Race Across The World viewers left 'broken' after star's heartbreaking diagnosis (2024)

Race Across The World viewers have been left ‘a mess’ after a contestant bravely opened up about her heartbreaking diagnosis that left her ‘without a womb’.

Betty and her brother James are amongst the contestants travelling across Eastern Asia as they battle it out to win the £20,000 cash prize.

The 25-year-old social media and events manager from Yorkshire has already suffered some pretty dramatic moments along the way, but on Wednesday’s episode, she broke down into tears revealing her health battle.

Talking about feeling negative, Betty broke down into tears and 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.’

Shortly after her 16th birthday, Betty was diagnosed with MRKH (also known as Rokitansky Syndrome), a rare congenital condition that affects the female reproductive system.

‌’It means that I don’t have a uterus, I don’t have a womb and I only have one kidney as well,’ Betty explained.

‘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.’

Comforting Betty, James said: ‘It’s okay, you know, honestly I forget that you can’t have children.’

She replied: ‘Me and you have never even had a conversation about it have we? It’s definitely made me develop, I think, a lot of the negative attributes that I have like overthinking and wanting to feel in control, because I just feel like at 16 something was taken away from me that I couldn’t control.

‘So, when you’ve been saying “everything happens for a reason,” I can’t believe that.’

James recognised for the first time his sister’s point of view and before sharing a hug and said: ‘Yes, that makes more sense now. I get that my philosophy is “everything happens for a reason”, but to you, obviously not. And that being positive is not always the best way to deal with things.’

James later reflected, tearing up to the camera: ‘To hear that was tough. It was the first time we’ve talked about it, and I have heard it from Betty herself and it’s only now that I realise how much it does affect her and… Excuse me, there’s a frog in my throat.’

Choking up and breaking down into tears before being consoled by the camera crew, he added: ‘Brave is now probably an understatement, I’ll have to think of a new word for her.’

After watching his reaction, viewers were also left sobbing, with Chris writing: ‘Omg I’m devastated for our Betty, what she has gone through is beyond belief. The way James needed a hug from the cameraman too, I’m in bits.’

‘Omg James & Betty are breaking me,’ Jane added, while Wando said: ‘Must have been awful for Betty at such a young age to be told that she couldn’t have children she’s such an awesome person and James is such a good support for her.’

Ryan said: ‘How upsetting for Betty. I just want to hug her. Going through what she’s been through at just 16 years old is heartbreaking.’

‘A member of the crew stepping in to give James a hug when he got upset about the issues Betty faces due to having MRKH is one of the loveliest bits of TV I’ve seen in a long time. Genuine compassion. Wonderful to see,’ Jay added.

During the episode the four teams embarked on the penultimate leg of the race, travelling from Bukittinggi in Indonesia to the seventh checkpoint, and the country’s capital, Jakarta.

After a nightmare bus journey, Betty and James arrive in the coal mining town of Muara Enim in South Sumatra, where their string of bad luck (which has included forgetting their essential travel documents behind on a bus) continued when the taxi they’re travelling in bursts its tyre.

‘We’ve not showered, we’ve not eaten, we’re hot and sweaty. Everything is just adding up,’ a frustrated James, 21, said.

The sales consultant continued feeling disheartened after the pair took up a job in a family-run restaurant, saying: ‘It’s not been for me this whole Sumatra leg. Maybe because it’s outside our control it sometimes gets a little bit more frustrating. I just feel like I’m mentally not properly in it anymore.’

Recognising the shift in her brother after their conversation, Betty said: ‘I could feel James getting really frustrated today…The tables have definitely turned in that aspect because usually, it’s me moaning and him being like “live in the moment and find a positive!”‘

Talking about their journey together, the siblings reflected on how it’s made them more open with each other, and that ‘speaking with each other is not that scary’.

‘And it helps, quite a lot and now we could easily pick up the phone to one another and talk about whatever,’ James added.

Race Across the World continues on Wednesday at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : Giovanni Pernice ‘suffers fresh blow after BBC launches investigation into behaviour’

MORE : MasterChef 2024 winner crowned after ‘best final in 20 years’

MORE : BBC viewers hail 00s TV detective reboot ‘best series in years’ and beg for season 2