Behind the Scenes: Race Across the World

Bucks County viewers tuning in to BBC One on Wednesday nights are watching a race that concluded months before the first episode aired. The 2026 series of Celebrity Race Across the World features a new group of stars, including Princess and Junior Andre, Sam Ryder, Ella Eyre, and Jeff Stelling. These teams recently completed a 7,500 kilometer journey from Borneo to Australia, spanning two continents and five checkpoints.

The physical distance is vast, but the logistical effort required to film the event is even larger. The production company, Studio Lambert, which also makes The Traitors, operates with a large team on the ground. Kezia Walker of Studio Lambert stated in a 2025 interview that the filming process is a 24-hour operation. She noted that the entire production requires a team of 65 to 70 people working in separate sections.

Each pair of racers is followed by a dedicated support unit. This team includes two camera operators, one sound technician, a medic, and a support vehicle. The crew does not guide the racers or correct their mistakes. Instead, they must adapt to the participants' spontaneous decisions. Stephen Redding, who competed in the 2024 civilian series with his wife Viv, described his initial surprise at the scale of the operation. He told Televisual that he expected camera people to simply run around the racers, but the reality involved a much larger background infrastructure.

The crew must maintain physical proximity to the racers at all times. Viv Redding recalled the difficulties of sudden travel changes. She explained that the racers once booked tickets for a 30-hour train ride on short notice. The crew had to split up to manage the logistics. Half of the team traveled on the train with the racers, while the other half drove a support vehicle to meet them at the destination.

The embedded camera teams are designed to be nimble. Walker described how a producer might use a small handheld Sony FX3 camera to film in tight spaces. An assistant producer logs events, monitors sound, and identifies story elements. A researcher also travels with the team, capturing footage of transport departures and following behind the racers in a vehicle to gather additional material.

A separate team is stationed at the five checkpoints along the route. These crew members plan the race and manage the welfare of the participants. They are also responsible for capturing drone footage and B-roll to fill gaps in the narrative. Lucy Curtis from Studio Lambert explained that the requirement for 24-hour coverage means both the London team and the location team operate around the clock.

The production team conducts a reconnaissance survey of the entire route before filming begins. This preparation allows them to anticipate the general path the racers will take. The new episodes of Celebrity Race Across the World air on BBC One on Wednesdays at 8pm.