A Place In The Sun host Jonnie Irwin has opened up about his cancer diagnosis and heartbreak over his children forgetting him as they grow up.
The TV personality recently announced he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and could have just months left to live. Jonnie, 49, was given just six months left to live in 2020 after his lung cancer had spread to his brain.
Jonnie originally kept the news of his diagnosis quiet in a bid to continue life as normal, but since revealing the news publicly he has focused on spending time with his wife Jessica and their two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac.
As he processes the heartbreaking news, Jonnie realised his young children may not remember him when they grow up. He said: "Every time something really nice happens with them, I have this thing knocking at my door, saying, “Don’t get too happy because you’re not going to be around much longer. Then I think they’re not going to remember me, they’re really not.
"They’re too young and if I die this year there’s no chance they will have memories."
Irwin added to The Sun : "Someone else is probably going to bring them up. I’ve done the hard yards with them and someone else will get the easy bit."
The presenter also claimed that he was axed from A Place In The Sun and ‘pushed aside for someone healthier’ after sharing his cancer diagnosis. According to the broadcaster, his contract was not renewed for the Channel 4 series, which he has hosted for a staggering 18 years.
Channel 4 and Freeform responded in a statement which said: "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. We, of course, understand how frustrating this must be for him at this incredibly difficult time."
"I don’t know how long I have left, but I try to stay positive and my attitude is that I’m living with cancer, not dying from it," he recently told Hello! Magazine.
"I set little markers – things I want to be around for. I got into the habit of saying, “Don’t plan ahead because I might not be well enough.” But now I want to make plans. I want to make memories and capture these moments with my family because the reality is, my boys are going to grow up not knowing their dad and that breaks my heart."
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