Race Across The World winner Emon Choudhury has paid tribute to his co-star Jo Gardiner following her death at the age of 61.
Businessman Emon, 41, appeared alongside Jo on the second series of the BBC show in 2020 and went on to win the competition with his nephew Jamiul.
It was announced on Monday that Jo had died. She passed away on Friday, August 21, "following a long and courageous battle with cancer", her family said in a statement. The physiotherapist, from Manchester, was "an intrepid adventurer, brave, kind, witty and endlessly loving," they added.
Her death comes a year after her son Sam, whom she adopted with her ex-husband Andrew, died in June last year at the age of 24. His Volkswagen came off the road and rolled before landing on its side.
Emon's Instagram tribute
Emon shared an emotional post on Instagram alongside photographs of Jo and the wider Race Across The World cast.
"With a very heavy heart, we lost our beautiful friend Jo. I've been looking through these photos trying to work out what to write and honestly, I don't think there are words that can explain what Jo meant to us. When we went on Race Across the World we were complete strangers... None of us realised we would come away from it as a family. And Jo really was the glue that kept that family together."
He continued: "I can't talk about Jo without thinking about Sam too. So many people got to know and love them both through Race Across the World. Losing Sam last year was something no mum should ever have had to go through, and it's so hard to believe we've now lost them both. My heart goes out to Charlie. I can't imagine what you're going through."
Emon added: "I'm so grateful this crazy race brought you into my life, Jo. You brought us together and you kept us together. Now it's our turn. I'll miss you more than I can put into words. Rest peacefully my beautiful friend."
Sam and Jo's journey on the show
Jo and Sam competed together on Race Across The World's second series in 2020, journeying across South America and finishing in fourth place. Jo wanted to experience a travel adventure with Sam, who also had ADHD, and the pair raced against four other duos travelling from Mexico City down to Ushuaia in Argentina.
During filming, Sam said: "Mum and I are very close - we often think or say the same things. She has travelled a lot in her life, so I think it would be fun to do it with her."
Family and BBC pay tribute
The family's statement said Jo "had a rare gift for making everyone around her feel more alive. She lived fully, fiercely and never did anything by halves." It added: "To us, she was more than all of these things. She was our family, our joy, our safe place and our absolute treasure... She was one of a kind. There will never be another her."
The BBC show's social media accounts also confirmed the news, describing Jo as "the matriarch" of the cast. "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," the statement read, adding that "Jo became the matriarch of the Race Across the World cast family" and "it was a privilege to share her story."
Sam's death and FASD advocacy
Sam had been driving on the A34 in Gatley, near Manchester, when his car left the road and rolled before landing on its side, according to Greater Manchester Police. The landscape gardener, who had been working on an isolated estate on the west coast of Scotland, was home in Manchester for a family gathering at the time. He died from a brain injury in hospital three days after the crash.
Sam was adopted by Jo and Andrew and was later diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Jo said the diagnosis "was a big challenge both for Sam and for us as his parents," but that the National FASD charity "helped us on that journey." She said she hoped "if some good comes of this tragedy, it will be that FASD is better understood," and said she had been moved by messages describing Sam as an inspiration to others affected by the condition. The family's fundraiser for National FASD raised more than £20,000.
Charlie and the cast's ongoing bond
Jo is survived by her son Charlie.
Race Across the World stars reunited in May 2026 to mark a year since Sam's death and competed in the Great Manchester Run to raise funds for the charity.
Co-stars share their own tributes
Alfie Watts, who won series four of the show, commented on the BBC's tribute post: "Rest in peace Jo. Such an incredible woman." Rob Lambra-Stokes, runner-up on series two, wrote: "Miss you mumma Jo," while Emon added a broken heart emoji.
Jo, who lived with type 1 diabetes, was an ambassador for Diabetes UK. Her family have set up a JustGiving page in her name, with all donations supporting the charity.
