August 21st 2024.
Kola Bokinni, known for his role in the popular show Celebrity Race Across The World, found himself in a nerve-wracking situation during filming. As a rising star in the acting world, Kola was used to hanging out with his co-star Jason Sudeikis from Ted Lasso, rather than holding on for dear life in a budget vehicle speeding through rural South America. But, on this particular journey, Kola and his cousin Mary Ellen were in for a wild ride, one that he feared would end in a crash.
In a recent interview with The Agency, Kola shared his terrifying experience, "It was torrential monsoon rain and we were in a car and this guy was pelting it. I stayed awake because I was like, 'I ain't happy with this. I feel like we might actually crash here.' He was going a hundred and something and this car was not the safest car. It was just an average car. That was quite a scary moment."
The journey was not only physically challenging, but also mentally and emotionally taxing for Kola. He revealed that they often traveled late at night, and one particular night, he found it difficult to stay awake from fear. "It was also like two or three in the morning so for me to stay awake I must have been terrified," he shared.
Even the thought of a comfortable hotel at the end of the journey couldn't console Kola, as one of their lodgings was said to be haunted. "It looked like something out of a horror movie," Kola recalled, with a grimace. "There were loads of old pictures of family members and we were like, 'This person definitely died here.'"
But why did Kola and his cousin Mary Ellen decide to put themselves through this challenging journey? Kola, who is best known for his role in Ted Lasso, has been a part of various successful projects throughout his career. Born in Peckham, he attended the renowned performing arts school, the Brit School, which has produced many notable names such as Adele, Tom Holland, and Amy Winehouse. His first major on-screen role was in an episode of Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror in 2016. He also played Leyton in the Netflix crime drama series, Top Boy, and is most recognized for his role as Richmond AFC footballer, Isaac, in Ted Lasso.
Before embarking on this journey, Kola had been hanging out with his co-stars at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. He mentioned that his British colleagues, such as Hannah Waddingham and Juno Temple, were huge fans of the BBC series, but offered no advice for his upcoming adventure. "They didn't give me no tips, though, none," Kola laughed. "I got a rude awakening when I got there. I was like, 'Ah, so this is hard work.'"
Kola and Mary Ellen both agreed to participate in Celebrity Race Across The World to create unforgettable memories together. Mary Ellen shared, "Kola called me and was like, 'Hey, Mary, do you want to be a part of the show with me?' I was like, 'Oh my God, you thought of me?' I just want to create memories with my cousin, I suppose, and go on the adventure of a lifetime."
Kola added, "It's not so many times that you get to do something like this. Obviously, I've traveled with my job, but I've always had to play other characters. To do something and it's me, and with my family, and I'll get to see what we're all about, will 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."
However, as with any journey, there were moments of tension between the two cousins. Mary Ellen admitted that the first two weeks were particularly tough, and they found themselves butting heads often. Kola also shared that the initial shock of backpacking on a budget with no phone brought up a lot of emotions and they were constantly at each other's throats. But, they were able to overcome their differences and even had a dance and a tequila to celebrate.
Mary Ellen also shared a surprising benefit of their disagreements, "But I'd say actually, the whole sitting away from Kola on the bus actually worked out to be great because no one ever bought the seats next to us so we ended up having two seats to ourselves."
Celebrity Race Across The World airs Wednesdays at 9 pm on BBC One and iPlayer. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, get in touch with The Agency entertainment team by emailing us, calling 020 3615 2145, or visiting our Submit Stuff page. We'd love to hear from you.
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