Jeff Stelling Details Hostel Age Restrictions on Reality Show
The veteran broadcaster revealed the hurdles he and his son faced while filming the latest season of Celebrity Race Across the World.
Television and radio presenter Jeff Stelling recently shared an unexpected behind-the-scenes obstacle he encountered while filming the latest season of Celebrity Race Across the World. The 71-year-old broadcaster is competing in the reality series alongside his son, Matt, navigating a 7,500-kilometer journey from Borneo across Southeast Asia to Melbourne, Australia.
During an appearance on BBC's Morning Live, the father-son duo discussed the grueling physical and financial demands of the race. Competitors are required to leave behind their phones, credit cards, and home comforts, living on a strict budget of just £26 per person per day.
While reflecting on their backpacking experience, Stelling noted that his age presented a unique logistical complication. He explained that many budget accommodations refused them entry due to age limits. "When you're backpacking with someone like me, one big problem is that a lot of hostels will not let you in if you're over 35," Stelling stated.
Matt Stelling admitted that their initial expectations of a leisurely backpacking trip proved entirely inaccurate. "I was so misguided, to be honest; it's so different from just going backpacking where you could take everything at your own pace, and if something went wrong, well, you could just go book into a hostel and go again the next day," Matt said. He added that they lacked that luxury during the strict confines of the race.
To manage the heavy physical load, the veteran sports host also revealed he had to discard half the items in his backpack, including a book and a pair of designer jeans. Despite the challenges, Stelling described the high-stakes adventure as "a lot of fun."
The current season of the hit BBC show features four celebrity pairs taking on the longest route in the program's history. Alongside Jeff and Matt Stelling, the contestants include singer-songwriter Ella Eyre and her childhood friend Nana, musician Sam Ryder and his tour manager Kaz, and siblings Princess and Junior Andre.
The six-part series airs weekly on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. As the teams advance through multiple checkpoints across different continents, viewers continue following the intense competition as it moves toward the finish line in Australia.