Jo Gardiner, who appeared as a contestant on BBC’s *Race Across the World*, dies at the age of 61, about a year after her son and co-contestant, Sam, died in a car crash. Multiple outlets report her death is linked to cancer.
BBC and other reports say Jo and Sam competed together in the programme’s second series in 2020. Several local and national outlets also identify the crash location on the A34 in 2025. The Independent and HuffPost UK cite a family statement describing Jo’s death as following a “long and courageous battle with cancer.” Other coverage focuses on their appearance together and includes personal details about Jo and Sam, including references to Sam’s earlier health history, but the core timeline is consistent across outlets.
Studios and the BBC cast also express condolences in connection with Sam’s death, and Jo’s family asks for privacy while encouraging people who knew her to share memories. Across the reports, the common elements are Jo’s age, her cancer diagnosis as the cause, and her participation with Sam on the show one year before her death.
