Family Bonds and Loyalty Shine at National Television Awards
A Liverpool family's remarkable story of reconciliation and duty took centre stage at this year's National Television Awards, where two contestants from the hit BBC programme Race Across the World represented their city with dignity and pride.
Margo Oakley, 60, from Childwall, and her brother-in-law Mark Blythen attended the awards ceremony on Tuesday, September 8, where the show was nominated for best entertainment programme. Their appearance marked exactly one year since they embarked on a journey that would transform their relationship and capture the hearts of viewers across Britain.
What brought Margo and Mark together after 40 years of hostility?
The pair had spent decades at odds with one another, but the illness and subsequent passing of Mark's wife Julia, who was Margo's sister, changed everything. Julia developed a rare blood cancer called myelofibrosis in 2019 and died in 2022. Before her death, she made a final wish: that her husband and sister would remain close friends.
When Margo asked Mark to join her on Race Across the World after Julia's death, he accepted immediately. Their decision to take part in the show was made to honour Julia's memory and her dying request.
“We disliked one another for almost 40 years,” Margo said, reflecting on their journey from estrangement to friendship.
How did the pair honour Julia's memory at the awards?
Speaking on the red carpet, Mark said Julia would have been overjoyed to see them together at such a prestigious event.
“Julia would be absolutely beside herself, she'd love it, she loved things like this. Hopefully she's looking down on us thinking: 'Good on you two, you've done it, you've achieved it',” Mark told the ECHO.
Margo added that her sister would have been shocked but delighted, and noted there would likely be a few drinks later to celebrate, something Julia would have particularly enjoyed.
What did Margo say about representing Liverpool?
Margo spoke proudly of her role as an ambassador for her city throughout the show's broadcast earlier this year. She formed a special bond with fellow Scousers Kush Burman and Jo Diop, who went on to win the series.
“I'm so proud to represent Liverpool, it's the best city. Me, Jo and Kush, we really felt we wanted to do Liverpool proud and I hope we have,” Margo said.
The trio have maintained their friendship since filming concluded. Margo revealed that she and Kush regularly meet for walks in Sefton Park.
“He's an old soul and I'm a young soul so I think we meet in the middle,” she said with characteristic warmth.
Did Race Across the World win at the NTAs?
The show did not take home the award in its category, which included stiff competition from I'm A Celebrity and The Traitors. The celebrity edition of the latter ultimately claimed the prize. Despite this, those involved described the evening as thoroughly enjoyable and a fitting celebration of their achievement.
Who are Kush and Jo, the winners of Race Across the World?
The 19-year-olds from Toxteth captured the nation's affection when they won the series. Speaking in May when the finale aired, Kush described the experience as surreal.
“The whole experience has been surreal. It feels like a fever dream. Being able to represent ourselves and hopefully the city in a positive light has been such a privilege,” Kush said.
Throughout the competition, Jo and Kush served as true ambassadors for Liverpool, their warm personalities and open minds regularly winning over strangers who offered help along the way. One memorable moment saw the friends teaching a local in Kyrgyzstan the Scouse word “boss”.
What does this story tell us about family and reconciliation?
This heartwarming tale demonstrates that it is never too late to mend broken relationships. Margo and Mark's journey from decades of hostility to genuine friendship stands as a testament to the power of family loyalty and the importance of honouring the wishes of those we love.
Their story resonated deeply with viewers, who told the pair they laughed and cried with them throughout the series. The reception has been overwhelmingly positive, with Mark noting that people have been “so fantastic, so positive about the race and about our story”.
As Margo put it: “The reception we had about our story, people have been telling us they laughed and then they cried with us. We just feel like everyone has become a part of our story.”