Who are Kola Bokinni and his cousin Mary Ellen? Meet Celebrity Race Across the World 2024 contestants
The Ted Lasso star and his cousin Mary Ellen have teamed up for Celebrity Race Across the World 2024.
As we draw closer to the final leg in Celebrity Race Across the World, the pairs must travel to their next checkpoint in the mountain town of Tilcara.
Cousins Kola Bokinni and Mary Ellen found themselves in a crisis last week after Kola realised he left his passport on the seat of a bus, leaving them frantically trying to find a phone to get it back.
But now, they are back on track and in tonight's episode (11th September), the pair come up with a plan to stretch their budget as they are left with just 19 per cent of what they originally had.
The duo have been competing against the likes of Kelly Brook and her husband Jeremy, Scott Mills and his husband Sam, and Jeff Brazier, who is travelling with his son, Freddy.
So, who exactly is Kola Bokinni and why did he decide to take on this new adventure? As Celebrity Race Across the World airs on BBC One tonight, here's everything you need to know about the pair.
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Who are Kola and Mary Ellen?
Relationships: Cousins
From: London
Jobs: Actor and student
Kola Bokinni is an actor best known for his role as Isaac in the Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso. He has previously starred in an episode of Black Mirror and in Top Boy. His cousin, Mary Ellen, is a student.
As for whether the pair managed to get along throughout the race, Kola told Radio Times magazine he found that he could "spend five weeks with my little cousin without us killing each other".
"I found that, believe it or not, Kola is shy," said Mary Ellen. "He was so timid when it came to talking to strangers. Unless, of course, they recognised him from Ted Lasso."
Why did Kola and Mary Ellen want to take part in Celebrity Race Across the World?
"It's not so many times that you get to do something like this," said Bokinni of why he wanted to take part.
"Obviously, I've travelled with my job but I've always had to play other characters. But to do something and it's me, and with my family and I'll get to see what we're all about, and test our mustards a little bit. So, that's the reason why I wanted to do it, to just experience a different side of life and the world."
As for Mary Ellen, she explained: "I just want to create memories with my cousin, I suppose, and go on the adventure of a lifetime."
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Celebrity Race Across the World continues on Wednesdays on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 9pm.
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