Spoilers for Celebrity Race Across the World series four, episode three. Princess and Junior Andre have transformed their position in the BBC competition, reaching the third checkpoint first after finishing at the back of the field in each of the opening two legs. The change, shown in the episode broadcast on Wednesday 11 November, makes the siblings’ progress one of the clearest shifts in the contest so far. It does not, however, make them the overall series winners: the journey towards Melbourne is still under way.
How Princess and Junior moved from last to first
The third leg took the teams away from Borneo towards Sulawesi in Indonesia. Travel across the Makassar Strait became a critical part of the challenge. With a limited ferry service, the leading teams could not simply maintain their previous advantage by moving straight on. Several pairs found themselves waiting for the same crossing, bringing their journeys back into closer alignment.
That development mattered particularly to Princess and Junior. Their first two episodes had left them behind their competitors, so a chance to begin the next stretch on more equal terms was valuable. They still had to make decisions and reach the checkpoint; the ferry delay did not award them a victory. But it changed the practical circumstances of the race, allowing a team previously trailing to compete for the lead.
Digital Spy’s report on the 11 November episode confirms that the siblings made the most of the opportunity and finished the leg in first place. It is a substantial turnaround rather than proof that the whole competition has been decided.
What happened to the other teams?
Sam Ryder and his friend and tour manager Kaz reached the third checkpoint in second place, according to the same episode report. Meanwhile, singer Ella Eyre and her childhood friend Nana, and broadcaster Jeff Stelling and his son Matt, had not yet reached that checkpoint when the episode ended. That distinction matters: it would be misleading to present a complete finishing order for all four teams when the broadcast had not established one.
Earlier in the series, Ella and Nana had been among the stronger competitors, while Princess and Junior had struggled to keep pace. The latest episode demonstrates why a race involving real-world transport cannot be judged purely on the previous week’s position. Boat timetables, routes, delays and choices can dramatically alter how far apart the contestants are.
Why the third leg changes the story
The result gives Princess and Junior a new position in the narrative of the series. Instead of being defined solely by their difficult start, they now have a checkpoint victory to their names. That is a meaningful achievement, particularly because the programme asks contestants to navigate without the usual conveniences of modern travel and with limited funds.
It is also important not to confuse a leg win with the final result. Celebrity Race Across the World follows pairs over several stages, with the eventual destination in Melbourne, Australia. A first-place finish at Sulawesi is an advantage and a morale boost, not a guarantee that the siblings will stay ahead throughout the remaining journey.
The third episode’s route also helps explain the wider appeal of the format. Progress is shaped not just by speed but by access to transport, the ability to adapt and the decisions made under pressure. The Makassar Strait crossing illustrated that unpredictability especially clearly.
When is the next episode?
Radio Times identified the 11 November instalment as the third leg of the 2026 series and confirmed the four competing pairs: Princess and Junior Andre; Sam Ryder and Kaz; Ella Eyre and Nana; and Jeff Stelling and Matt. The programme airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer. The published episode guide lists the next instalment for Wednesday 18 November, when the journey moves into Australia.
Viewers should treat any claim about the eventual champions with caution until the concluding episode has aired. The November 11 broadcast established the siblings’ third-leg success, but not the outcome of the entire series.
The key takeaway
Princess and Junior’s comeback is striking precisely because it follows two disappointing checkpoint finishes. Their opportunity arose when a constrained ferry crossing compressed the field, and they converted that opening into a first-place arrival. Sam and Kaz followed in second, while the other pairs’ third-leg arrival positions were still unresolved on screen. The next question is whether the siblings can preserve their momentum as the race continues towards Australia.
Sources: Digital Spy, 11 November 2026 episode report; Radio Times, 11 November 2026 cast and route guide; TheTVDB episode listings.