares, “It’s been thrilling, challenging, and at times quite frustrating, but we’ve always supported each other through the highs and lows. This really shows that we’re a strong team – a victorious team.”

After they reached the guest book, Kola and Mary Ellen were filled with joy. Kola exclaimed, "We finished second, Mary! I'm really happy about that," and then added, "this has been one of the greatest experiences I've ever had."

The next day, the last two teams arrived, and Jeff and Freddy crossed the checkpoint in third position. Freddy expressed, “We didn’t get first place, and that was okay. We completed the race together. As a father and son team, we really make a great pair.”

Coming in fourth, Kelly and Jeremy are pleased with their achievement. Kelly expressed her thoughts, saying, “Finishing means so much to me. While Jeremy aimed for first place, my goal was simply to complete the race. To be honest, since we initially placed last, I think we should have just enjoyed ourselves from the start—it really wouldn’t have changed the outcome!”

Scott and Sam started the last segment of the race in third place, but with only 39 minutes separating all the teams, everyone had a chance to win. After leaving the fifth checkpoint in Tilcara, they faced a daunting 2,750km journey through the Andes to reach the finish line in Frutillar, Chile. Known for having a hard time making decisions, Scott and Sam opted to flip a coin to choose their route – heads meant they'd cross into Chile early, while tails meant they'd continue through Argentina. The coin landed on tails, so they left Tilcara and headed through Argentina toward San Salvador and then on to Mendoza.

Their trip began on a difficult note, as the Easter holidays led to long lines and ticket prices soaring. When Scott and Sam learned that the 1:15 PM bus was fully booked, they braced themselves for a possible 9-hour wait at the bus station—a setback that could jeopardize their chance in the race. Unwilling to give up, Sam took another look and discovered that additional tickets had become available, allowing them to catch a bus with the other teams.

The second group to enter Chile, Scott and Sam journeyed 360 kilometers west from Mendoza to Santiago, the capital. They traveled along one of the most winding roads in the world, which featured a challenging sequence of steep switchbacks, offering breathtaking views. Upon arriving in Santiago, they booked an overnight bus to Frutillar. Concerned about their finances, Scott and Sam decided to take on one last task to earn some extra money by making a traditional Chilean dish known as ‘Completo.’

While riding a cable car to the top of San Cristóbal Hill, Scott shared his thoughts with Sam about his experiences in the race. He said, “In the beginning, I was really focused on work, but I've realized that I need to make more time for us. I don’t want this moment to end.”

After deciding to enter Chile ahead of schedule and take the desert route, Kola and Mary Ellen reached Santiago. They booked an overnight bus to Frutillar, traveling together with Scott and Sam.

Meanwhile, Jeff and Freddy found themselves stuck in heavy traffic, forcing them to take a detour to the smaller city of Rancagua, located south of the Chilean capital. This left them with few options for continuing their journey to Frutillar, effectively eliminating their chances of winning the race.

Kelly and Jeremy were the sole team to head to Patagonia and traverse the Andes in the southern region, but they faced difficulties in making connections. A bus breakdown caused them to fall hours behind the other teams, and a closed border prevented any further travel. As a result, the married couple had to spend the night where they were and accept that they would arrive a day later than the rest.

In one of the most thrilling finishes ever seen in Race Across the World, Scott and Sam, along with Kola and Mary Ellen, followed their GPS directions to reach the Teatro del Lago. From there, they were told to travel 25 miles to Ensenada using a boat or any form of transportation.

In a final effort to clinch the victory, Scott and Sam hopped into a boat, while Kola and Mary Ellen managed to get a ride in a taxi.

At the beach in Ensenada, the teams received instructions to head to the base camp of the impressive Osorno Volcano. Their final task was to reach the Chilean flag, either by taking a cable car or hiking on foot, where they would find the finish line waiting for them.

This incredible adventure has taken the teams on an exhilarating race across South America, exploring an array of diverse landscapes and climates. They have experienced the scorching Brazilian savannas, navigated the lush mangroves along the Atlantic coast, enjoyed the vibrant carnival atmosphere of Copacabana, passed through the bustling megacities of the southern hemisphere, visited the stylish beaches of Uruguay, admired the colorful mountains of Argentina, and concluded their journey amidst the majestic volcanoes of Chile.

They’ve achieved their goal without relying on airplanes or the conveniences of contemporary living. Without the usual comforts and luxuries, they had to depend on their talents, resourcefulness, creativity, and determination to prevail. Since they weren’t using bank cards or smartphones and had to stick to a tight budget, they found ways to earn extra cash along the journey, while also seeking assistance from generous strangers to move forward.

Watch all the episodes of Celebrity Race Across the World on BBC iPlayer.

What’s it like to be the champion of Celebrity Race Across the World?

Scott: It’s crazy. It’s unbelievable. When we reached the summit of the volcano, we embraced and shed a few tears. Everyone kept saying that we had won, but I just couldn’t wrap my head around it. I couldn't make sense of it.

Sam: As soon as we stepped off the bus and dashed across the bridge, we received our first directions on how to reach the finish line. Scott turned to me and said, "There's no use in running. We're in last place anyway." Even at that point in the race, we were convinced that we were going to come in near the bottom. It didn’t occur to us that we might actually have a shot at winning until we opened that book. It felt really strange.

Scott: I was really pessimistic right from the start. I didn’t believe I would succeed in this endeavor. But as things started to improve, Sam took on the role of the skeptic. I remember thinking, ‘This is fantastic. We're having such a good time and doing really well!’ I shifted from feeling down to feeling optimistic, but then Sam started feeling pessimistic, and eventually, I fell back into negativity. I clearly recall telling him, ‘There’s no use in trying, Sam, we’ve already lost.’

Can you provide a brief overview of the experience?

Sam: It’s been the most incredible experience of my life. In the past month, I've gained more insight about myself, Scott, and the world around me than I have in more than 30 years. I've explored so much of South America, and I can hardly believe everything we've accomplished and experienced.

Scott: I believed I had a good grasp of the world, but it turns out I didn’t know nearly as much as I assumed. It was thrilling, motivating, and draining all at once.

Our relationship has become even more resilient. I always felt that Sam was the right person for me, but going through this experience has solidified that belief completely. We may never get another opportunity like this, where we are completely unplugged from everything around us. I truly believe we won’t have another moment like this in our lives. It will always hold a special place in my heart.

Has this experience altered how you will approach your travels in the future?

Scott: There have been weekends since we wrapped up filming when I chose to leave my phone behind. I simply tucked it away in a drawer. In October, we're heading out for our delayed honeymoon, and I’ve already informed folks like my agent, my mom, and my regular contacts that I won’t be using my phone for the entire week. During our five-week break from phones, it was fantastic. Honestly, we didn't even feel like picking our phones back up when we were finally allowed to. We found ourselves saying, 'Can we wait until tomorrow instead?' It was surprising how we shifted from thinking, 'How are we going to manage without our phones?' to 'I’d rather not have it back.' It was really strange because after being away from our devices for five weeks, you’d expect the first thing to be, 'I need my phone back!' Instead, we decided to enjoy one last night where we could all gather, share our stories, and stay off our phones. I’m really glad we made that choice.

I've come to understand that you don't have to break the bank when you travel. Even if it's just a short getaway to a city, I tend to choose a nice hotel, but it's certainly not a requirement.

During a vacation, you typically don’t get the chance to enter local homes. I believe this show will help change that perception. Reflecting on past holidays, I realize we may have overlooked certain opportunities by not engaging more with residents, spending time with them, or even lodging with them. That’s when you truly get to experience the culture in a genuine way.

What recommendations would you have for upcoming participants?

Scott: I want to add Rylan to the list right away. I also want to include Alison Hammond.

Sam: If you never ask, you won't receive, so don't hesitate to reach out to anyone. There's no need to be afraid of approaching people, because when you find yourself in a tough spot, there will often be someone willing to lend a hand. We've experienced this on many occasions. In our hometown, we often see people glued to their phones, focused on their screens. However, if you take a moment to stop and engage with others, you'll find that many are willing to help you find a solution. My main piece of advice is to just ask. Don't hesitate to ask anyone for assistance.

Sam: When I returned to London, a tourist approached me at a tube station to ask for directions. I decided to hop on the train with them, outlined the route, and explained where they needed to get off and how many stops it would take. It struck me that just a few weeks earlier, I had been in a similar situation, probably in São Paulo.

Don't forget to bring a calculator; that's something I wish I had done.

Scott: We brought along an old-fashioned alarm clock, and it turned out to be incredibly helpful.

Sam: The team doesn’t wake you up, so if you have to get up at five to catch a bus at five-thirty, you're out of luck if you don’t have a phone to set an alarm. A calculator is really useful for converting currency and figuring out prices, which can get pretty tricky. I often rely on my own calculations in my notebook. I usually think of one Real as being equal to one dollar, and I kept referring back to that, but having a calculator would have made things a lot easier.

Scott: The alarm clock was a brilliant idea. It was a really inexpensive, classic model with bells on the top. When you're stuck in that kind of situation, you lose track of the day. Everything blends together, and you often can't remember the date or even what time it is. This can lead to missing buses or not waking up on time, which can set you back significantly. Having a clock to keep track of the time is definitely something I would suggest.

How have your Radio 2 listeners responded?

Scott: It's funny how everyone you talk to wants to know who won, but then they immediately say, "No, don’t tell me!" They’re curious but don’t want their excitement ruined. It’s a really common reaction! The entire country is hooked on this show. I realized it was popular, but I had no idea it was this huge!

I've received countless messages from listeners expressing how the show has motivated them to embark on their own road trips. While they're not planning to compete, I truly believe this show has made travel feel more accessible for everyone. Many have told me they enjoy the show so much that they’re inspired to start their own adventures—how incredible is that?

Fans of the show are incredibly observant and catch every detail. There have been times when I've received messages asking why so many of us are left-handed, all because they noticed us signing a book. It's clear that nothing escapes their attention!