Race Across the World star Jo Gardiner has died from cancer at age 61, one year after her son’s death in a car crash.
Gardiner’s family confirmed her death in a statement, telling U.K. outlets Metro and The Independent, that the reality star went through “a long and courageous battle with cancer.”
Gardiner was referred to by her loved ones as “our joy, our safe place and our absolute treasure.”
“We know how deeply Jo was loved, and we take comfort in knowing that her laughter, her courage, her kindness and her wonderfully outrageous spirit will live on in the many people whose lives she touched,” the statement continued. “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.”
While reflecting on Gardiner’s legacy, her family said she “never did things by halves” and called her “one of a kind.”
Gardiner is survived by her son Charlie, according to the Manchester Evening News. Her death comes one year after her son Sam died at 24 after being involved in a car crash.
According to a statement by Greater Manchester Police, Sam was driving in England when his car veered off the road and “rolled before landing on its side” in May 2025.
“Sam left us far too soon, and whilst 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,” Sam’s parents, Jo and Andrew, wrote via social media at the time. “Sam brought warmth, laughter and a smattering of chaos wherever he went. He leaves behind a huge hole in our hearts. We will miss him endlessly, but we’ll also remember him with smiles, tall tales, and a depth of love that will never fade.”
Sam and Jo previously appeared on season 2 of the U.K. reality competition Race Across the World, which aired in 2020. Throughout the series, the mother-son duo traveled from Mexico City to Ushuaia in Argentina.
“My son and I get on so well and he is desperate to travel, but I’m nervous of him going off on his own,” Jo told BBC at the time. “I want the trip to help him grow, and see how the world works. To watch him experience this will be fantastic. He’s come such a long way and I would love to see him achieve his dreams.”
The social media account for Race Across the World shared a tribute to Jo after her death, offering their “deepest and heartfelt sympathies.”
“Millions of people remembered [Jo and Sam’s] 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,” read a post shared via X.
The statement continued: “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.”
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