What appealed to you about joining The Amazing Race Australia?  

Stephen: The idea of an unknown adventure with my brother, potentially visiting some far-flung countries I would never have otherwise experienced and getting some sweet frequent flyer points to ease the psychological burden of a gargantuan carbon footprint. 

What makes you guys a good team on the Race? 

Stephen: My brother Bernie, who also happens to be one of my best mates. Frustratingly he’s bigger, stronger, faster and reportedly better looking than me. He can do the high-reaching, the running, the iron-pumping and the catwalk modelling. I’ll just kick back and eat the elephant eyelids or whatever. 

Bernard: Known him his whole life. We are also best mates. And cousins, which is weird. We definitely get each other and make each other laugh. 

Have you travelled with your teammate before? If so, how did it go?  

Stephen: I’ve spent my entire life travelling with Bernie. It’s always a fairly ramshackle, left-field adventure and usually results in at least one of us have to apologise to someone at reception. 

What do you think will be your biggest advantage on the Race?

Bernard: Generation X baby! Raised on a steady diet of sandwiches and tap water. We can read maps, problem solve, we don’t piss and moan, and we get through everything with a launch and a smile. 

Stephen: I’m a solid navigator, I can reverse a trailer, drive a manual, keep a cool head in the face of adversity and I can find a pub in even the most remote of locations. 

How did you prepare for the Race?

Stephen: To prepare for the race I did seven sit-ups and asked my ten year old what he’d do if he were me. He said, quote: “I’d have a small breakfast so I could find weird stuff tasty and I’d try not to fall off a cliff.” Preparation. Sorted. 

How you think your chosen career/life experience will help or hinder you on the Race? 

Stephen: Considering the only thing my career has taught me is how to pretend to be other people, I don’t imagine that will be a great help. In terms of life experience, I’ve learnt not to sweat the small stuff, keep an open mind and how to spin a plate on my finger, so surely that can only enhance our chances. 

Bernard: I think we will be able to read people and make connections. I’m also a triple threat, so I look forward to nailing the dance challenges. 

What should viewers and the other Racers expect from you and your team member on the Race? 

Stephen: We will take every opportunity with both hands, tackle each task with unbridled vigor and never take ourselves too seriously. Unless one of the specific tasks is ‘taking yourselves too seriously’, in which case we’ll embrace the concept wholeheartedly. 

Bernard: We’ll give anything and everything a crack and be always trying to find funny moments in everything. 

What do you think your friends and family will think of your doing the Race, and your chance at success? 

Stephen: They will be surprised, confused, bemused, intrigued and above all, glued to it. I reckon they will back us to go deep into the competition, whilst being shocked to the core if we won the damn thing. 

Bernard: They will LOVE it. They’ll be surprised if we win, but also if we get eliminated first. I reckon the kids will also get a big of school ‘cred’. 

What destination do you hope to visit on the Race this year and why? And are there any destinations you wouldn’t want to visit? 

Stephen: I’ve never been to any Nordic Country. To see the Northern lights, visit an ice bar and pay $28 for a beer would be heaven.  

Bernard: I really would love to go to Antarctica. I know it is unlikely, but certainly on the bucket list. 

Do you have any travel horror stories? 

Stephen: None that I’d like to share whilst anyone who’s reading this might be eating. Although it’s safe to say that my adventurous approach to geographical culinary anomalies has made me a far better runner over very short distances. 

Bernard: My luggage got “irretrievably lost” between London and Edinburgh while my wife Sonya and I were travelling the world with the famous Spiegel tent. I lost everything, even my Reg Grundies.