A Place In The Sun star Ben Hillman gave a gushing speech at the TRIC Awards to his "fantastic" co-star Jonnie Irwin amid his terminal cancer battle.
The Channel 4 star and his co-stars accepted an award presented by Ellie Simmonds earlier this week as Ben acknowledged Jonnie's hard work on the property show. 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.
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. But Ben took to the stage at the awards ceremony and thanked his former co-star in the sweet speech.
Ben said: "Wow. I am so sweaty I can't believe it. I have literally just got back from holiday. I took the children to school this morning, I went to class assembly, I ran up here and I never expected this."
He added: "This is fantastic, thank you to TRIC, thank you to everybody that has voted for us. It is 23 years almost now which is unbelievable, there are so many people from behind the scenes here who do amazing work and keep the show on the road."
He continued: "Gosh, I am exhausted...thank you everybody that voted. Obviously, someone we would like to mention is a fantastic presenter who has been on the show for decades, Jonnie Irwin."
While looking at the audience, Ben added: "I know you're out there somewhere, Jonnie. This one is for you too, Jonnie, and thanks Channel 4, I think that's got it."
Speaking at the Awards, Jonnie told The Mirror: "Today is a good day. Yesterday I peeled myself ou of bed and munched painkillers but so far so good today. I take every day as a gift and as it comes."
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