Revealed: Sun-kissed Jonnie Irwin’s video from an Italian olive oil farm in 2020 on his last A Place in the Sun trip before 48-year-old was given terminal cancer diagnosis – just weeks after birth of his twin sons and move to Newcastle
- Jonnie Irwin ill suffered blurred vision while driving in Italy where he was filming for A Place in the Sun
- TV host 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 which spread to his brain. ‘I don’t know how long I have left,’ he told Hello
- The devoted father-of-three said that he is spending as much time as possible with his wife and children
Smiling to camera while sipping Puglian olive oil in the summer sun, this is Jonnie Irwin on the fateful visit to Europe for A Place in the Sun where he would fall ill and later discover he had terminal cancer in his lungs and brain.
The TV host, 48, had felt dizzy and his vision became blurred while driving on the trip to Italy in August 2020, just two months after the birth of his twin sons.
The Leicestershire-born presenter, who had once hoped to play professional rugby, said: ‘Within a week of flying back from filming, I was being given six months to live. I had to go home and tell my wife, who was looking after our babies, that she was on her own pretty much. That was devastating. All I could do was apologise to her. I felt so responsible.’
Within weeks of the medical episode he was given six months to live. More than two years on, Jonnie has revealed the terminal diagnosis that has devastated him, his wife Jessica, 40, and their family. The married father of three hopes his honesty would inspire others to ‘make the most of every day’, adding: ‘I don’t know how long I have left’.
MailOnline can reveal that fans of his shows began noting that he was looking unwell around six months ago during a trailer for a new episode of Escape to the Country. On Instagram several people asked him if he was ‘okay’ because he looked thin and was always wearing a hat. Now it has emerged his body was being ravaged by cancer and chemotherapy, which left him thin and without his trademark shock of blonde hair.
Jonnie, Jessica and their three children son Rex, three, and two-year-old boys Rafa and Cormac in Newcastle, having moved there from Hertfordshire in June 2020 to be closer to family. Weeks later their twins were born in the city’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, and poignantly, given what was to come, he said: ‘We know having 3 boys under 18 months is gonna be hard but it’s better to have a surfeit of good news rather than a deficit’.
Two months later his world caved in while filming Channel 4’s A Place In The Sun in Italy in 2020. In a series of Instagram reels filmed before his illness was revealed, he spoke of his joy at being in Puglia where he stayed on an olive oil farm with orchards dating back to Roman times, calling it an ‘absolutely incredible’ place.
Speaking to Hello magazine last night, Jonnie said that he had been driving on that trip when his vision became blurred. He went to see a doctor on his return home and discovered he was terminally ill. Cancer drugs and chemotherapy have helped prolong his life for 18 months beyond what specialists had told him.
Jonnie Irwin on the trip to Italy for A Place in the Sun where he would suffer a dizzy spell and blurred vision that would lead to a terminal cancer diagnosis
The estate agent turned TV star sips olive oil on a dream trip to Puglia for the Channel 4 show
His diagnosis came two months after the birth of his twin sons Rafa and Cormac
Weeks before the boys arrived, the family had moved to Newcastle from Hertfordshire to start a new life closer to family
Six months ago Jonnie shared a trailer for a new episode of Escape to the Country. Fans and viewers expressed their concern for his health – but the presenter was secretly ill and undergoing chemotherapy and other treatments
A Place in the Sun presenter Jonnie Irwin, pictured with his wife Jessica, 40, and their three children, son Rex, three, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac, has revealed his terminal cancer diagnosis, admitting he doesn’t know ‘how long I have left’
The 48-year-old former estate agent’s TV career began in 2004 when he was selected from hundreds of applicants to co-present Channel 4’s A Place in the Sun with Jasmine Harman. In 2010 he won more fans by becoming a regular host of Escape to the Country on BBC1.
Last night he revealed he has been fighting lung cancer that had tragically spread to his brain. He told Hello magazine: ‘I’m carrying a dirty secret – it’s become a monkey on my back. I don’t know how long I have left, but I try to stay positive and my attitude is that I’m living with cancer, not dying from it. I set little markers – things I want to be around for. I got into the habit of saying, “Don’t plan ahead because I might not be well enough”.
‘But now I want to make plans. I want to make memories and capture these moments with my family because the reality is, my boys are going to grow up not knowing their dad and that breaks my heart.’
Jonnie said he had chosen to keep his illness private until now. His case is reminiscent of Dame Deborah James’ battle with bowel cancer, which she chose to make public to raise awareness and funds for research.
He said: ‘I might inspire people who are living with life-limiting prospects to make the most of every day, to help them see that you can live a positive life, even though you are dying. One day, this is going to catch up with me, but I’m doing everything I can to hold that day off for as long as possible.
‘I owe that 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.’
He has also urged people to get life insurance, which he finally decided to do when his twins were born.
He told Hello: ‘That has helped so much and when I leave this planet, I’ll do so knowing Jess and the boys are in a house that is fully paid off and there’s a bit of money in the bank for them to live off.’
Jonnie appeared on A Place In the Sun from 2004 until last year and was its longest serving presenter, alongside co-star Jasmine Harman, who is still with the show.
The Channel 4 series has lasted for 462 episodes since first airing on British screens in September 2000 and still rakes in some 472,000 viewers a week, according to recent figures.
After Irwin shared his diagnosis on Instagram, Harman wrote: ‘Words can’t fix much, but what lovely words of support you have had here Jonnie.
‘I know you know this already, but I am here for you my dear friend, and Jess and the boys. So, so brave. Sending lots of love. Speak soon.’
The 48-year-old (pictured with Jasmine Harman in 2004), presents Channel 4 ‘s A Place In The Sun and the BBC ‘s Escape To The Country
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. He has been trying to work while secretly having chemotherapy
Private battle: Jonnie, who shares three-year-old son Rex and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac with his wife Jessica, said he had chosen to keep his illness private until now
‘I don’t know how long I have left, but I try to stay positive and my attitude is that I’m living with cancer, not dying from it,’ Irwin (pictured with wife Jessica) bravely explained
A Place In The Sun presenter Jonnie Irwin shared his sad news on Instagram, revealing the full story is in Hello magazine
A Place In The Sun co-presenter Jasmine Harman wrote: ‘Words can’t fix much, but what lovely words of support you have had here Jonnie. I know you know this already, but I am here for you my dear friend, and Jess and the boys. So, so brave. Sending lots of love. Speak soon’
Former Homes Under The Hammer host Lucy Alexander wrote: ‘Jonnie. I get so much joy watching you & your boys on here. You’re one hellava flippin amazeballs presenter and I’m sending so soooo much love & strength.’
Escape To The Country’s Nicki Chapman wrote: ‘Love you guys so much’
He first appeared on Escape to the Country in 2010.
Jonnie’s social media was inundated with well wishes and messages of support in the wake of the news.
Ex-Homes Under The Hammer presenter Lucy Alexander wrote: ‘Jonnie. I get so much joy watching you & your boys on here.
‘You’re one hellava flippin amazeballs presenter and I’m sending so soooo much love & strength.’
Escape To The Country’s Nicki Chapman wrote: ‘Love you guys so much,’ while another user posted: ‘Jonnie I am so so sorry to hear your news…
‘Life is so cruel, to the nicest of people. I send you all our love to you and your family.’
Others chipped in: ‘Sending you and your beautiful family so much love and strength.
‘Thank you for sharing your news, I’m sure that many people who are in a similar situation will draw strength and inspiration from you.’
Jonnie has continued to work as much as possible, while undergoing bouts of chemotherapy and other treatments.
He was initially set on keeping his diagnosis between a very select group of people, but now has decided to share his experiences and explain the ordeal for others to learn from.
Irwin, pictured here in 2010 at the TV Choice Awards, said he got the first warning signs about his disease in 2020
‘One day, this is going to catch up with me, but I’m doing everything I can to hold that day off for as long as possible,’ Irwin said
Jonnie Irwin (pictured with his eldest son Rex) told Hello Magazine this month: ‘I don’t know how long I have left, but I try to stay positive and my attitude is that I’m living with cancer, not dying from it. I set little markers – things I want to be around for’
Viewers said they were ‘devastated’ and ‘heartbroken to learn of Irwin’s diagnosis, describing him as a ‘very natural, likeable fella’ and a ‘lovely man with a beautiful family’
Debbie Johnston credited Irwin with helping her find a place to live out her retirement, praising him as the ‘top of your game and so very engaging’
‘This is heartbreaking. I’ve watched Jonnie on A Place In the Sun as long as I can remember,’ tweeted Laura
Jonnie’s heartbreaking story is reminiscent of presenter Dame Deborah James’ battle with bowel cancer, which the mother-of-two sadly lost on June 28 this year.
Jonnie Irwin was speaking to Hello Magazine
The journalist, 40, was diagnosed with incurable cancer in 2016, going on to host You, Me and the Big C podcast on BBC Radio 5 Live about her struggles with her illness.
Back in May, Dame Deborah was given just days to live. But she fought her way through another two full months, defying the odds to spend her final weeks with her children and husband out of hospital.
She had an incredibly peaceful death, her husband Sebastien said.
‘People who didn’t know Debs saw her getting weaker and weaker in those final weeks,’ he said. ‘But mentally it was the opposite.
‘Through battling the fires of adversity she got stronger and in my eyes, it made her more and more radiant with every passing day. I’ve never loved her more.
‘She knew what was happening to her, yet she was able to still find those magical moments.’
He said he was in awe of what his wife had achieved while dealing with such emotional anguish.
In the months leading up to her death, Deborah had Prince William over for tea, who made her a Dame.
Living life on her own terms despite her illness, she designed Charity T-shirts a clothing line to raise millions more for her ‘Bowelbabe’ fund.
Dame Deborah James’ husband Sebastien told his terminally ill wife he would ‘look after the kids’ as she was on her deathbed and said she had an ‘incredibly peaceful death’.
Deborah is pictured with her 12-year-old daughter Eloise, left. Her father Sebastien says he feels a responsibility to carry on his wife’s positive outlook for their children
The Dame also wrote and published her second book How to Live When You Should Be Dead, while suffering from cancer, detailing how developing a positive mindset was key to enabling her to cope with her diagnosis.
Thinking of what he loved most about her, he said her way of finding joy in every moment, even in the darkest of times, was what he will miss the most.
Deborah’s candid posts about her progress and diagnosis, including videos of her dancing her way through treatment, won praise from the public and media alike.