Jonnie Irwin reveals medical procedure caused irreversible damage to his liver
‘It’s a cruel blow’: Jonnie Irwin reveals that medical procedure for terminal cancer treatment caused irreversible damage to his liver
Jonnie Irwin has revealed that he suffered irreversible damage to his liver after traveling abroad for cancer treatment.
The A Place In The Sun presenter, 49, is brave battling terminal cancer after being diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020. It has since spread to his brain.
Speak against Hello! magazineJonnie told how he had recently gone to Turkey for treatment, but now suffered liver damage after the procedure.
He said: ‘It’s stuck in a place where they can’t operate, so there’s no point in fighting the cancer elsewhere if the liver isn’t working. It’s a brutal blow.
‘It could happen at any time. I’m here to stop it as long as possible.’
Health: Jonnie Irwin has revealed he suffered irreversible damage to his liver after traveling abroad for cancer treatment
Candid: Jonnie told how he recently went to Turkey for treatment, but has now suffered liver damage after the procedure
The TV presenter also revealed that he is currently in pain with his cancer, saying he’s “not good to be around when I’m in pain.”
Jonnie shares his three sons Rex, three, and twins Rafa and Corma, two, with his wife Jessica Holmes.
The star shared how he stays positive at home because he doesn’t know “how long I have left.”
He said, ‘My attitude is that I’m living with cancer, not dying from it. I set little markers – things I want to be around. I got into the habit of saying, “Don’t plan ahead because I may not be good enough.”
Jonnie grew up in Bitteswell, Leicestershire, and attended Lutterworth Grammar School before embarking on his career as an estate agent.
The presenter also explained why he and Jessica kept his fight against cancer a secret from their children.
“I keep getting asked, ‘Are you going to tell them?’ but tell them what? It would be terrible news for them to keep their wits about them,” he said.
“And it would confuse Rex—he’s got a shocking day ahead of him. Let’s stick our heads in the sand as long as possible.’
He said: ‘It’s stuck in a place where they can’t operate, so there’s no point in fighting the cancer elsewhere if the liver isn’t working. It’s a cruel blow’
Horrible: Jonnie 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 (pictured with co-host Jasmine Harman)
Interview: The TV presenter also revealed that he is currently in pain with his cancer, saying he’s ‘not good to be around when I’m in pain’
Jonnie said he’s confident his boys will get a good upbringing and a “softer upbringing than when I was around.”
The Escape To The Country star has continued to work throughout his battle with cancer because he has no critical illness coverage on his insurance policy.
Earlier this month, Jonnie released a health update when he revealed that doctors were monitoring changes in his medication to help manage his pain.
The presenter is undergoing brain therapy, which he described as “brutal” last week.
Jonnie said he kept his fingers crossed that he will be out of the hospital in time for Sunday where he was due to perform at A Place In The Sun Live at Kensington Olympia.
He said: ‘In the hospital this week to monitor a change in my pain management regimen.
Fingers crossed, I’ll be out in time to show up on Sunday for this weekend’s @aplaceinthesunofficial LIVE event at @olympialondon in Kensington. I hope to see you there.’
From Lutterworth to Lanzarote: How former estate agent Jonnie Irwin’s TV career took off after beating hundreds to present A Place in the Sun
TV presenter Jonnie Irwin has revealed he suffers from terminal cancer and says he hopes sharing his terminal cancer diagnosis will inspire others to ‘make the most of every day’
Born in 1973, Jonnie Irwin grew up in Bitteswell, Leicestershire, and attended Lutterworth Grammar School and Community College before becoming a real estate agent.
In 2004 Irwin along with co-presenter Jasmine Harman were selected from hundreds of applicants to present Channel 4’s show A Place In The Sun – Home Or Away. The real estate program was a surprise hit and was widely syndicated. Irwin also regularly presents BBC’s Escape To The Country and To Buy Or Not To Buy.
In January 2011, Sky 1 broadcast Irwin’s own show called Dream Lives for Sale in which he helped people leave their lives in the UK to buy their dream business.
Later that year he started a new series The Renovation Game which aired weekday mornings on Channel 4.
In addition to presenting, he is also a commercial director for Judicare, which describes itself as a ‘specialty law firm providing legal advice to clients on all matters related to foreign real estate’.
Irwin married Jessica Holmes in September 2016. Together they have three sons and lived in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire before moving to Newcastle.
On November 13, Irwin was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. He told Hello magazine, “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.”