Jonnie Irwin admits there’s ‘no chance’ kids will remember me ‘if I die this year’ | TV & Radio | Showbiz & TV
A Place In The Sun presenter Jonnie Irwin was diagnosed with cancer in 2020 and revealed last year he had been given “months to live” at the time. In a candid update, the 50-year-old heartbreakingly stated his kids have “no chance” of remembering him if he were to die this year.
Best known for being on the Channel 4 staple property hunt show A Place in the Sun, Jonnie has three young sons, Rex, Rafa and Cormac, with his wife, Jess.
He was told three years ago he had months to live following his lung cancer diagnosis, and the illness soon spread to his brain.
The presenter has taken to social media to keep fans updated in recent months, and has recently talked about his fears over his children having no memory of him.
“Every time something really nice happens with them, I have this thing knocking at my door, saying, ‘Don’t get too happy because you’re not going to be around much longer,'” he explained.
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The property expert went on: “Then I think they’re not going to remember me, they’re really not.
“They’re too young and if I die this year there’s no chance they will have memories.”
Speaking to The Sun, Jonnie continued: “I tried to play football with Rex the other day and was in goal and I couldn’t get near the ball.”
He continued: “It was so frustrating. I’m very sporty and suddenly it’s just like… it was as if it was the first time I’d attempted football.
The star had initially chosen to keep his illness private, but decided to open up on his cancer in 2022.
He explained the first warnings of his illness came while he was filming A Place in the Sun in August 2020.
“Within a week of flying back from filming, I was being given six months to live,” he told Hello! magazine.
“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.”
Jonnie’s TV co-stars have shared tributes with the “brave” property expert.
Towards the end of last year, A Place in the Sun’s Danni Menzies shared a photograph of herself hugging Jonnie next to their co-star Jean Johansson.
She captioned the poignant pic: “You ledge @jonnieirwintv so incredibly brave to share your diagnosis with the world.
She added: “A true inspiration to us all to cherish all the moments we can with the people we love.
