Roman Kemp, 32, is travelling with his sister Harleymoon, 36, in Celebrity Race Across the World, and during their emotional journey across Central America he admits he’s suddenly feeling emotions he hasn’t experienced since he was 15. The latest BBC One episode captures Roman trying to navigate this unexpected wave of vulnerability as the intense race forces the siblings into unusually raw and honest conversations.

Harleymoon — who has previously described Roman as a “worrier” on the series — says their time together has helped her “understand him better,” a sentiment the show highlights throughout their increasingly meaningful exchanges (source: BBC News).

Roman Kemp opens up about coming off antidepressants

In tonight’s episode, Roman opens up about his mental health while sharing a quiet drink with Harleymoon. The radio host and TV presenter reveals he has been through “horrible times” but stopped taking his antidepressant medication last year. Series 3 of Celebrity Race Across the World was filmed between October and December 2024.

“I’ve been on antidepressants for over 15 years,” Roman tells her. “For me, they help. Definitely. For some people, it’s therapy. For some people it’s going down to the pub with their mates. It’s not one shoe fits all.”

He adds: “I’ve made the decision to come off them because I feel like I’m in a good place in life. Now that I’ve stopped taking antidepressants, it’s about discovering what my actual emotions are.”

Roman goes on to explain how challenging this has been: “They really helped me through a really bad part of my life. But I’ve not known since I was 15 who I am, what makes me sad, what makes me emotional, what makes me happy. I’m finding it hard. I’m discovering panic attacks again and anxiety attacks.”

He admits that the physically and mentally demanding nature of Celebrity Race Across the World has become a test: “Doing something like this is such a test of how I’m going to react emotionally.”

Harleymoon responds with warmth, thanking her brother for being candid. “Before this trip, I thought you were a worrier for the sake of worrying. But I do feel like I’m getting to understand you better.”

Later in the episode, she tries to boost his spirits, encouraging him to be playful. Together, they laugh and shout towards the ocean that he is “not going to have anxiety tomorrow.”

Roman’s long-standing mental health advocacy

Roman has been one of the UK’s most prominent mental health advocates in recent years. His willingness to speak publicly about depression, intrusive thoughts and emotional wellbeing has earned him widespread praise from audiences, charities, and fellow broadcasters.

In 2021, he fronted the critically acclaimed BBC documentary Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency, which explored male mental health and suicide prevention. The film was created after the tragic death of his best friend, Capital FM producer Joe Lyons, who died by suicide in August 2020 (source: The Guardian, BBC).

Roman openly shared that he himself had reached a breaking point prior to the tragedy and hoped the documentary would encourage more honest conversations. The Independent described the documentary as “deeply personal and unexpectedly powerful,” noting how Roman used his platform to challenge the stigma young men often face (source: The Independent).

Since then, he has become an outspoken supporter of mental health organisations and regularly discusses anxiety, antidepressants and emotional openness — both in interviews and on social media (source: Metro UK).

A sibling journey that’s become bigger than the race

While the show is a competition, Roman and Harleymoon’s storyline has evolved into something far more intimate. Their relationship — marked by humour, disagreements and heartfelt dialogue — has resonated with viewers who appreciate how authentically the pair navigate the emotional ups and downs of both the race and Roman’s mental health.

As Digital Spy noted, their partnership has become “one of the most emotionally compelling dynamics of the series” (source: Digital Spy).

With more challenges ahead on their cross-continental adventure, Roman continues confronting long-buried emotions, while Harleymoon finds new ways to support her younger brother — offering viewers one of the show’s most touching arcs to date.