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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Entertainment
Connie Rusk

Jonnie Irwin's heartbreaking step to secure wife's future after terminal cancer diagnosis

A Place In The Sun's Jonnie Irwin has revealed the huge steps he has taken to secure a comfortable future for his beloved wife and his three children when he's gone.

In a frank interview, the television presenter, 49, has spoken about his devastating terminal cancer diagnosis and how doctors have given him just months to live.

Jonnie was first being diagnosed with lung cancer in August 2020, which has since spread to his brain. Upon receiving the heartbreaking news his cancer was terminal, the TV favourite began taking steps to protect his family financially for the hardship ahead.

Jonnie has revealed he sold his property portfolio to buy a house in Newcastle for his wife Jessica, 40, so she can be supported by her family who live close by when he is no longer here.

A Place In The Sun's Jonnie Irwin has revealed the huge steps he has taken to secure a comfortable future for his beloved wife (Instagram)

Last year the family moved from Hertfordshire to Newcastle, with the TV star also having a stunning Victorian property in London.

“I want to go knowing that Jess and the boys are looked after. Im a family man and I need to put a roof over our heads and food on the table but work is something that’s really important to me. It also stops me thinking about cancer," Jonnie told The Sun.

The A Place In The Sun star says he has been working non stop to secure a comfortable future for his children- Rex, three, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac.

Jonnie has revealed he sold his property portfolio to buy a house in Newcastle for his wife Jessica, 40 (Channel 4)

"Even though I look thinner and I’m without hair, Escape to the Country and A Place In The Sun Ltd, which runs the show’s exhibitions, have employed me and I’ve been so impressed by them," he said.

The brave host revealed he is morphine and he has developed a liver problem from chemotherapy.

Jonnie and Jess met through mutual friends in 2016 and were married within a year after he popped the question in India.

Discussing his terminal diagnosis and death with Hello! magazine recently, Jonnie said: "I'm doing everything I can to hold that day off for as long as possible. I owe that to Jess and our boys. Some people in my position have bucket lists, but I just want us to do as much as we can as a family."

"I want to go knowing that Jess and the boys are looked after", he says (jonnieirwintv/Instagram)
Jonnie has been working non-stop to help provide for his family's future (jonnieirwintv/Instagram)

Over the years, the property expert has shared snippets of his and Jessica's blissful family life with their young children his 40,200 followers on Instagram.

"I love working on location but the downside is I miss some family moments," Jonnie captioned a snap of Jessica and two of their children dressed in Tottenham Hotspurs onesies last month.

"Got this through this morning with the extra pick me up of seeing the twins in their new onesies. Almost makes losing to them on Sunday palatable. #family #coys #twins #spursfamily."

Alongside going public with his diagnosis earlier this month, Jonnie is also encouraging others to take out life insurance.

"That has helped so much and when I leave this planet," the star explained in a recent interview. I’ll do so knowing Jess and the boys are in a house that is fully paid off and there’s a bit of money in the bank for them to live off."

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