A Place in the Sun’s Jonnie Irwin opens up about a devastating mistake he made after being diagnosed with terminal cancer

A Place in the Sun host Jonnie Irwin has opened up about the devastating mistake he made after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

The 49-year-old spokesman was told two years ago that he had six months to live after doctors discovered he had lung cancer that had spread to his brain.

Escape to the Country host Jonnie, who shares son Rex with wife Jessica Holmes, twins Rafa and Cormac, three and two, appeared on Morning Live on Thursday as he told hosts Gethin Jones and Kimberley Walsh he wished he could get life insurance have. else.

He explained: “So if you get an incurable diagnosis, you’re covered while you’re away.

“But an incurable diagnosis can last for years and have consequences… Your illness will affect your work. So if you can’t work and you’re waiting for that payout, who pays the rent?

“So seriously ill is insurance that you take out on the side and that starts as soon as you get sick.

Heartbreaking: The presenter was told he had six months to live two years ago and wishes he had made different life insurance decisions

“I didn’t take it and it took a lot of pressure to work days I didn’t want to work and that’s a mistake I tell everyone.”

Jonnie said he was experiencing “strange images” while filming in Italy, prompting a crew member to take him to hospital after realizing the symptoms.

He recently said he was keeping his terminal cancer diagnosis a secret for fear he would lose his job if TV bosses found out he was dying.

Concerns: Jonnie recently said he kept his terminal cancer diagnosis a secret for fear he would lose his job if TV bosses found out he was dying (pictured with A Place in the Sun host Jasmine Harman).

Jonnie – who has said there is no need to tell his children about his terminal diagnosis because they are too young – has insisted on putting ‘food on the table’ for his family, but says producers are quick to ‘shut them down’ to write’ when they find out about his diagnosis.

He said: “As soon as people find out you have cancer, they write you off. Yes, I’m stage four and it’s over – but not yet, so I’m living my life while I can.

“Yes, I am a family man and need a roof over my head and food on the table, but work is very important to me. It also makes me stop thinking about cancer.”

Family: Jonnie, who shares son Rex, three, and twins Rafa and Cormac, two, with wife Jessica, said there was no need to tell his children about his illness because they were too young

Jonnie also claims that A Place in the Sun did not renew his contract after learning of his diagnosis, even though he wanted to continue with the show.

He told The Sun: “As soon as I told A Place in the Sun about my diagnosis, they paid me for the rest of the season but didn’t extend my contract. They knew I wanted to keep going.

‘It hurts. It broke my heart. I feel very let down. I can’t watch the show right now.”

However, Channel 4 claimed that production company Freeform was unable to “obtain sufficient insurance” to cover Jonnie.

On screen: Jonnie, along with co-presenter Jasmine Harman, was chosen from hundreds of applicants to host Channel 4’s property show A Place In The Sun – Home Or Away in 2004

A statement from Channel 4 and production company Freeform said: “Every effort was made to enable Jonnie to continue his international filming with us during COVID, but the production company was unable to secure adequate insurance cover for him.

“Obviously we understand how frustrating it must be for him at this incredibly difficult time.”

While Jonnie is “impressed” with Escape to the Country and A Place In The Sun Ltd for hiring him, the star insists he “didn’t get that support” from A Place in the Sun.

Jonnie, who recently said he was “overwhelmed with love” after opening up about his cancer diagnosis, said he could get medical clearances and assurances from his oncologist that he was fit to work, but he claims bosses said they weren’t not sufficiently insured. .

From Lutterworth to Lanzarote: How ex-estate agent Jonnie Irwin’s TV career took off after beating hundreds to host A Place in the Sun

TV presenter Jonnie Irwin has revealed he has terminal cancer and 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 an estate agent.

In 2004, Irwin, along with co-presenter Jasmine Harman, was chosen from hundreds of applicants to present Channel 4’s A Place In The Sun – Home Or Away. The real estate show 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 aired Irwin’s own show called Dream Lives for Sale, in which he helped people give up their lives in the UK to buy their dream business.

Later that year he launched a new series, The Renovation Game, which aired weekday mornings on Channel 4.

In addition to presenting, he is also the commercial director of Judicare, which describes itself as a “specialized law firm providing legal advice to clients on all matters relating to offshore real estate”.

Irwin married Jessica Holmes in September 2016. They have three sons together 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 but I’m trying to stay positive and my attitude is that I’m living with cancer and not dying from it.”