The comedian made the surprise admission during an appearance on The One Show alongside Tyler West and Roman Kemp, former Celebrity Race Across The World stars.
A BBC icon has revealed a surprising connection to Race Across The World.
Paul Merton disclosed the moment he was unwittingly caught up in the filming of Race Across The World during an appearance on The One Show today.
The comedian joined Strictly Come Dancing star Tyler West and EastEnders’ Vicki Fowler actress Alice Haig on the sofa, alongside presenters Alex Jones and Roman Kemp.
Tyler, who has taken over from Scott Mills on a new Race Across The World podcast, had been discussing this year’s series after taking part in the celebrity version alongside his partner Molly Rainsford, while Roman participated with his sister Harleymoon.
The much-loved BBC competition is now in its sixth season, with five daring teams setting off on the adventure of a lifetime.
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They’re covering more than 12,000km across Italy, Greece, Turkiye, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia, trekking from Palermo on the island of Sicily all the way to the remote village of Hatgal on the shores of lake Hövsgöl, in northern Mongolia, reports the Mirror.
With no smartphones, internet access, bank cards and only £26 per person a day, they’ll be tested to their absolute limits in pursuit of the £20,000 prize.
Race Across The World first launched back in 2019, when comedian Paul unknowingly played a part.
Tyler had been speaking about the locals accommodating the contestants on Race Across The World this year, strangers who are offering assistance and free lifts.
Roman then chimed in: “It’s funny you say that, because actually, Paul you know all about the good deeds that people can do and the moments that happen in Race Across The World.”
The BBC programme subsequently broadcast a clip of Paul’s involvement in Race Across The World during the filming of the first series, when two contestants were in Ashford.
He recalled: “This is before the programme went out, two people came running up to me very excitedly and said, ‘We’ve got to get to Paris’.”
He had questioned what they were doing, having spotted the camera crew, but was left puzzled by their response of ‘Racing Across The World’.
Paul admitted: “I had no idea! The programme hadn’t gone out at that point. If I’d known, my cab driver was there, we could have taken them to Dover, and I could’ve been in the whole show! I could’ve ended up in Cairo.”
When Alex jokingly suggested he could’ve taken part in the celebrity version, Paul hinted: “Exactly.”
Elsewhere, reflecting on their experience on the star-studded edition of Race Across The World, Roman disclosed that it took “a lot longer than people think”.
After Tyler quipped that Roman was “the tightest man he’d ever met”, recalling how the former Capital Breakfast radio presenter had been reluctant to dip into their budgeted allowance while filming, Roman added: “You’re constantly worrying about where you’re going to spend money, Tyler and Molly they were in the nightclubs!”
Tyler replied: “We ate the most amount of food on Race Across The World history!”
Discussing this year’s cast, he continued: “Jo and Kush have captured the nation’s hearts, these Scouse lads, their banter that they have on this journey is so funny, and so relatable, and so many young people can look up to them as well.
“You’ve got Mark and Margo who have come together, this incredible story of in-laws who have come together, you’ve also got Puja and Roshni who are so switched on, and if I could have been that switched on I might have beaten you!
“All the pairs and all the dynamics coming together, it’s what makes the show what it is, it’s an incredible race, you can relate to so many characters as you learn their stories and as the journey unfolds.”
The One Show airs weekdays from 7pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
Race Across The World airs Thursdays at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

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