In a poignant and groundbreaking moment for reality television, presenter Roman Kemp made history during the penultimate episode of BBC One's Celebrity Race Across the World. The emotional instalment, which aired on Thursday, 4 December 2025, saw Kemp and his sister, Harleymoon, achieve a unique first while racing to the checkpoint of Medellín, Colombia.
A Remote Journey to Guna Yala
In a strategic move to gain an advantage, the famous siblings diverted their route to the Guna Yala region, visiting an exceptionally remote island accessible only by boat. Upon arrival, Harleymoon Kemp expressed her awe, stating she had never been anywhere so isolated in her life. The pair were welcomed by a local family who had inhabited the island for generations, and Roman quickly immersed himself in their way of life.
The following day, Kemp assisted a local man, Senor Blas, in collecting food supplies from his mainland farm, where plantain fields stretch along the coast. It was during this task that the extraordinary historical moment unfolded.
The Unprecedented 'First' in the Jungle
As they ventured into the dense foliage, Senor Blas delivered the staggering news to Roman. "No tourists have entered this part of the jungle before. You are the first," he revealed. A visibly stunned Kemp could only respond, "We’re the first?! Wow."
While hauling heavy plantains, Roman described the physically demanding work as a "proper step into the jungle." He reflected on the simplicity of the task, noting it was a "really nice feeling" where he wasn't overthinking, but simply focused on the job at hand.
A Heartbreaking Confession and a Message of Hope
The profound experience of connecting with nature and this unique community prompted Kemp to open up about a deeply personal and dark period in his life. Speaking candidly to the camera, the Capital FM radio host revealed that the stunning landscape showed him "there's stuff worth living for."
"There’s been moments in my life where I didn’t even want to be here anymore," Kemp confessed. "Things like this make me think that if I’d made different decisions then I would never have seen this or I never would have experienced this."
He shared a specific, harrowing memory where his mental health crisis was so severe that his mother had to pass the phone to his sister, Harleymoon, to keep him talking while she rushed to his aid. "I just remember my mum passing the phone to Harley and Harley trying to just talk to me to try and distract me and keep me on the phone so that my mum could get in the car and drive to me," he recalled.
Kemp admitted that he and his sister had never discussed that traumatic phone call until now, stating, "I don’t think we’ve ever been ready to have that conversation. That’s hard to talk about man."
The episode concluded with the teams continuing their race across South America. Celebrity Race Across The World continues to air every Thursday at 8pm on BBC One.
