In a dramatic twist for the popular BBC programme, the celebrities competing in Celebrity Race Across The World were forced to abandon their planned route and board a flight after the broadcaster was denied permission to film in Nicaragua.
Unexpected Route Change
The unexpected development occurred during the latest episode of the show, which aired on November 28, 2025. The contestants, including Tyler West, Molly Rainford, Roman Kemp, and Anita Rani, had just arrived at the third checkpoint in Honduras, marking the competition's midway point.
It was there they received a crucial text message instructing them to completely alter their journey. The communication stated, 'It is not possible for the race to continue through Nicaragua. Teams must fly to Liberia where the race will resume.' A BBC commentator later confirmed that this was due to the fact permission to film in Nicaragua was not granted.
The Mid-Race Flight
This directive meant the teams had to break one of the core rules of the race: travelling without air travel. Instead of continuing their overland or sea journey through Central America, all participants were compelled to board a flight from Honduras to Liberia in Costa Rica.
The race was set to resume just 90 kilometres from the Nicaraguan border. This sudden change introduced a new layer of challenge and unpredictability to the competition, testing the celebrities' adaptability.
Race Standings and Other Challenges
The episode also highlighted other difficulties faced by the stars. Dylan Llewellyn was notably absent from initial scenes, with his mother Jackie explaining he was unwell. Fortunately, he recovered quickly and was able to continue the journey.
At the point of the rerouting, the race standings showed Tyler and Molly in the lead, closely followed by Anita and her father Bal. Dylan and Jackie were in third place, while Roman and his sister Harleymoon found themselves trailing a substantial seven hours behind the leaders.
The celebrities are racing 5,900km from Mexico to Colombia without mobile phones, internet, and on a limited budget, making this unforeseen flight a significant event in their arduous adventure.
