Jonnie Irwin says he is "taking every day as a gift and as it comes" amid his terminal cancer battle.
The former A Place In The Sun presenter was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2020, before announcing at a later date it had spread to his brain. The father-of-three, 49, was told he had 'months to live' as he focuses on spending as much time with his family - wife Jessica Holmes, and kids, Rex, four, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac.
The Channel 4 property expert posed alongside his BBC Escape to the Country co-stars at the TRIC Awards, and told The Mirror: "Today is a good day. Yesterday I peeled myself out of bed and munched painkillers but so far so good today. I take every day as a gift and as it comes."
Jonnie previously said that he felt "thrown on a scrap heap" by A Place In The Sun bosses after revealing his cancer diagnosis amid claims they couldn't insure him. However, he told the publication that the BBC co-stars Jules Hudson and Nicki Chapman were like a "family" to him and supported him throughout his journey.
"With a notable exception from one production company, as soon as they found out they put their arm around me and, insurance provided, they looked for work when I could," he said.
"So any location that was anywhere near me I was first candidate for and they really helped me find work. They were understanding especially with travel arrangements. They were so supportive I can't thank them enough."
He added: "They are family. It's recognition for all the work that production, post production and crew all put in. I've worked on Escape for coming up to ten years, but 20 years in the industry and I’ve had the most fun and its the most like a family of all the shows I've done.
“I’m hopeful that we will come away with something but it's a night out in London as well isn't it!? It's all good whatever happens really."
Jonnie also opened up about his decision to keep his diagnosis quiet for two years, before coming clean to his fans. He said: "As soon as I spoke out I felt I could breathe. I could talk to people about why I felt ill and why I was losing weight.
"I didn't have to answer Karens on Instagram saying 'You look ill' 'You don't look well.' 'You need a cooked meal.'
"I also wanted to show that because you have cancer it doesn't mean you are a different person. You can still work. Look at me now! I don't think the doctors were expecting me to make 2023 but here I am and I'm available at work. And I'm especially available to parties!"
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