Jonnie Irwin has paid a heartfelt tribute to his wife Jessica Holmes as they celebrate seven year wedding anniversary amid his terminal cancer diagnosis.
Back in 2020, the A Place in the Sun presenter was given just six months to live after a devastating terminal lung cancer diagnosis but only publicly revealed his diagnosis two years later in 2022.
Since then, the beloved TV host has outlived doctor’s predictions with the help of medication, radiotherapy and chemotherapy and the support of his family.
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The 49-year-old took to Instagram yesterday (1 October) to share with his 223k followers a loving tribute to Jessica, who he called an 'angel', to mark their seven-year anniversary.
Uploading a photo from a 'perfect' dinner date together at a family run neighbourhood bistro, Jonnie captioned the post: "7 years married to this Angel. I use this term because the love she shows to others is beyond comparison."
Opening up about the special occasion, Jonnie told fans: "Last night was just us; chatting, planning and gossiping. So good. Amazing food and staff at Lovage Jesmond made our evening perfect."
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The pair first tied the knot back in 2016, before enjoying a romantic honeymoon in the Lake District, which Jonnie described at the time as the 'happiest weekend of my life'.
Opening up about his cancer to Hello magazine last year, the Escape to the Country star 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."
Jonnie and Jessica share three children together; four-year-old Rex and three-year-old twins, Rafa and Cormac.
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The couple have decided not to tell their kids about their dad’s illness and are instead focused on making memories with them.
"The reality is, my boys are going to grow up not knowing their dad and that breaks my heart," he told Hello.
Just last week (24 September), however, Jonnie revealed he’s about to be back on our TV screens with some brand-new content.
He shared on Instagram that a 'brand new episode' of Escape to the Country would be airing on BBC One the following day (25 September) at 3pm.
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"I head down to Somerset and look at some fantastic rural properties in some beautiful locations. Plus I also get to visit a cider farm - perks of the job," he wrote. "Hope you enjoy!"
Though he hasn't told his kids yet, Irwin told Hello he makes sure to 'encourage' them in life.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.
Topics: Celebrity, Health, Sex and Relationships, Jonnie Irwin
Rhiannon Ingle