BBC Race Across the World Star Jo Gardiner Dies at 61, One Year After Son Sam Was Killed in Tragic Crash

Jo Gardiner, who won over viewers alongside her son Sam on the BBC travel series Race Across the World, has died at the age of 61 after a long battle with cancer — just one year after the devastating death of her 24-year-old son.

Jo and Sam appeared together in the second series of the popular travel competition in 2020, taking on the challenge of travelling across South America. Their close relationship and adventurous spirit made them memorable contestants on the show.

Her family confirmed that Jo died “following a long and courageous battle with cancer”.

Family remembers Jo as an “intrepid adventurer”

In a statement, Jo’s family paid tribute to a woman they described as “an intrepid adventurer, brave, kind, witty and endlessly loving”.

They said she had a rare ability to make people around her “feel more alive” and described her as someone who lived fully and never did anything by halves.

The statement continued: “She was blessed with countless friends, drawn to her extraordinary magnetism. Somehow, each one felt as though they were among her very best.

“To us, she was more than all of these things. She was our family, our joy, our safe place and our absolute treasure.”

Her loved ones said they found comfort in knowing that Jo’s laughter, courage, kindness and “wonderfully outrageous spirit” would continue through the many people whose lives she had touched.

While asking for privacy as they mourned, the family also encouraged those who knew Jo to remember her in a way that reflected how she lived.

They urged people to tell funny stories, raise a glass, go on an adventure, laugh loudly and make the most of life.

“She was one of a kind. There will never be another her,” they said.

Jo’s death comes one year after the loss of her son Sam

The news of Jo’s death comes only a year after the sudden loss of Sam, who died aged 24 following a serious road crash.

The tragedy happened on May 26, 2025, on the A34 in Stockport. Sam had been due to attend his aunt’s birthday party when his white Volkswagen Golf R estate left the road and rolled before coming to rest on its side.

Detective Constable Simon Venguedasalon, of Greater Manchester Police, told the court that many witnesses had reduced their speed because of poor visibility and standing water on the road.

He said Sam’s driving “was not consistent with the conditions at the time”.

During the court proceedings, Police Constable Adam Dixon described the road surface as “very wet” because of “bad weather”. The court also heard that the tyres on Sam’s vehicle had insufficient tread depth, which was considered likely to have contributed to the crash.

Sam suffered severe injuries and was taken to hospital, where doctors placed him in an induced coma.

Despite treatment, he could not be saved and died three days later.

A family already facing profound loss

For Jo’s family, her death now marks another devastating loss following Sam’s death just 12 months earlier.

The mother and son had shared a unique experience when they competed together on Race Across the World in 2020. Their journey across South America formed part of the show’s second series and gave viewers the chance to see their relationship as they tackled the demands of travelling across the continent.

Jo is survived by her other son, Charlie.