Film & TV2 min(s) read
'Race Across the World' star Jo Gardiner tragically dies aged 61 one year after co-star son
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Jo Gardiner, a physiotherapist from Stockport, England, who gained public recognition as a contestant on the popular television program Race Across the World, has died at sixty-one.
Per BBC News, her family confirmed that she passed away following a long and courageous battle with cancer.
This loss comes a year after the death of her son and co-star, Sam Gardiner, who was twenty-four years old when his car came off the road on the A34 in May 2025.
During the second series of the BBC show in 2020, Jo and her son Sam traveled across South America together. They competed alongside four other pairs of contestants on a journey spanning from Mexico City down to Ushuaia in Argentina.
The duo finished in fourth place overall after competing across seven legs of the race. The mother and son joined the program because Jo wanted to share a unique travel adventure with Sam, who had ADHD.
Remembering a beloved mother and star
Jo's family shared touching tributes about her vibrant personality and deep impact on those around her. They described her as "one of a kind" who "lived fully, fiercely and never did anything by halves".
They added that "she had a rare gift for making everyone around her feel more alive" and noted, "Somehow, each one felt as though they were among her very best."
Her loved ones emphasized her personal importance, stating, "To us, she was more than all of these things. She was our family, our joy, our safe place and our absolute treasure."
Honoring her memory and legacy
Production teams and network representatives also expressed their sorrow over the news. A Race Across the World spokesperson stated: "On behalf of the Studio Lambert production team, the BBC and the whole Race Across The World cast, we offer our deepest and heartfelt sympathies to Jo's son Charlie, and her wider family and friends."
The spokesperson further noted that "Jo became the matriarch of the Race Across The World cast family, she leaves a lasting legacy in the many lives that she touched, both through the series and beyond. It was a privilege to share her story and she will be deeply missed."
Jo is survived by her other son, Charlie. Her family asked for privacy while encouraging everyone to celebrate her by raising a glass, having an adventure, and living life to the full.