Race Across the World star Jo Gardiner dies aged 61 one year after son's death

Jo Gardiner, 61, died "following a agelong and courageous conflict with cancer", her household said. The former Race Across the World contestant and Manchester‑based physiotherapist passed away roughly one year after the death of her son Sam, who was killed in a car crash in June 2025. Gardiner appeared alongside Sam in the second series of the BBC One show, which aired in 2020, travelling from Mexico City to Ushuaia, Argentina. She told producers she wanted to share a question‑escapade adventure with Sam, who had ADHD. Her family described her as "one of a kind" who "lived fully, fiercely and ne'er did thing by halves". In a statement they said she "had a uncommon acquisition for making everyone astir her consciousness much alive" and added that "she lived fully, fiercely and ne'er did thing by halves". Further remarks from the household included: - "She was blessed with countless friends, drawn to her bonzer magnetism." - "Somehow, each 1 felt arsenic though they were among her precise best." - "To us, she was much than each of these things." - "She was our family, our joy, our harmless spot and our implicit treasure." - "We cognize however profoundly Jo was loved, and we instrumentality comfortableness successful knowing that her laughter, her courage, her kindness and her wonderfully outrageous tone volition unrecorded connected successful the galore radical whose lives she touched." The family requested privacy while they grieved, but urged “everyone who knew and loved Jo to bash precisely what she would person wanted: archer the comic stories, rise a glass, person an adventure, laughter loudly and unrecorded beingness to the full”. They reiterated that she was “one of a kind”, adding: “There volition ne'er beryllium different her.” A spokesperson for Race Across the World said: “On behalf of the Studio Lambert accumulation team, the BBC and the full Race Across The World cast, we connection our deepest and heartfelt sympathies to Jo's lad Charlie, and her wider household and friends.” The spokesperson continued: “Jo became the matriarch of the Race Across The World formed family, she leaves a lasting bequest successful the galore lives that she touched, some done the bid and beyond.” They concluded: “It was a privilege to stock her communicative and she volition beryllium profoundly missed.” Gardiner is survived by her son Charlie.