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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Victoria Johns

A Place in the Sun's Jonnie Irwin was 'thrown on scrap heap' after cancer diagnosis

A Place in the Sun star Jonnie Irwin claims he was "thrown on a scrap heap" after revealing his terminal cancer diagnosis.

The father-of-three, 49, announced last year he had months to live after liver cancer had tragically spread to his brain.

Jonnie was diagnosed two and a half years earlier, but said he kept it secret because he "had to pay the bills."

Speaking on the OneChat podcast, he said: "As soon as you say you’ve got cancer, people just write you off, people just think you are going to cark it.

“Unfortunately, one of the companies claimed they couldn’t insure me and so they didn’t renew my contract and left a massive hole in my income.

"I felt like I’d been thrown on a scrap heap. They recruited within a week and then I saw someone else doing my job.”

A Place in the Sun star Jonnie Irwin claims he was 'thrown on the scrap heap' after revealing his terminal cancer diagnosis (Channel 4)

Last year, a spokesperson for Freeform Productions said: "Jonnie has been a hugely important part of the A Place in The Sun family for over 18 years and all of us were deeply saddened by his diagnosis.

"Much loved by everyone on the production, no stone was left unturned in trying to enable Jonnie to continue his international filming with us during Covid but the production company were unable to secure adequate insurance cover for him."

They added: "Whilst we were unable to continue to film abroad with him, we're delighted that he was able to remain as part of our team in the UK for exhibitions.

The star with his wife Jessica and their three children (Instagram)

"We of course understand how frustrating this must be for him at this incredibly difficult time."

In March, Jonnie shared a selfie with former co-host Jasmine Harman at A Place in the Sun's live show at Manchester.

However, the star was quick to clarify he would not be returning to the Channel 4 show.

Taking to Instagram he said: "Last week I got to team up with my mate again at @aplaceinthesunofficial Live. It was the busiest for years but, for some reason, the papers are talking about it as a comeback for me.

"Just to confirm @aplaceinthesunofficial is a separate company running the website and affiliated business and has supported me continuously though-out which I’m eternally grateful for. Here’s looking forward to the next one!"

Jonnie recently shared this 'frazzled' selfie from a train (@Jonnieirwintv/Instagram)

Jonnie updated fans about his health last month after sharing a frazzled-looking selfie from a train.

Captioning the snap, he wrote: "Must’ve looked a right state - crazed and panicked Chemo boy dragging a wheeled case with a strange transparent shoulder bag falling down his arm and a hot crossed bun hanging from the side of his mouth attempting to run for the departing train.

"Thankfully the kind guardsman held the door at the far end. My penance was that my seat was at the opposite end so I had to walk past all the passengers who had viewed this spectacle."

The Mirror has contacted Channel 4 for comment on this story.

* Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter and Facebook .

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