Anita Rani and her father are on Celebrity Race Across the World (Image: BBC)

Presenter Countryfile star has whisked her father, who is referred to as Bal, to the other side of the globe to participate in this year’s Celebrity Race Across the World – and fans have quickly taken to the Bradford duo. They are competing against Roman Kemp, Dylan Llewellyn, Molly Rainford, and Tyler West, along with their loved ones, on a 5,900km race across Central Ameri

Ahead of the show airing, Anita and her father spoke to Express.co.uk and other media outlets about their time on the programme and shared some heartbreaking news about her dad. Sharing the touching reason she wanted Bal to join her on the show, Anita revealed: “I just thought we had a similar adventurous spirit, and I knew that dad had always… He’s always so excited to hear about anything and just naturally curious. So I was like, ‘Right, this opportunity has come our way, are you up for it, Dad?’”

Bal and Anita have captured the hearts of viewers (Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Studio Lambert)

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He initially thought Anita was inviting him on a weekend away before she revealed it would be a six-week adventure with a tight budget and no mobile phones. He admitted: “I didn’t realise how tough it would be.”

Anita was originally convinced they would be going across Africa for the trip, but she got it completely wrong despite trying to learn Swahili for the programme and “mapping out a route”.

She also reflected on the heartbreaking reason why she wanted Bal to come with her on the journey, saying he’s never had an adventure before.

She told the BBC: “We get on, he makes me laugh, and if I ever want help in making a decision, Dad’s the person I call. Also, I want Dad to have the experience. It’s about my dad having an adventure – he’s never had one before.”

In the first episode, Anita said: “I am so aware of how hard my dad has worked his entire life and never ever had an opportunity to just do what he wants to do.”

Bal, 69, is a semi-retired businessman who was born in India but immigrated to the UK at the age of four. Anita has described Bal as a “Yorkshireman through and through”.