Escape to the Country fans left emotional as episode with ‘brilliant presenter’ Jonnie Irwin airs four months after his tragic death

Escape to the Country fans were left emotional on Tuesday as an old episode hosted by the late Jonnie Irwin aired months after his tragic death.

The presenter died in February at the age of 50, three years after he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer in 2020.

He left behind his wife Jessica Holme and their young sons Rex, four, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac.

On Tuesday afternoon, the BBC aired a repeat of a 2022 episode in North Yorkshire, where Jonnie helped Ian find a new home for £350,000 after returning to Britain from Hong Kong.

But the episode was steeped in melancholy, as it was one of the last to feature Jonnie before his death.

The presenter died in February at the age of 50, three years after he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer in 2020.

He is survived by his wife Jessica Holme and their young sons Rex, four, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac (pictured)

Viewers couldn’t help but be distracted by the sad memory and took to social media to remember the host and praise him for his presenting skills and optimism.

They wrote: ‘I heard Jonnie Irwin’s distinctive voice on #EscapeToTheCountry. He fought his battle against cancer with dignity and without seeking attention. God bless you, you were a brilliant presenter.’

‘Episode of Escape to the Country with #JonnieIrwin can now be seen on Tuesday 11 June. Great to see that Jonnie still had his cheeky sense of humor; Johnnie Irwin episode today, RIP #escapetothecountry’.

‘So sad to turn on the TV and hear Jonnie Irwin’s voice talking about having three kids in diapers; Great to see one of the #JonnieIrwin episodes now on #EscapeToTheCountry BBC A. What a top man & presenter he was.’

It comes after Jonnie’s widow opened up about his final moments as she tearfully reflected on their loving marriage.

Jessica, who fell in love with the presenter in 2015 after meeting through mutual friends, said the pair were ‘not best friends, they were lovers’.

Speak with Hello! magazine last month, Jessica wiped away tears as she said, “He told me, ‘I’m so glad I met you,’ and that he knew the boys would have the most joy and fun that a person can bring.”

“We had so much fun, Jonnie and I, we were never boring, we weren’t best friends, we were lovers; there was passion’.

On Tuesday afternoon, the BBC aired a repeat of a 2022 episode in North Yorkshire, where Jonnie helped Ian find a new home for £350,000 after returning to Britain from Hong Kong.

But the episode was steeped in melancholy, as it was one of the last to feature Jonnie before his death

Viewers couldn’t help but be distracted by the sad memory and took to social media to remember the host and praise him for his presenting skills and optimism

Jonnie hosted the property show A Place In The Sun from 2004 until 2021, when he was forced to resign due to his terminal cancer diagnosis.

Jessica cared for Jonnie at their home during the last days of his life and was supported by nurses.

She said his death was “cruel considering how quickly it happened” when he came home from hospital and did not leave his bed before dying days later.

Jess admitted that she was in denial that this was the end because she expected him to have a “neurological decline” because he “playfully gave her grief” about something days earlier.

She revealed that their eldest son Rex had gone to Jonnie’s room to see him before he passed away, and Jess explained how she believes their little boy ‘knew something was wrong because he kissed Jonnie’s hand’.

Jessica announced the news of his death earlier this year in a heartbreaking tribute.

Jonnie was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020 and two years later it was announced that the cancer had spread and was terminal.

Jessica remained a steady source of support during her husband’s challenging health struggles.

It comes after Jonnie’s widow opened up about his final moments as she tearfully reflected on their loving marriage

Jessica, who fell in love with the presenter in 2015 after meeting through mutual friends, said the pair were ‘not best friends, they were lovers’

The couple, who married in 2016 in what Jonnie lovingly described as the “happiest weekend of my life,” have three sons.

When Jonnie was fit and healthy, he enjoyed several walking holidays with his group of ‘brothers’ and Jess revealed that she recently gave the friends some of his ashes to ‘sprinkle on a mountain’ in the Lake District.

She told the publication: ‘On their last trip they hired e-bikes to make things easier for Jonnie and went to the Lake District. Two weeks ago the others went back and I said to them, “Would you like to take a piece of him with you?” so they scattered some of his ashes on the top of a mountain’.

Jess further revealed that the family are currently looking for a special tree to plant in Northumberland so that Jonnie’s ashes can be planted in the roots, as ‘that was his wish’.

She added that his death was “cruel because of how quick it was” as he returned home from hospital and did not leave his bed before dying days later.

She revealed that their eldest son Rex went to Jonnie’s room to see him before he passed away and Jess explained how she believes their son ‘knew something was wrong because he kissed Jonnie’s hand’