Jonnie Irwin: A Place in the Sun presenter says he has terminal cancer and shares the warning sign he’s experiencing

Jonnie Irwin, Shows Host A place in the Sun and escape to the countryhas terminal cancer.

The 48-year-old host has kept his illness a secret but decided to go public with the news after learning the cancer had spread from his lungs to his brain.

He said in a new interview he hopes it will inspire people to “make the most of each day.”

In a new edition of Hi! magazineIrwin said, “I don’t know how much longer I have.”

He said he first became aware that something was wrong when he was filming Channel 4’s daytime series A place in the Sun in August 2020. He experienced blurry vision while driving and “within a week of flying back from filming,” he said he had “six months to live.”

“I had to go home and tell my wife who was taking care of our babies that she was pretty much alone,” he said, adding, “It was devastating. I could only apologize to her. I felt so responsible.”

Discussing his decision to come forward with the diagnosis, Irwin continued, “It’s gotten to the point now where it feels like I’m carrying a dirty secret, it’s become a monkey on my back. I hope that by shaking off that monkey, I can inspire people living with life-limiting prospects to make the most of each day, to help them see that even if you die, you can live a positive life.

“One day this will catch up with me, but I’m doing everything I can to delay that day for as long as possible. I owe it 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.”

Irwin has a three-year-old son named Rex and two-year-old twins named Rafa and Cormac with his wife Jessica.

He said that while he’s not sure how long she has to live, he’s trying to “stay positive” and tell himself he’s living with cancer, not dying from it.”

“I put little markers, things I want to be there for. I’ve gotten into the habit of saying, ‘Don’t plan ahead because I might not be doing well enough.’

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“But now I want to make plans. I want to create memories and capture those moments with my family because the reality is my boys will be growing up not knowing their father and it breaks my heart.”

Irwin also recommended getting life insurance, saying “it helped so much.”

“When I leave this planet I will do so knowing that Jess and the boys live in a house that is fully paid off and there is some money in the bank to live on.”

Prior to his presentation, Irwin played rugby for Lutterworth RFC and then Rugby Lions RFC until an accident broke his back and forced him to retire.

Irwin introduced A place in the Sun since 2004 and won the role after being selected from hundreds of applicants along with co-host Jasmine Harman.

He regularly appears at presentations giving tips on buying property abroad.

Irwin’s other credits include the BBC series escape to the country and To buy or not to buy.