A Place in the Sun star Jonnie Irwin, 48, reveals his heartbreaking terminal cancer diagnosis
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‘I don’t know how much longer I have’: A Place in the Sun star and father of three Jonnie Irwin, 48, reveals he has terminal cancer after falling ill while filming the show on location in Italy
- Irwin said he hopes sharing his terminal diagnosis will inspire other people to ‘make the most of every day’
- The 48-year-old broadcaster presents Channel 4’s A Place In The Sun and the BBC’s Escape To The Country
- He was diagnosed with lung cancer that spread to his brain. “I don’t know how much longer I have,” he said to Hello
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TV host Jonnie Irwin has said he hopes sharing his terminal cancer diagnosis will inspire others to “make the most of every day.”
The 48-year-old, who presents Channel 4’s A Place In The Sun and the BBC’s Escape To The Country, revealed that his lung cancer had spread to his brain. Hello magazine: ‘I don’t know how much longer I have.’
Jonnie revealed that the first warning sign of his illness came while filming A Place In The Sun in Italy in August 2020, when his vision became blurred while driving.
“Within a week of flying back from filming, I was given six months to live,” he said.
“I had to go home and tell my wife, who was taking care of our babies, that she was pretty much on her own. That was devastating.
“All I could do was apologize to her. I felt so responsible.’
Jonnie, who shares three-year-old son Rex and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac with wife Jessica, said he had chosen to keep his illness private until now.
Tragic news: The 48-year-old, who presents Channel 4’s A Place In The Sun and the BBC’s Escape To The Country, revealed his lung cancer had spread to his brain
Private struggle: Jonnie, who shares three-year-old son Rex and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac with wife Jessica, said he had chosen to keep his illness private until now
He said, ‘Now it’s got to the point where I feel like I’m carrying a dirty secret with me, it’s turned into a monkey on my back.
“I hope that by getting rid of that monkey, I can inspire people with life-limiting prospects to make the most of every day, to help them see that you can live a positive life even when you’re dying.
“One day this will catch up with me, but I’m doing everything I can to keep that day free as long as possible.
“I owe it to Jess and our boys. Some people in my position have bucket lists, but I just want us to do as much as we can as a family.”
Jonnie continued to work as much as possible.
He said, ‘I don’t know how much longer I have, but I’m trying to stay positive and my attitude is that I’m living with cancer and not dying from it.
“I put little markers, things I want to be close to. I got into the habit of saying, “Don’t plan ahead, because I may not be good enough.”
“I don’t know how much longer I have, but I’m trying to stay positive and my attitude is that I’m living with cancer and not dying from it,” he explained boldly.
“But now I want to make plans. I want to make memories and capture these moments with my family because the reality is that my boys grow up without knowing their father and that breaks my heart.”
Also, the TV presenter urges people to take out life insurance.
He added: “That has helped so much and when I leave this planet I will do so knowing that Jess and the boys are in a house that has been paid off in full and that there is a little money in the bank to live on. ‘