'Gassed Up': release date, celebrity line-up, interviews, how it works, and all about the adrenaline-pumping driving series

'Gassed Up' and ready for the Mist vs Ryan Thomas driving challenge.
'Gassed Up' and ready for the Mist vs Ryan Thomas driving challenge. (Image credit: BBC)

Move over Top Gear as BBC3's Gassed Up sees rapper and Birmingham-based car enthusiast Mist take on six well-known celebrities in some very high-octane driving challenges. 

This February, Mist will go head-to-head with Ryan Thomas, Joel Dommett, Nicola Adams, Spencer Matthews, Big Narstie, and Chelcee Grimes in the show, which sees them create their own crazy vehicles, then head out onto the race track to race them. So who among the celeb racers could be the next Lewis Hamilton?

"Cars and driving are a passion of mine and it's a privilege to be working with the BBC on Gassed Up,” says Mist. “I’m letting everyone know, you’re about to experience something you’ve never experienced before. Forget whatever gassed up you think you’ve done in your lifetime because I’m about to take it to a new level. Gassed up business."

So here's everything we know so far about Gassed Up on BBC Three...

'Gassed Up' release date

Gassed Up is a six-part series launching on BBC3 on Wednesday February 16 at 9pm, 2022. All six episodes will then become available to watch as a box set on BBCiPlayer. 

Is there a 'Gassed Up' trailer? 

We're yet to see a trailer arrive for Gassed Up from the BBC, but when one is released we’ll put it up on this page. 

How the series 'Gassed Up' works

Each episode of Gassed Up will see rapper Mist take on a celebrity guest for a car driving challenge. They will be mentored by specialists and shown the tricks of the trade as they create their own vehicles. Then, supported by expert driver Becky Evans and pro BMXer Ryan Taylor, they will take to the track for an adrenaline-pumping challenge. 

Fiona Campbell, Controller for BBC Three, says: "We’re really excited to be working with BBC Studios on this bold new format. It is brilliant to be working with Mist for his first show which promises to be big on energy, features lots of stunts and challenges and plays on people’s passion for vehicles."

Mist hosts 'Gassed Up' and challenges all comers!

Mist hosts 'Gassed Up' and challenges all-comers for race track glory! (Image credit: BBC)

All about 'Gassed Up' host Mist 

Gassed Up host Mist, whose real name is Rhys Sylvester, is a rapper and songwriter from Birmingham. His second album Diamond in the Dirt reached No5 in the UK Album Chart in 2018 and the previous year he won a MOBO award for best video for his single Hot Property. He’s worked with Jessie Ware, Mostack, Nines, and Not3s.    

Mist says: "This show is adrenaline challenge-based, as well as composure-based. The best of both worlds, it’s about being able to step outside of the box, doing things that you’d never see me doing and making it happen.

"All six celebrities were great, but I feel like Joel Dommett for me was a good one because he actually was so scared when he first came on the show. And then by the end of the episode, he was absolutely the truest driver – you’d never think that he’d not done the things he did on the show! Another one as well was Spencer Matthews, he was a very dark horse as well, do you know what I mean? I thought, “Here you go, he’s not gonna be ready for this” - and then when we actually got going it got very serious in the field, very competitive!

"If you feel like there’s not a car show you can relate to… If you’re a lover of cars and you feel like there’s a car show that you can’t relate to… this is the show you can relate to. And if you ain’t a lover of cars, it doesn’t matter! Because there’s many other things that you can enjoy. It’s funny, you get to see a normal side of me, the normal side of other celebrities, and you get to see a lot of celebrities scared! Haha! So I think that’s a good thing."

'Gassed Up' celebrity line-up

Joel Dommett takes on Mist for 'Gassed Up'.

Joel Dommett takes on Mist for 'Gassed Up'. (Image credit: BBC)

Here 's our guide to the six celebrities taking part in BBC3's Gassed Up. Mist will face a different one each week.

Joel Dommett
Since 2020 Joel has hosted the madcap show The Masked Singer UK. The comedian took part in I’m A Celebrity... in 2016, where he came second to Scarlett Moffatt and the pair went on to co-present I’m A Celebrity: Extra Camp with Joe Swash. He’s also been in Impractical Jokers, Skins, Reality Bites, and hosts The Masked Dancer. He hosted the National Television Awards 2021.

Ryan Thomas
Ryan played much-loved builder and ladies' man Jason Grimshaw in Coronation Street from 2000 to 2016. He’s also played Rafael in Neighbours and taken part in numerous reality shows, including Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls and ITV's Absolutely India: Mancs in Mumbai with his brothers Adam and Scott. Ryan won Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.
“I loved getting the opportunity to take on Mist, and on his home turf no less!” says Ryan. “Audiences can expect drifting, donuts and general chaos as we go head to head – I can’t wait for everyone to see this brilliant new series. Expect big stakes, big energy, big competition and big laughs.
"So my challenge was to find a car, kit it out with a complete makeover and then get it on the track and start learning how to drift. It’s all about precision and keeping your calm. Viewers should expect a neck and neck race with a lot of competition and some screaming and shouting along the way! 
"I like to be in cars. In my younger days I was a little bit of a boy racer… but since then I’ve matured a little bit and keep to the speed limit! It was exciting to be on the track and break the rules that you can’t on the road."

Nicola Adams 
Boxer Nicola Adams MBE won Olympic golds at London 2012 and Rio 2016. In 2013 she made her acting debut in Waterloo Road, playing herself as she visited the school to meet talented boxer Kacey Barry. In 2020 Nicola appeared in Strictly Come Dancing alongside Katya Jones as the show’s first same-sex couple but they had to withdraw after Katya caught COVID. Last year she was the subject of Prime Video's documentary Lioness: The Nicola Adams Story.
Nicola says: “I am a big adrenaline junkie so becoming a drone expert and taking on Mist and Ryan in the ultimate game of hide and seek for this episode of Gassed Up was epic,” says Nicola.  “Watch out BBC Three…you’ve never seen a show like this!
"The drone in my episode (see episode guide below) was unlike any device I’ve used before, so it was great to be able to learn more about it for the challenge. I’m a big fan of all things gadgets so I enjoyed being able to use it and have fun with the others. I have to say, the most challenging part was getting used to navigating it, it’s not as easy as you think! But once I got the hang of it, it was game on!"

Chelcee Grimes 
Talent singer-songwriter Chelcee has written tracks for Kylie Minogue, Dua Lipa, Kesha, Olly Murs, and The Saturdays to name a few. She also released her own singles Just Like That and I Need A Night Out and collaborated with Jonas Blue on Wild. She’s also a professional footballer who has played for Everton and Fulham and often commentates on the sport. She covered the 2019 Women’s World Cup and has her own show called Chelcee Away. She was also a presenter on MOTDx, the Match of the Day spin-off show.
Chelcee says: “Gassed Up is something so different and for me such a great experience. From where I started to where I finished it was worlds apart and I'm excited to see all the other celebrities to see how they got on. Also the viewers should watch just for Bex and Mist because they are just the best duo to be around and I learned so much in such a short time! I can definitely say after the whole experience I'm now well and truly, GASSED UP!!!!”

Spencer Matthews 
Spencer made his name on Made in Chelsea, which he appeared in from 2011 to 2015. He went into the jungle for I’m a Celebrity… in 2015 and has since appeared in numerous shows including Impossible Celebrities, Celebrity Hunted and Celebrity Masterchef. He’s also a regular on Good Morning Britain. “Vin Diesel wasn’t available for BBC Three’s Gassed Up so naturally I stepped up,” he teases. 

Big Narstie 
Rapper and MC Big Narstie appeared on Gogglebox: Celebrity Stand Up To Cancer and The Big Fat Quiz of the Year in 2017 and was so popular he was given his own show The Big Narstie Show. A documentary called Big Narstie’s Big Adventure followed in 2020 and saw him head to Jamaica. He’s also appeared on The Great Stand Up To Cancer Bake Off and starred in the movie the Festival. “If you like cars, this is the show for you. If you don’t like cars, that’s your business,” he says. 

Boxer Nicola Adams is ready for the fight in 'Gassed Up'.

Olympic boxer Nicola Adams is ready for the fight in 'Gassed Up'. (Image credit: BBC)

'Gassed Up' episode guide

Here's what will be happening in each episode of Gassed Up...

Episode 1 - BUGGY with Joel Dommett
Birmingham rapper Mist and Comedian Joel Dommett are painting the town neon, turning a disused village in Yorkshire into the ultimate night-time, racing video game. Can a Gassed Up Buggy race bring out Joel’s inner petrolhead? 

Episode 2 - GYMKHANA with Ryan Thomas
Mist and former Corrie actor Ryan Thomas go head-to-head in a high speed, precision driving, gymkhana course on Mist’s home turf. It’s all about drifting, donuts, figure eights and Gassed Up energy! 

Episode 3 - DRONES with Nicola Adams
In this all-electric, revved up episode Mist takes on Olympic Boxer Nicola Adams in a Gassed Up game of hide and seek at a former nuclear bunker site. There’s a sky full of drones, Mist gets schooled military style, and ‘Gunbird’ takes flight. 

Episode 4 - BUG OUT with Big Narstie
It’s the end of the world as we know it as Mist takes on Big Narstie to create the ultimate Doomsday vehicle that can withstand the Gassed Up End Times. It’s an apocalypse with limos, hot tubs and a gold camo Cold War beast. 

Episode 5 - SLEEPER CARS with Chelcee Grimes
Imagine being burnt off at the lights by an old, family wagon… Mist challenges footballing songwriter Chelcee Grimes to find an unassuming, budget motor and transform it into a Gassed Up speed machine to compete at a drag race event. 

Episode 6 - CAR TRIALS with Spencer Matthews
Mist takes on Spencer Matthews in a high altitude, high stakes, precision driving challenge, in one of Britain’s most accessible motorsports and one of the event’s most dangerous courses. How hard can driving up a hill be 

Nicholas Cannon
TV Content Director on TV Times, What's On TV and TV & Satellite Week

I'm a huge fan of television so I really have found the perfect job, as I've been writing about TV shows, films and interviewing major television, film and sports stars for over 25 years. I'm currently TV Content Director on What's On TV, TV Times, TV and Satellite Week magazines plus Whattowatch.com. I previously worked on Woman and Woman's Own in the 1990s. Outside of work I swim every morning, support Charlton Athletic football club and get nostalgic about TV shows Cagney & Lacey, I Claudius, Dallas and Tenko. I'm totally on top of everything good coming up too.