{"id":850183,"date":"2026-08-10T11:18:19","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T11:18:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/850183\/"},"modified":"2026-08-10T11:18:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T11:18:19","slug":"race-around-the-world-abc-winner-elliot-constable-speaks-on-gina-rinehart-controversy-victory-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/850183\/","title":{"rendered":"Race Around the World ABC: Winner Elliot Constable speaks on Gina Rinehart controversy, victory and more"},"content":{"rendered":"

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On Sunday night, Elliot Constable was named winner of the ABC\u2019s rebooted reality series Race Around the World<\/a>. The competition, which sent six young filmmakers \u2013 Constable, Jayden O\u2019Neill, Kate McGuinness, Lucinda Price, Mikaela Zuiderduyn and William He \u2013 around the world to each film 10 videos in 100 days, was caught up in controversy towards the end, when billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart threatened legal action<\/a> against the public broadcaster over a film that featured commentary about her.<\/p>\n

The film, by Kate McGuinness, was also reported to the ABC Ombudsman<\/a>, but the complaint was thrown out. ABC boss Hugh Marks also issued an apology<\/a> about the offending episode, saying the content \u201chas fallen short of community expectations\u201d.<\/p>\n

Constable spoke to national TV editor Louise Rugendyke about his experiences on the race, the controversy and which film he watched to relax.<\/p>\n

\"RaceRace Around the World winner Elliot Constable (middle) with (from left) judge Danny Philippou, former winner Olivia Rousett, host Zan Rowe, judge Margaret Pomeranz and judge and former contestant John Safran.\"ElliotElliot Constable in Nepal for episode six of Race Around the World and his film The Ghurka Detox.<\/p>\n

Congratulations Elliot! You have been back in the country for about 10 days now, do you finally feel like you have landed on earth?<\/p>\n

That\u2019s just wild that it\u2019s been two weeks already. It\u2019s so overwhelming. I\u2019ve been receiving so many lovely messages. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s fully sunk in yet because we filmed the [final] episode about a week ago [and it was broadcast last night], so I\u2019ve just been sitting around, sleeping on my couch.<\/p>\n

That final episode must have been very overwhelming, because you had only just landed back in the country from Brazil, you were face-to-face with the judges, and then you beat Kate by only one point.<\/p>\n

Related Article\"Our<\/a><\/p>\n

My film went first, and I was like, \u201cOK, that was well received\u201d and then when I saw Kate\u2019s film, that was maybe one of my favourite films of the entire season. And when [judge] Margaret [Pomeranz] said, \u201cElliot\u201d [to announce the winner], it was quite surreal. I would have been happy if anyone else had won it as well. Obviously, I\u2019m stoked that I won. But I truly was surrounded by incredible filmmakers, talented artists, lovely individuals. There was a comment online like, \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you write a speech?\u201d Not that I didn\u2019t believe I was going to win or anything, but the whole thing was this kind of dream, really.<\/p>\n

I spoke to you before you left and you seemed quite overwhelmed about the task ahead of you. When did you feel like you hit your stride?<\/p>\n

\"ElliotElliot Constable in Norway in episode four of Race Around the World. <\/p>\n

I always felt like I could do it, that\u2019s why I applied for the show. I tried to do it years ago when I started this whole [filmmaking] thing out in South America, [where I would] make little films and try and sell them back to Australia. I didn\u2019t realise how crazy or how intense the experience would be. I think [we were up to filming] episode five when it started going to air, which added another layer of intensity, because then you had the Australian public watching your films and commenting. So we were in a bit of a bubble, and then it was just like, \u201cWhoa\u201d. But obviously the first film [about a woman in Moldova trying to return to Kyiv for cancer treatment] was received really well. I got a lot of points. That was when I was like, \u201cOK, maybe I do want to win this.\u201d<\/p>\n

What was the most challenging part?<\/p>\n

Related Article\"Jason<\/a><\/p>\n

It just didn\u2019t stop. It was very hard to switch off because you put everything into a story, you\u2019re editing every night, you\u2019re filming day and night. And I think, maybe, one or two films I edited before the deadline, whereas every other film, it was just to the deadline. I was exporting [files] a few minutes before it was due because you just want it to be perfect. And then you submit it, and the next day you\u2019re presenting your film to Australia, and then they tell you where you\u2019re going, and two hours later, you\u2019re on a flight. So you pack up your hotel room, or wherever the hell you\u2019re staying, and then you\u2019re on a flight, and you immediately go back to, \u201cOK, what am I going to do there?\u201d<\/p>\n

So it was just not switching off. I don\u2019t know how many flights I got. I watched one movie in the entire three or four months. When I was on the plane, I was either sleeping or studying. I struggled even speaking to friends and family. It\u2019s hard to explain what\u2019s going on, and you\u2019re always up against it. I went from California to the North Pole. I think it took 40 hours to get there, so the jet lag, my body just started to [go], \u201cAll right, here we go again.\u201d That was the challenge, just surviving: \u201cHave I eaten today? What is the time? Am I in California now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ElliotElliot Constable in episode two, in\u00a0South Africa for his film about wildlife poaching, \u201cGuardians of the Wild\u201d.<\/p>\n

What was the movie you watched?<\/p>\n

Marty Supreme. I love those directors [Josh Safdie<\/a>, who used to work with his brother Benny]. Before this show, I would love flights, I love plane food, sitting there and watching the latest Hollywood movie with a glass of wine and butter chicken or whatever, but it was just non-stop.<\/p>\n

How did you cope with the public feedback? As you said, it wasn\u2019t until you were up to filming episode five that you were able to see what the public thought of your work.<\/p>\n

I read the feedback. I probably had the better end of the stick, but then it started to get more negative. One of my favourite comments was, \u201cHell is Lucinda filming something and Elliot sound mixing it.\u201d I gave her a call and we had a good laugh about that. So there is some funny feedback, then it starts to get a little bit nastier. And the girls were treated far worse than me. But there is good feedback as well, and stuff that you\u2019re like, \u201cOh yeah, fair.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"FilmmakerFilmmaker Kate McGuinness in her controversial Race Around the World film.ABC<\/p>\n

What was the discussion amongst the contestants when the backlash began over Kate\u2019s film?<\/p>\n

We were in contact all the time. I looked at a lot of the feedback, but you try and disconnect yourself a little bit from that. So I can\u2019t really comment on that specifically, I was just trying to put one foot in front of the other. I found it really hard when there was negative feedback and hate on my colleagues, my friends.<\/p>\n

Is she OK?<\/p>\n

Yeah, yeah, she\u2019s OK.<\/p>\n

You said the girls suffered a bit more with negative feedback. That really says everything about being a woman on television, doesn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n

Well, I mean the feedback inherently on [online comment forum] Reddit is just sexist. They got a lot more hate than the guys, so I think that says everything. But we all supported each other, and most of us stayed off those comments.<\/p>\n

\"RaceRace Around the World\u2019s new contestants (from left) Lucinda, Mikaela, Jayden, Elliot, Kate and William.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Do you think the ABC should have apologised for Kate\u2019s video?<\/p>\n

That\u2019s far above my pay grade. I\u2019m not even sure what the situation is now, to be honest.<\/p>\n

Which film \u2013 that wasn\u2019t one of yours \u2013 was your favourite?<\/p>\n

Related Article\"Gretel<\/a><\/p>\n

Far out. That\u2019s 60 films. The last episode was spectacular. I thought Kate\u2019s film [about the dad in China] was just brilliant. Kate\u2019s Utah film [about data centres] is one of my favourites, like top three, and Mikaela\u2019s film [in Mongolia] was incredible. Lucinda\u2019s last film [about ageing in Los Angeles] was incredible. I loved William\u2019s bullriding film [in Madagascar]. Jayden, that East Timor crocodile film was just so beautiful and powerful. Have I mentioned everyone?<\/p>\n

And your favourite judge?<\/p>\n

Margaret Pomeranz was definitely my favourite judge. And after I won, I went up to her, and I was just like, \u201cThank you, Margaret.\u201d I didn\u2019t realise how small she was. She was so lovely. I\u2019ve literally started writing her a letter, with a pen.<\/p>\n

Goodness! That makes it official.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s such an icon. I watched her with my mum growing up, like all the time. It\u2019s wild.<\/p>\n

So, what\u2019s next? The prize is half an hour on the ABC to tell a story. What\u2019s it going to be?<\/p>\n

Well, I haven\u2019t had these conversations yet with the ABC. It\u2019s an incredible opportunity, and whether it\u2019s going back to a story that I\u2019ve done or starting something completely from scratch. Like, if you had a gun to my head now \u2013 and I\u2019ve had a few guns to my head, I had an assault rifle pointed at my head a couple of weeks ago \u2013 but anyway\u2026<\/p>\n

\" Elliot Constable with his Race Around the World winner\u2019s trophy in the final epsiode. <\/p>\n

And where was this…<\/p>\n

Brazil. But it was because I had my phone. I was voice messaging someone, and a gangster rode past. He was on the back of a motorbike with an assault rifle, and then another [one went past], and another one rode past, and he pointed his assault rifle at me, and then I put my phone down, put it in my pocket, and then like 12 more rode past me. There are rules in a favela. There are gangsters around. You can\u2019t have your phone on you.<\/p>\n

So, back to what you plan to do with the win\u2026<\/p>\n

I\u2019d probably go back and revisit the Moldova story and go into Ukraine. Tatiana right now is sleeping in the metro because Kyiv\u2019s being bombed. I don\u2019t know if that would be like a larger story about the healthcare system in Ukraine in an active war zone. I have no idea. I also haven\u2019t had those discussions with my family, who probably wouldn\u2019t be very happy about me going there. I think they\u2019re very happy that I came back in one piece.<\/p>\n

Race Around the World is now streaming on ABC iview. <\/p>\n

Want more TV? We\u2019ve got you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":850184,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[64,63,134,427],"class_list":["post-850183","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tv","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-entertainment","tag-tv"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/850183","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=850183"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/850183\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/850184"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=850183"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=850183"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=850183"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}