A Place in the Sun star Jonnie Irwin shares his dying wish after terminal cancer diagnosis
Jonnie Irwin has detailed what his dying wish is after being told he had ‘months to live’ due to being diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The popular presenter of A Place in the Sun was diagnosed with lung cancer in August 2020.
It’s said that while filming for the real estate show in Italy, Irwin’s vision had gone blurry while driving.
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He was later told by doctors he had 'six months to live'.
The 49-year-old went public with his terminal cancer diagnosis in November 2022 and announced that it had spread from his lungs to his brain.
In an interview with Hello!, the presenter said that he didn’t know 'how long I have left, but I try to stay positive'.
The Escape to the Country star, who lives in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne with his wife Jess Holmes, 40, and his three sons Rex, four, and twins Rafa and Cormac, two, revealed he wants to die in the family home.
Regarding his dying wish, he said: "I really want to be at home and Jess is fine with that. And apparently, I'll go peacefully when I do go. I'll just require more and more sleep.
“I want to make memories and capture these moments with my family because the reality is, my boys are going to grow up not knowing their dad and that breaks my heart.”
Despite wanting to die with his nearest and dearest Irwin has recently revealed that he often ‘removes’ himself from the house and stays at a hospice.
He said: "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 [the family] to be around that.”
However, Irwin has elsewhere insisted that he wants to continue making memories with his three sons.
"I want to make plans. I want to make memories and capture these moments with my family because the reality is, my boys are going to grow up not knowing their dad and that breaks my heart," he said.
"Some people in my position have bucket lists, but I just want us to do as much as we can as a family."
According to his wife of seven years, the boys 'gravitate to him' and like to show off and get his attention.
However, she stated that the trio understand that their dad 'needs his rest' and that he can’t 'play football for hours'.
“Story time is a big thing at bedtime and that is something I know Jonnie treasures with them,” she said.
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
Ella Scott