Alfie Watts, a winner of the BBC travel competition "Race Across The World," has revealed he is estranged from the family who raised him, a rift that deepened following the death of his mother when he was five years old.
The 23-year-old, who won the 2024 series with best friend Owen Wood, stated that tensions with his remaining relatives escalated as he achieved greater success, culminating in a complete breakdown in their relationship over the past year. Watts, who was raised by his grandmother in St Albans, shared that he no longer speaks to his family and has had to build a support network outside of his blood relatives.
Speaking on Matt Willis's "On The Mend" podcast, Watts explained that his family's perceived "giving-up attitude" after his mother's death from breast cancer at age 39 troubled him. He felt that while they appeared to have lost their will to live, he increasingly sought to pursue his ambitions. "I think at that point, they just decided that there was nothing left to live for," Watts said. "Even though they had so many years to turn things around and make something for themselves, there was never any passion to go out and see anything, any kind of hobbies, any urge to go and see friends."
He also described feeling guilt when he attempted to enjoy himself, believing he was expected to mirror their grief. The disconnect, he noted, widened as he grew older and more successful.
Watts recounted difficult family occasions, particularly Christmas, which he came to dread. "I hate every minute of Christmas Day with my family because it just feels like a pit of misery," he stated.
His grandmother had retired early to care for Watts' mother and her own mother, resulting in the household living on an estimated £15,000 a year. Watts remained in his late mother's bedroom until he was around 15 due to the family's financial constraints.
Watts also revealed that his father's name was not on his birth certificate and that the circumstances of his parents' relationship have not been fully explained to him. He did reconnect with his father around age 14, but the hoped-for transformative impact on his life did not materialize.
Watts gained wider recognition in the fourth series of "Race Across The World," traveling approximately 15,000 kilometers from Japan to Indonesia with his childhood friend. Their victory in the series included a poignant moment when Watts lit a lantern in memory of his mother in Vietnam, a tradition his family had upheld following her death.
Since his television appearance, Watts has become an ambassador for Winston's Wish, a charity that supports grieving children and young people.