Jonnie Irwin has revealed he was given just six months to live, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer two years ago.
The popular presenter, best known for hosting Channel 4’s A Place In The Sun and the BBC’s Escape To The Country, has been fighting lung cancer which has sadly spread to his brain.
The broadcaster, who shares three young sons with his wife Jessica Holmes, revealed the news during an emotional interview with Hello! magazine.
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The 48-year-old said: “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 was diagnosed with cancer while filming A Place In The Sun in Italy back in 2020.
The presenter first noticed something was wrong when his vision became blurry while he was driving.
“Within a week of flying back from filming, I was being given six months to live,” he said.
“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.”
Cancer drugs and chemotherapy have helped prolong Jonnie’s prognosis, but he’s unsure how long he has left.
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Speaking about keeping his cancer battle a secret until now, he said: “It’s got to the point now where it feels like I’m carrying a dirty secret – it’s become a monkey on my back.”
Jonnie is hoping he can “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,” he added.
“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.”
You can read Jonnie’s full interview in the new issue of Hello! magazine.
