BBC Race Across The World's Betty and James backed over 'rule break' in sobbing moment

Race Across The World

BBC Race Across The World's Betty and James have been supported by sobbing viewers after they 'broke the rules' in this week's episode during Betty's emotional and weepy admission.

Betty Mukherjee, 21, from Yorkshire, and her brother James Mukherjee, 21, are two of the contestants on the latest series of the BBC's Race Across The World, battling to make it from Japan to Indonesia only using public transport with the budget equivalent to a plane ticket.

In the episode, viewers were distraught as Betty, 21, broke down in tears with an emotional admission to her brother which caused him to 'break' the show's rules.

Before the episode went out on BBC One, Betty spoke out about the scenes and how difficult it was for her.

Betty

She said: "I hope you enjoy tonight's episode! It's a bit of an emotional one from me I'm afraid, and something that I'm full of nerves for it coming out...However with the love and support James Mukherjee and I have received so far, it's putting me a bit at ease and I hope you're all able to piece me together a little bit more.

"I can only thank each and every person in my team, the casting crew, the support crew - EVERY ONE who has allowed me to share my story and put it together the way they have.

"It wasn't even in my wildest dreams that I'd be able to tell my story in this way. So to make it possible is just mind blowing to me. Anyway I need to go take some deep breaths and I know that it's all gon' be okay."

Betty and James, 21, admitted they weren't that close before going on the show together, but have bonded while travelling across Asia.

During a frank conversation, Betty confided in James about how living with a rare condition called MRKH has affected her.

MRKH is a disorder which affects the reproductive system and is usually characterised by an underdeveloped vagina and uterus.

Betty and James on Race Across The World

Betty had told him how she can't have children and how it makes her feel.

She said: "My frustrations and down moments come periodically, I want to be resilient and brave and whatever, but my condition I do believe has made me have this mindset of being negative and not really liking the person I am.

"It means that I don't have a uterus, I don't have a womb and I only have one kidney as well.

"I think as a young woman, you're told you're going to marry, you're going to have a family, and from a young age when that's taken away from you, it does put doubts in your mind. Doubts in your purpose as a person, I suppose."

An emotional James then broke down during the conversation with his sister and had to ask the cameraman for a hug after the revelation from his sister, breaking the normal show rules which mean contestants usually don't acknowledge the presence of the film crew in any way.

Fans were full of support for the pair and said they were glad the crew broke the rules to support James.

@christheDJ said: "This entire sequence was so moving. And don't underestimate what a big deal it was for one of the crew to "break the rules" and hug James - that's usually a big no-no in this type of show. The humanity shown by everyone, in such a selfish world, was beautiful. #raceacrosstheworld"

@ruth_watling said: "Such emotion from Betty and James and what a team they've become"

BBC Race Across The World's series 4 finale is on next Wednesday, May 29.