Jonnie Irwin's wife, Jess has spoken about her fears on becoming a single mother to their three young boys - explaining that she is furious that the presenter's terminal cancer has taken away the best years of their lives as relatively new parents.
The 49-year-old former A Place in the Sun presenter was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020, and was subsequently given just six months to live after the disease had unfortunately spread to his brain.
And Jonnie revealed his illness to the media towards the end of last year, after holding it back due to fears that he would lose work and be treated different by the people around him.
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Jonnie and Newcastle-born Jess met in 2015, before marrying the next year. She quit her job as an accounts manager so the pair could go on to travel the world together - making memories to keep for an eternity.
They welcomed Rex into the world two years later, with twins Rafa and Cormac born in 2020 - eager to build a beautiful family life for the now family of five. However, their dreams were cruelly taken away from them when Jonnie was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
In a recent interview with The Sun, Jess said: "I’m angry that this is happening and that’s maybe a defence mechanism I’ve put in place. If I ever think about the reality it absolutely breaks my heart, for the boys and for Jonnie.
"It’s just very unfair and I’m angry at how much it’s ruined the last couple of years, how much it’s taken away from us enjoying having a new family.”
The 40-year-old from the North East also admitted that she hasn't had the time to come to terms with Jonnie's diagnosis, adding that she is "in denial about a lot of it".
Jonnie has given Jess his blessing to move on and meet someone else, but she says she is terrified of being single.
“It terrifies me that I’m suddenly going to be in a house on my own, the sole adult with three young boys. The prospect of being a single mum and a widow is awful to think about," she said.
Jonnie relocated the family from Hertfordshire to Newcastle, so that Jess and the kids can be close to her family when he sadly passes away. It is reported that he sold his property portfolio to buy the Tyneside residence so his wife can be supported by nearby family and friends.
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