Jonnie Irwin has revealed that his terminal cancer diagnosis back in 2020 has made him learn to appreciate his family more, and how it has allowed him to focus on those around him.
The 49-year-old former A Place in the Sun presenter was prompted to seek medical attention while driving back from filming for the Channel 4 staple in August 2020, after suffering blurred vision.
He was then diagnosed with terminal lung cancer which had spread to his brain, with experts giving him just six months left to live.
Read more: Jonnie Irwin gives update on cancer battle as he heads for treatment in Newcastle
And while the diagnosis has changed Jonnie's life, as well as the lives of his wife Jess, and three young sons, Rex, Rafa and Cormac, he recently spoke about how it has allowed him to spend more time at home and watch his family grow. In a chat on AIG's brand-new One Chat podcast, Jonnie opened up about how his devastating 'prognosis' has 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."
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."
Jonnie then went on to open up about how spending more time at home has allowed him to watch his children grow, citing how 'lucky' he is to have seen every small piece of their upbringing and how much they have changed since being born.
He went on: "This past couple of years I've spent more time at home than ever I have before, and I'm lucky to have seen every bit of their upbringing and to see how they've changed. It makes me very proud and I'm kind of thankful for that."
Jonnie has been fairly active on social media throughout his battle with cancer, making memories with family and sharing them with his 164,000 Instagram followers. Recently, the father of three took to the platform to share a sweet snap of himself and his sons all dressed up as superheroes at their family home.
He has also shared stunning moments with adoring fans like a family trip away to the lakes, and various strolls around Newcastle upon Tyne.
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