Scott Mills says Celebrity Race Across the World would 'test' relationship
Scott Mills and Sam Vaughan filmed Celebrity Race Across the World two months before getting married
Celebrity Race Across the World was a "test" before Scott Mills and Sam Vaughan got married.
In an interview before filming the hit BBC show, the stars opened up about their relationship and what they hoped to get out of the once-in-a-lifetime experience. The newlyweds filmed the show for five weeks just two months before their wedding in sunny Barcelona earlier this year.
Mills said Celebrity Race Across the World was like the "holiday test" but "times a thousand" before they tied the knot, with all their showbiz pals watching on. He said: "Before we get married, everyone says the holiday test is you know you could be with somebody if you go on holiday with them. This is like that times a thousand. Not that I have any doubts that Sam is the one for me, but there will be times in this, I imagine, when it will get stressful."
He further explained: "And I think I'm expecting it, I don't know, but I'm expecting it to be big highs and probably big lows. So, if we can get through this, we can get through anything basically. I have no doubt that we will but that's part of the reason why I wanted to do it. I also really just want to throw my phone away for a bit. I wouldn’t be able to get to do this again."
Vaughan said 2024 was the year of big challenges for them as a couple, with Celebrity Race Across the World and their wedding. He said: "When Scott and I were first asked to take part in the series, it was kind of a no-brainer, that it's an opportunity where you can just switch off in the world and see places that you've never seen before. You'll probably go to places that you wouldn't choose to go, if you look at a map you probably wouldn't go 'Let's go here.'
Read more: Celebrity Race Across the World
He added: "Scott loves his travel magazines so Scott will plan our holidays, he likes to go to new places, but this is probably going somewhere that we will never go to again. And it's just seeing parts of the world together. Obviously, we get married this year so for us, it's the year of big challenges: this, marriage. So, it's just kind of like doing it all at once and getting it all done."
We all know their gorgeous wedding was a showbiz affair with Zoe Ball, Rylan Clark, Jordan North, Calvin Harris and his wife Vick Hope in attendance. Mills and Vaughan exchanged their vows while singer Pixie Lott sang How Long Will I Love You. Calum Scott performed You Are The Reason too while Sam Ryder and Joel Corry also took centre stage with performances.
Before Mills and Vaughan got married, the couple left their families with a few things to do while they jetted off to film Celebrity Race Across the World. Vaughan admitted their families were "really supportive" but also "a bit worried" about them being unavailable in that time.
Vaughan said: "They're really supportive and really excited about it. And kind of a bit worried that we're obviously off grid for five weeks, two months before our wedding. So, I’ve put some responsibilities to my mother, that she's got to answer some of the questions because obviously when we come back, there are seven weeks till the wedding and some decisions need to be made. So it’s a lot of pressure. Most of it is done. It’s just the odd bits. But yeah they’re really excited about it and supporting us through it."
The couple hoped Celebrity Race Across the World would make their relationship even stronger. Vaughan said: "Even if we don't win, and we get to that finish line, at least we've got to that finish line together. And the decisions that we've made are together. So, I think in the year that we’re getting married, and doing this challenge, it’s just to cement us as a relationship even stronger. Hopefully!"
Mills said it would be interested to see how Celebrity Race Across the World might change their relationship. He said: "You see we don't even really argue. We have disagreements and are a bit snappy and tired but we don't argue. So, I'm interested to see if that remains the same."
Celebrity Race Across the World returns to BBC One for series two on 14 August at 9pm.
Watch the Celebrity Race Across the World series 2 trailer below.