Jonnie Irwin has opened up about his tragic cancer diagnosis, explaining how he still hasn't told his three children that he's battling the devastating disease - while sharing his dying wish for his youngsters. The former A Place in the Sun presenter is preparing to spend his feared to be final Father's Day with his family, after revealing last year that lung cancer had spread to his brain in a terminal state of affairs.
Jonnie was first diagnosed back in August 2020, given just six months to live after being receiving medical advice when his vision became blurred while driving back from filming for the Channel 4 show. Almost three years on, the former host is preparing his heart-breaking goodbyes to wife Jess and sons Rex, four, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac.
However, Jonnie has detailed how he has still been unable to break the news to his kids, as given their age, it would be too confusing.
Read more: Jonnie Irwin says his kids are 'everything' and cancer made him 'appreciate' family more
Despite this, Jonnie has opened up about what will happen after he passes away, as well as the future he strives for for his youngsters. Speaking exclusively to Hello! 49-year-old Jonnie said that he wants his children to grow up to be mentally strong in the years to come.
He said: "I want them to have the confidence of a public school boy, but also be streetwise lads - they're happy kids, they laugh, and are a lot of fun to have around. I keep being asked, 'Are you going to tell them?' but tell them what? It would be horrible news that they'd have to get their heads around.
"And it would confuse the hell out of Rex – he's got a shocking enough day coming. Let's bury our heads in the sand for as long as possible."
It comes after Jonnie took to the One Chat Podcast with AIG to explain how terminal cancer has completely changed his train of thought. He explained: "I've got my prognosis and that's made me think about things retrospectively. I've never been a backwards thinker, I've always been focused on what's next. I've always been driven.
"I've been skint, I've been down to cash converters, living off baked beans, selling stuff just to get myself through university. My mum would help me out with the rent but that's about it - and that made me a battler, that made me a fighter. But I've learned that I don't have to keep fighting everything, and I've learned about the here and now.
"And with less time potentially available to me, I've learned to enjoy the here and now and enjoy those around me more, and focus on those around me."
On building a future for his family, he added: "But me working now is me helping, or trying to build something for my family in the future, and anyone in my position will be focused on family but it's made me appreciate my family more, especially my wife.
"You know, my children are everything to me but even now I'm probably a bit too focused on their future, rather than enjoying them now. This process is helping me enjoy the here and now, enjoy my life and enjoy my family. And I've noticed my family a lot more rather than coming home from work 'how's your day? bye'.
"I've just noticed their character."
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