{
  "id": 2991167,
  "title": "Race Across the World star Jo Gardiner dies aged 61 one year after son's death",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/race-across-the-world-star-jo-gardiner-dies-aged-61-one-year-after",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-24T09:53:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC News",
    "slug": "bbc-news",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce3r1nwrxpwo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Jo Gardiner, the former contestant of the BBC show Race Across the World, passed away at the age of 61 after a courageous battle with cancer. Just a year prior, her son Sam, also a co-star of the show, had tragically died in a car accident. Gardiner, a physiotherapist from Manchester, participated in the show's second series alongside her son in 2020.\n\nThe mother and son embarked on the journey across South America together, driven by Jo's desire to experience a travel adventure with Sam. Sam, who had ADHD, joined the show to explore the world alongside his mother. They competed against four other pairs of contestants in the race from Mexico City to Ushuaia, Argentina.\n\nGardiner's family remembered her for her unique ability to make everyone around her feel alive and cherished. They hailed her as a beacon of courage, kindness, and outrageous spirit, emphasizing that there would never be another person like her. Her family requested privacy during their mourning period but encouraged those who knew and loved Jo to honor her memory by sharing her stories, raising a toast, and embracing life with the same vibrancy she embodied.",
  "summary": "Former TV contestant, Jo Gardiner, dies of cancer one year after her son and co-star's death in a crash.",
  "key_points": [
    "Jo Gardiner, 61, dies after cancer battle",
    "Son Sam, co-star, died in 2020 car accident",
    "Gardiner, physiotherapist, competed in 2020 show"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Deadline",
        "title": "Jo Gardiner Dies: ‘Race Across The World’ Star Passes A Year After Son’s Death",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/jo-gardiner-dies-race-across-the-world-star-passes-a-year-after-sons",
        "published": "2026-08-24T11:14:49.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}