A Place In The Sun’s Jonnie Irwin has been ‘showered with love’ by fans

A Place In The Sun star Jonnie Irwin has revealed he has been ‘showered with love’ by fans since revealing he was suspended from the Channel 4 show following his cancer diagnosis.

The presenter, 49, was given just six months to live when he was diagnosed in August 2020 with stage four lung cancer, which has spread to his brain, and publicly shared his prognosis earlier this month.

Now Jonny has admitted that he had “no idea how many people liked what he did” on the series, until he was inundated with supportive comments and messages from fans expressing sympathy.

He told The sun“I’ve had messages from people all over the world wishing me well. Thousands of people have left heartwarming comments on Instagram and I promise I’ll try to read them all.

“They range from practical, scientific advice to that of very religious people. There are thousands and thousands of them on my social media platforms and it’s been great.

“I didn’t hide, but I don’t care about the spotlight. I had no idea how much people liked what I did and I know that now.’

In an interview on Wednesday, Jonny revealed that after sharing his cancer diagnosis with A Place In The Sun bosses, his contract was not renewed, with Jonnie admitting the decision ‘broke my heart’.

The bosses expressed their condolences to him in a statement on Thursday as they clarified why they could not renew his contract following his cancer diagnosis.

Free Form Productions, which makes the programme, said they were ‘unable to obtain adequate insurance cover’ for him to continue filming internationally during the Covid-19 crisis and said they were ‘frustrated’ with the decision understood.

A statement released to MailOnline read: ‘Jonnie has been a hugely important part of the A Place In The Sun family for over 18 years and we were all deeply saddened by his diagnosis.

Loved by everyone in the production, no stone was left unturned to enable Jonnie to continue his international filming with us during Covid, but the production company was unable to secure adequate insurance cover for him.

“While we were unable to continue filming abroad with him, we are delighted that he was able to continue to be part of our team in the UK for exhibitions. Of course, we understand how frustrating this must be for him during this incredibly difficult time.

The former estate agent’s TV career began in 2004 when he was selected from hundreds of applicants to co-host A Place in the Sun with Jasmine Harman.

He was the programme’s longest-serving presenter, alongside Jasmine, who is still with the show.

In 2010, he gained more fans by becoming a regular host of Escape to the Country, and has continued filming for the show since his diagnosis and throughout treatment.

Addressing his hatchet on Thursday’s episode of Good Morning Britain, he said: ‘When I was told I couldn’t do it they broke my heart but I don’t think they thought of me. I am overwhelmed by some people and the desire to help me and my family.

“Not working on A Place In The Sun has affected my mental health. I’m a family man now, but being a TV presenter defines you and not being able to travel and take care of my family.”

Speaking to The Sun, he added: ‘Within two weeks there was someone else on TV doing my job, I just feel like after 18 years I’ve made a little more of them. That was my first job in TV and it was special to me.”

Jonnie’s diagnosis came while filming Channel 4’s A Place In The Sun in Italy in 2020 after suffering from blurred vision while driving.

Within a week of flying home, doctors told him he was terminally ill and had only six months to live, although cancer drugs and chemotherapy have extended his life.

Earlier this month, MailOnline uncovered footage of Jonnie sipping Apulian olive oil on his last trip for A Place In The Sun in 2020, before discovering he had terminal cancer. The episode was never aired.

During an appearance on GMB, Jonnie revealed that his focus is currently on “making memories” for his children — son Rex, three, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac — because he fears they won’t remember him after he dies. .

He explained, ‘It’s about making memories for me, I know my kids are so young they won’t remember me.

“I want to at least get it on camera or film to show them that the early days were brilliant. I think our house will be extravagant for Christmas.’

He also described the struggles he and his wife have had in dealing with his diagnosis around their children, saying, “It’s only recently that I’ve been thinking about when we’re going to tell them, they’re still so young.”

“Right now I’m me, a thinner version, no need to tell them. I think it will be a lot for them to get their head around.

“I do my best to bury my head in the sand because what’s the point of thinking about cancer for days when there are gas bills to worry about. The cost of living is a concern because I won’t witness it, but my family will.”

He continued, “I was scared to a certain extent about what happened, when people find out you have cancer it’s terrifying and I lose work because of it, professionally I didn’t want to lose work, people treat you differently.

“Had I withheld that information, I could have lived a normal life. There are certain busy bodies on social media saying I look sick.”

He shared his diagnosis, he said Hello: ‘I carry a dirty secret with me – it has become a monkey on my back. I don’t know how long I have left, but I’m trying to stay positive and my attitude is that I’m living with cancer, not dying from it.

“I put little markers — things that I want to be around. I got into the habit of saying, “Don’t plan ahead because I may not be good enough.”

“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 will grow up not knowing their father and that breaks my heart.”