A Place In The Sun star Jonnie Irwin on his cancer battle: 'I know my kids won’t remember me'

Virgin Radio

24 Nov 2022, 15:50

A Place In The Sun star Jonnie Irwin

Credit: Rex

Brave TV presenter Jonnie Irwin has opened up about his terminal cancer diagnosis. The former A Place in the Sun frontman has spoken about the prospects of leaving his children and wife behind.

In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Jonnie said: “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.

“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.

“And someone else is probably going to bring them up. I’ve done the hard yards with them and someone else will get the easy bit.”

The host was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020 and was told he had just six months to live after his vision became blurry while driving.

The Escape to the Country host previously 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."

Having chosen to finally speak out about his illness after keeping it private, he explained: "It's got to the point now where it feels like I'm carrying a dirty secret, it's become a monkey on my back.

"I hope that by shaking that monkey off, I might inspire people who are living with life-limiting prospects to make the most of every day, to help them see that you can live a positive life, even though you are dying."

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