Jo Gardiner, who appeared on BBC’s Race Across the World alongside her son Sam, has died at the age of 61.
Her family confirmed the sad news in a statement, remembering the TV star as an “intrepid adventurer, brave, kind, witty and endlessly loving”.
The family said Jo died “following a long and courageous battle with cancer”. Her death comes just over a year after the devastating loss of her son Sam, who died aged 24 in June 2025 following a car crash.
Jo, from Manchester, worked as a physiotherapist and became a familiar face to BBC viewers when she took part in the second series of Race Across the World in 2020 with Sam.
Jo Gardiner’s Race Across the World journey
Race Across the World saw Jo and Sam team up for the BBC competition’s second series. The mother and son travelled across South America together.
They competed side by side throughout their time on screen, sharing an adventure that reflected the spirit Jo’s family remembered her for following her death.
Away from the programme, Jo worked as a physiotherapist in Manchester. Her family’s statement added: “As we grieve, we ask for privacy, but we also ask everyone who knew and loved Jo to do exactly what she would have wanted: tell the funny stories, raise a glass, have an adventure, laugh loudly and live life to the full. She was one of a kind. There will never be another her.”
Race Across the World pays tribute to Jo and Sam
Meanwhile, a Race Across The World spokeswoman said: “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.
“Following the tragic death of Jo’s son Sam last year, we paid tribute to how integral Sam and Jo had been to series two.
“Millions of people remembered their transformative journey across Latin America in 2020 and we hold that memory in our hearts as we fondly recall Jo’s passion for life, her kindness, her strength, and above all her utter devotion to Sam and her family.”
They added: “At the time of filming, Sam described his mum as amazing – and that is how we will always remember her.
“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.”
What happened to Jo Gardiner’s son Sam?
Sam Gardiner died in June 2025 at the age of 24 following a car crash.
Greater Manchester Police said at the time that Sam died after his car left the road and rolled before landing on its side.
In a statement shared by a family member last year, Sam’s parents Jo and Andrew said they were “devastated”.
They added: “Sam left us far too soon, and while words will never fully capture the light, joy and energy he brought into our lives, we hold on to the memories that made him so special.”
Jo and Sam’s Race Across the World journey remains a shared chapter from their time together, with Jo now remembered by her family as an adventurous, brave, kind and endlessly loving woman.
Read more: Race Across the World fans thrilled as Jo and Kush are crowned this year’s winners of BBC show
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