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Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Race Across The World star's tearful chat with mum resurfaces after tragic death
Fans of Race Across The World have been shocked and saddened to learn of the death of 2020 contestant Sam Gardiner - with footage of a touching chat he had with his mum on the show resurfacing Footage of Race Across The World star Sam Gardiner sharing an emotional heart-to-heart with his mum on the show has resurfaced in light of his tragic death. The reality star died aged just 24 following a car crash in Manchester last week, with news of his death emerging on Sunday. Sam competed on the BBC's Race Across The World in 2020. He competed alongside his mother, Jo, as they made their way from Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City to Ushuaia in Argentina. During their journey, the mother and son noted how the experience had brought them closer. Describing the experience as "life-changing", Sam told his mother: "How many 19-year-olds can say they've done this and travelled with their mum?" Jo replied: "I think just you really. We've got long journeys, you're trying to balance it with enjoying yourself, but also have a budget, there's bound to be stresses. But I think our relationship is still in tact even if you find me slightly more irritating that you used to." Jo added: "This has been really great fun." Fans of the BBC show and the two contestants have been shocked and saddened to learn of Sam's sudden passing. Devastated dad Andrew Gardiner broke the news of Sam's death in a statement that was shared on Sunday. He wrote: "We are devastated by the loss of our beloved son Sam in a terrible accident. "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 was adored by his family. As a son, brother and nephew, he was loyal, funny and fiercely protective." Noting that his son was genuine during his time on the BBC show, Andrew added: "Race Across The World opened his eyes to the wonder of adventure and travel. He was willing to go wherever the trail might lead, and he touched everyone he met on the road. "He found great happiness working as a landscape gardener on the west coast of Scotland. 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." Following the devastating news, a Race Across the World spokesperson said: "Everyone who worked with him and indeed everyone who watched Sam could see just how precious and transformative the trip was for both him and his mum, Jo. "Sam embraced the seven-week trip with an energy, love and a determination that saw the pair enjoy adventures across Mexico to Argentina making audiences fall in love with them and their special bond as a result. "Since filming, both Sam and Jo have been an integral part of the Race Across the World cast family and on behalf of us all from the BBC, production and the rest of the cast, we would like to extend our deepest condolences to his parents, Andrew and Jo; his brothers, William and Charlie; his step mum Justine; his family and friends."
Wales Online
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Race Across the World's Tom opens up about disability and admits he 'doesn't really talk' about it
Race Across the World's Tom opens up about disability and admits he 'doesn't really talk' about it In the latest episode of the travel competition show, one of the contestants has opened up about how his disability affects his day to day life. Tom opened up about how his disability affects him (Image: BBC/Studio Lambert ) A contestant on Race Across the World has candidly shared about his disability which often leaves him feeling sad. Tom, who is in a team with his mother Caroline, has opened up about having mild cerebral palsy. The 21-year-old said he had been diagnosed with the condition as a child and has learned to deal with its impact in day to day life. It mainly affects his right arm and hand, which proved difficult when trying to adopt cultural traditions whilst racing. The competition started on the Great of China and will conclude in India, which is where the mother and son duo are currently located. Despite learning coping mechanisms he seemed to struggle in the latest episode of the series. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . In the episode which was broadcasted on Wednesday, May 14, we see Tom struggle to adopt Nepali traditions. As a culture they eat with their hands, predominantly their right hand. Tom and his mother were working for a local family in return for food and board whilst racing through Nepal. When they made the pair dinner, Tom is posed with the challenge of eating with his hands. He then asks if he can eat with his left hand instead and the family say "if it's difficult, no worries." His mother then explained to camera: "It's difficult for Thomas to use his right hand. As a child, he couldn't write very well, but we didn't know why." Article continues below The pair then explained to the family that he is left handed before Thomas shared more about his disability. He said: "When I was six or seven, I was diagnosed with a mild form of cerebral palsy, which affects my right arm and hand. I feel like my left hand just does what it's told, whereas my right hand feels like it's disconnected from my brain, but it's something I don't really talk about." He shared that it takes a lot for him to open up to people about his disability. He continued: "When I was younger I really wanted to be a pilot, that was like my dream. Mum and dad got me a flying simulator for one of my birthdays, but you had to use both your hands to touch all the buttons and do all of that, and I couldn't quite do it all with my right hand and that kind of made me sad." While meditating with his mother the young man reflected on how he had developed mechanisms to deal with his disability. He candidly said: "I'm worried if I was to tell people, they'd see that more than they see me. Which is not what I really like the idea of." His mother reassured him saying: "I can assure you, people see you as this lovely, friendly, kind-hearted, polite young man." Caroline and her son Tom have been competing in this year's Race Across the World (Image: BBC/Studio Lambert ) Later on in the episode we see Tom's struggle continue as they take up work in an Indian kitchen in Gorakhpur to top up their cash. The young man found it difficult to put his gloves on his right hand to allow him to work in the kitchen, but he was determined. Caroline said: "This is an example of when Thomas struggles because of his cerebral palsy." He then decided to go somewhere else to do the task, to allow him to get the glove on without the pressure of people watching him. He said: "The majority of things in life I do, I've just adapted to find different ways around it. Something like that when it's purely my right hand and I couldn't find another way around it, that's when it does affect me." Tom then felt bad for slowing everyone down, although he was determined to get it done. He said sadly: "It's the feeling of knowing you can't do something." After managing to get the glove on he was ready to work and was able to relax in his new role in the kitchen alongside his mother. He said: "It just makes me start to panic a little bit, and worry so much, and I think I'm realising that as I get older it's something I have to deal with a bit more. "I don't know if I'll ever get to a stage where I can be so open about it, you know, freely say like 'Oh, look, I just need a bit of time, because I've got cerebral palsy', I don't know if that would ever happen. But it would probably be quite nice if I could." Article continues below Despite his disability setting him back in the home stays, it definitely didn't hold the pair back in the competition. At the beginning of the series, the pair started slowly in last place, but in the most recent episode the pair finished in second place behind brothers Brian and Melvyn.
Wales Online
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Race Across the World's Sioned breaks down as surprising Chinese beauty spot makes her homesick
Race Across the World's Sioned breaks down as surprising Chinese beauty spot makes her homesick As the two sat on the beautiful beach in Zhuhai, the couple began to reflect on their journey as well as how they felt about home Race Across the World contestant Sioned became emotional as she spoke about home (Image: BBC ) Race Across the World's Welsh contestant Sioned was in tears as a surprising Chinese beauty spot made her homesick. Sioned and her boyfriend Fin, both from Carmarthenshire, reached the first checkpoint in second place, missing the top spot to sisters Elizabeth and Letitia. The second episode began on their sixth day on the race, where teams were told that their second checkpoint would be Sanya - almost 2,700 kilometres away, lying on the tip of Hainan Island. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . Sioned and Fin went from the first checkpoint, Huangling, to Xiamen before they eventually reached Zhuhai. A city located on the west bank of the Pearl River estuary on the central coast of southern Guangdong in China. As the two sat on the beautiful beach in Zhuhai, the couple began to reflect on their journey as well as how they felt about home. Sioned was comforted by her boyfriend Fin as they spoke about home and the extent of their travels so far (Image: BBC ) The two began talking about Wales, specifically about the "beautiful beaches" of home near St David's and Barafundle Bay. Article continues below While the two spoke about the calamity of their travels, Fin said: "Where me and Sioned are from, our local train station only has two platforms. Even then, we still have to ask someone which platform it is. "So to be in a train station where there's 24 platforms, it's in Mandarin, it's absolutely unbelievably hard for us." Sioned later added: "I like going to beaches and stuff when I'm home. It's just like quite nice for me to just be able to just stop for a minute and have that, like home feeling maybe". Fin then asked her: "How are you feeling about not being like not being able to speak to your mum?" To which Sioned began to cry. Later, Fin asked her: "What is it that you miss?" Sioned began to cry as she explained that the beautiful beach in Zhuhai reminded her of home (Image: BBC ) In response, she said: "That familiarity, I like to have that. I don't like being away from everyone we know and basically just having each other." Fin then asked: "Do you regret it?" To which Sioned replied: "No, I know I need to do it." But then Sioned seemed to have a change of heart about her homesickness and realised where she really wanted to be. She later said: "It's speaking and thinking about home, I don't like it, because I know like, as much as I feel like I want to be home now, I definitely don't. "If I was home, I would want to be here. Just trying to adapt to China, trying to adapt to a language, adapt to the people. Trying to build up my confidence to be a bit more risky." You can watch Race Across the World on BBC One Wales at 9pm on Wednesday evenings, or catch up on any episodes you've missed on BBC iPlayer. Article continues below
