Celebrity Race Across the World fans baffled by spa decision as favourites miss out on win

Jeff and Freddy Brazier had been favourites to win Celebrity Race Across The World. (BBC/Studio Lambert)

What did you miss?

Celebrity Race Across the World viewers have suggested Jeff and Freddy Brazier tanked their chances in the show's final by "wasting time" in some hot springs when they could have been speeding towards their destination.

The father and son duo lost out to winners Sam Vaughan and Scott Mills in the final of the BBC competition. Kola Bokinni and his cousin Mary Ellen came second, the Braziers were third and Kelly Brook and her husband Jeremy Parisi were the last team to make it all the way from Belem, Northern Brazil to Frutillar in Southern Chile.

Jeff and Freddy had been the favourites to win going into the final and also had the healthiest budget (with 28% of their cash still to spend). So fans were surprised to see them taking some time out from the race to enjoy an afternoon splashing around in some hot springs.

What, how and why?

The Braziers paused for a slap-up meal and also stopped off at the Cacheuta Spa in the Andes to recharge their batteries after a long bus journey. "Seeing Fred happy makes me really happy," said Jeff, as he watched his son swimming in the natural hot springs. "But in this hand, I am thinking about the race, I am thinking about next steps and I find it really hard to switch off from that."

The Braziers took some time out at some hot springs. (BBC/Studio Lambert)

"But there are always going to be experiences like this where I think it demands your focus be taken away from the race and just put on the now," he added.

However, things took a bad turn when the pair had dried off, as they realised they had missed their bus. "What a mess!" Jeff exclaimed. "Fred, what can we do? How have we messed this up?" he asked.

While the Braziers managed to get back on their way they faced further problems when they got to Chile and got snarled up in traffic around the busy city of Santiago, which put them out of the running.

In the end, Mills and his partner Vaughan made it to the base camp of the Osorno Volcano first and won the competition.

What did viewers say?

The pair ended up missing their bus. (BBC/Studio Lambert)

While many viewers were thrilled to see Mills and Vaughan make it to Frutillar first, others felt that fan favourites Jeff and Freddy had made a serious mistake by stopping for a dip when the race was getting down to the wire.

One person posted on X: "Why the hell are Freddy and Jeff p****** about in a spa?! Get a bloody move on!" "I love how chill Freddy is about it all, just chilling at the spa," said another viewer.

Read more: Celebrity Race Across the World

"Sad Freddy and Jeff didn't win," said one person on X. "Loved seeing you guys communicate and invest in your relationship. I think steak, thermal water parks and no taxis just wasn't going to go your way. Still winners in my eyes."

"Ya'll can just take some time off in a water park/spa," said someone else. Another fan said the Braziers were "wasting so much time".

Scott Mills 'speechless' over Celebrity Race Across the World win

Scott & Sam toasting their victory on Celebrity Race Across the World. (BBC)

Radio star Mills admitted he was "speechless" to have won Celebrity Race Across the World, saying it was "the best feeling ever".

He and Vaughan cheered and jumped up and down with excitement when they reached the endpoint and opened the log book to see that they were the first to arrive.

"When you open that book and there are no other names in it – there's no other feeling like it," Mills said.

Celebrity Race Across the World is streaming on BBC iPlayer.

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