Jonnie Irwin says he’s ‘taking each day as a gift and as it comes’ amid his terminal cancer diagnosis as he makes a rare red carpet appearance at the TRIC Awards
Jonnie Irwin has revealed he’s ‘taking each day as a gift and as it comes’ as he reunited with his Escape To The Country co-stars at the TRIC Awards on Tuesday.
The A Place In The Sun presenter, 49, is bravely battling terminal cancer after he was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020. It has since spread to his brain.
Speaking to The Mirror at the event, Jonnie said that just a day earlier he had to ‘peel himself out of bed’ and rely on painkillers, and he’s taking his diagnosis day-by-day.
He said: ‘Today is a good day. Yesterday I peeled myself out of bed and munched painkillers but so far so good today. I take every day as a gift and as it comes.’
At the ceremony, Jonnie was joined by his co-stars Nicki Chapman, Jules Hudson and Sonali Shah as they threw their support behind him.
Candid: Jonnie Irwin has revealed he’s ‘taking each day as a gift and as it comes’ as he reunited with his Escape To The Country co-stars at the TRIC Awards on Tuesday
He went onto tell the publication that Escape To The Country bosses have been a huge support to him, after he was axed from A Place In The Sun following his diagnosis.
‘With a notable exception from one production company, as soon as they found out they put their arm around me and, insurance provided, they looked for work when I could,” he said.
‘So any location that was anywhere near me I was first candidate for and they really helped me find work. They were understanding especially with travel arrangements. They were so supportive I can’t thank them enough.’
Jonnie’s appearance proved to be a bittersweet one, as he watched A Place In The Sun scoop the best Daytime Award, as he was axed from the show after revealing his cancer diagnosis.
The Channel 4 show beat This Morning to the gong at the award ceremony, which recognises the very best TV, radio and online shows.
Jonnie previously said he was ‘heartbroken’ when his contract wasn’t renewed, with Free Form Productions, who make the programme, saying they were ‘unable to secure adequate insurance cover’ for him to continue international filming amid the Covid crisis.
The 2023 TRIC Awards welcomed a host of Britain’s best known TV stars to Park Lane’s Grosvenor House on Tuesday including Eamonn Holmes and Charlotte Hawkins.
Jonnie looked smart in a light green jacket and waistcoat which he wore with dark trousers, shades and a cap.
Tough time: The A Place In The Sun presenter is bravely battling terminal cancer after he was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020. It has since spread to his brain
Sweet: Inside the event, Jonnie was seen embracing his co-star Jules Hudson
Embattled: Speaking to The Mirror at the event, Jonnie said that just a day earlier he had to ‘peel himself out of bed’ and rely on painkillers, and he’s taking his diagnosis day-by-day
Friends: He was joined by his co-stars from Escape To The Country and A Place In The Sun Nicki Chapman, Jules Hudson and Sonali Shah
Winners: But it was bittersweet for Jonnie as he watched A Place In The Sun scoop the best Daytime Award (team pictured with Ellie Simmonds)
Sad: Jonnie was heartbroken when he was axed from A Place In The Sun (pictured) as the production were ‘unable to secure insurance cover’ for him to continue international filming’
Chic: Sonali looked summery in a white dress
Style: Beside him Nicki wore a pink and yellow silk dress
Smart: Next to Jonnie Jules wore a beige jacket and pink shirt
Sad: It comes after earlier this month Jonnie revealed that he sometimes leaves his family home to spend time in a hospice amid his cancer battle
It comes after earlier this month Jonnie revealed that he sometimes leaves his family home to spend time in a hospice amid his cancer battle.
He admitted that the pain can get so bad that he seeks solace at a hospice, unwilling to let his family see him suffer.
Jonnie shares his three sons Rex, three, and twins Rafa and Corma, two, with his wife Jessica Holmes and also revealed they have not told their children about his diagnosis.
Speaking to Hello! magazine, he explained: ‘I remove myself on a number of occasions because I’m not good to be around when I’m in pain.
‘I’m like a bear with a sore head and I don’t want them to be around that.’
Discussing his death, the dad-of-three added: ‘It can happen at any time. I’m here to stop it for as long as possible.’
Tough: He admitted that the pain can get so bad that he seeks solace at a hospice, unwilling to let his family see him suffer
Health: Jonnie recently revealed he received irreversible damage to his liver after travelling overseas for cancer treatment
Horrible: Jonnie was given just six months to live when he was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, which has spread to his brain, in August 2020 (pictured with co-host Jasmine Harman)
The presenter also discussed his decision to keep the cancer battle a secret from his children.
‘I keep being asked, ‘Are you going to tell them?’ but tell them what? It would be horrible news that they’d have to get their heads around,’ he said.
‘And it would confuse the hell out of Rex – he’s got a shocking enough day coming. Let’s bury our heads in the sand for as long as possible.’
Jonnie recently revealed he received irreversible damage to his liver after travelling overseas for cancer treatment.
He told how he recently went to Turkey for treatment but has now been left with liver damage following the procedure.
He said: ‘It’s blocked in a place they can’t operate on, so there’s no point fighting the cancer elsewhere if the liver’s not working. It’s a cruel blow.’
The star told how he is keeping a positive attitude at home because he doesn’t know ‘how long I have left’.
He said: ‘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.’
Jonnie said he is confident his boys will have a good upbringing and a ‘softer one than if I was around’.
The star has continued to work throughout his cancer battle as he doesn’t have critical illness cover on his insurance.
Earlier this month, Jonnie issued a health update as he revealed doctors were monitoring changes in his medication to help manage his pain.
From Lutterworth to Lanzarote: How former estate agent Jonnie Irwin’s TV career took off after he beat hundreds to present A Place in the Sun
TV presenter Jonnie Irwin has revealed he is suffering with terminal cancer, saying he 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 was selected from hundreds of applicants alongside co-presenter Jasmine Harman to present Channel 4’s show A Place In The Sun – Home Or Away. The property programme was a surprise hit and syndicated widely. Irwin also regularly presents the BBC’s Escape To The Country and To Buy Or Not To Buy.
In January 2011, Sky 1 broadcast Irwin’s own show called Dream Lives for Sale, in which he helped people leave their lives in the UK in order buy their dream business.
Later that year, he started a new series The Renovation Game which aired on weekday mornings on Channel 4.
Outside of presenting, he is also a commercial director for Judicare, which describes itself as a ‘specialist law firm providing clients with legal advice on all matters related to overseas property’.
Irwin married Jessica Holmes in September 2016. Together they have three sons 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 left, but I try to stay positive and my attitude is that I’m living with cancer, not dying from it.’
The presenter has been undergoing brain therapy, which he described last week as ‘brutal’.
Jonnie said he was keeping his fingers crossed he will be out of hospital in time for Sunday, where he was due to make an appearance at A Place In The Sun Live at Kensington Olympia.
He said: ‘In hospital this week monitoring a changeover in my pain management regime.
‘Fingers crossed I’ll be out in time to make an appearance on Sunday for this weekends @aplaceinthesunofficial LIVE event at @olympialondon in Kensington. Hope to see you there.’
TRIC AWARDS WINNERS 2023
DAYTIME
A Place in the Sun – WINNER
Escape to the Country
Father Brown
This Morning
DRAMA
Call the Midwife
Death in Paradise
Doc Martin
Peaky Blinders – WINNER
ENTERTAINMENT
Bradley & Barney Walsh: Breaking Dad
Gogglebox – WINNER
Have I Got News for You
I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!
Strictly Come Dancing
FACTUAL
Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs – WINNER
The Martin Lewis Money Show
The Queen: 70 Glorious Years
The Repair Shop
GAME SHOW
Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel
Pointless
The 1% Club
The Chase – WINNER
INTERVIEW OF THE YEAR
Louis Theroux Interviews… Stormzy
Michael Palin: Into Iraq
Piers Morgan Interviews Cristiano Ronaldo – WINNER
Susanna Reid Interviews Prime Minister Boris Johnson at 10 Downing Street
LIVE EVENT
Six Nations Rugby
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
The State Funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II – WINNER
Wimbledon
MULTI-CHANNEL NEWS PROGRAMME
Channel 4 News
GB News Breakfast – WINNER
Good Morning Britain
ITV Evening News
Talk TV Breakfast Show
TRIC Special Award – Good Morning Britain
NEWS PRESENTER
Eamonn Holmes
Nigel Farage – WINNER
Piers Morgan
Stephen Dixon
Susanna Reid
PODCAST OF THE YEAR
Alan Carr’s ‘Life’s a Beach’
Dan Snow’s History Hit
That Peter Crouch Podcast – WINNER
Ukraine War Diaries
RADIO PERSONALITY
James Whale
Kate Garraway
Roman Kemp – WINNER
Sara Cox
Vanessa Feltz
RADIO PROGRAMME
Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp
James O’Brien
The Julia Hartley-Brewer Breakfast Show – WINNER
Kate Garraway
SOAP OF THE YEAR
Coronation Street
EastEnders
Emmerdale – WINNER
Casualty
SOAP ACTOR
Charlotte Jordan (Daisy Midgeley) – Coronation Street
Danielle Harold (Lola Pearce-Brown) – EastEnders – WINNER
Jeff Hordley (Cain Dingle) – Emmerdale
Ryan Prescott (Ryan Connor) – Coronation Street
STREAMED
After Life – WINNER
Bridgerton
House of the Dragon
The Crown
The White Lotus
TV PERSONALITY
Ant & Dec
Bradley Walsh – WINNER
Lee Mack
Michael McIntyre
Stacey Solomon
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