Baz Ashmawy has posted a touching tribute to DIY SOS favourite Johnny Aylward who has died following a courageous battle with motor neuron disease.
Johnny and his family touched the emotions of the nation after appearing on the RTE show in April 2022 to show the build of their adapted home. More than half a million people tuned in to see the Aylward family's story as they transformed a plot of land on the Wexford Kilkenny border to a dream home.
Johnny died yesterday, March 13, with his family by his side in the home that they built together with the help of the DIY SOS crew. He is remembered with love by his heartbroken wife Lynn, mother Minnie, children Kelly, Aaron and his partner Aoife, Colin, Cian, Daire and Mikey, grandson Fionn, son-in-law David, brothers, sisters, extended family, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
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Presenter Baz Ashmawy since became a friend of Johnny's after the family's appearance of the show. Posting a lovely selfie with Johnny he posted a lovely tribute to the man who gripped the hearts of the nation.
He said: "I haven't posted in a while and I'm so sad this is the post I am putting up. I'm a little lost for words after the death of my friend Johnny Aylward after his impossible battle with motor neuron disease. I feel overwhelmed with sadness for Lynn, your poor children and all your family and friends because you leave a big void that can never be filled and that adds to the heart ache. My deepest sympathies to all your family. A wonderful group of people I just instantly liked, like you. People who have become very close to me.
"On a personal level, I've had a lot of sad and wonderful days on DIY SOS but this is up there with the worst of them. I'm so grateful we became the friends we did. You were a hugely popular man with all the crew and volunteers. That was down to your humour, your dignity, your lust for life, your beautiful singing voice, your love for pints of Heineken and your fowl fucking mouth. I'm very bad at goodbyes Johnny so why don't I just say thanks for pestering me every time united lost. Thanks for the slagging. Thanks for the craic. Thanks for guilting me into going drinking with you by telling me I had to because you were dying. Thanks for all our chats. Thanks for being my friend. I love ya. I'll miss you and.... I'll see ya later!"
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