Jonnie Irwin has opened up about making sure his family are "looked after" when he's gone following his terminal cancer diagnosis as he spoke about some of the "biggest taboos" around the illness.
The A Place In The Sun and Escape To The Country star, 49, revealed last month that he had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer that had spread to his brain, and was initially given six months to live. The heartbreaking news was met with an outpouring of support for the presenter, and Jonnie has continued to share his story in order to raise awareness of the disease.
Speaking to BBC Morning Live hosts Gethin Jones and Kimberley Walsh, the presenter recalled the devastating moment he found out that he had cancer after experiencing blurry vision when filming A Place In The Sun two years ago. "Everything fell apart for me, personally," he admitted.
READ MORE: Lung cancer symptoms to look out for after A Place In The Sun's Jonnie Irwin shares diagnosis
But Jonnie went on to explain that he wanted to "take control back" following his diagnosis by ensuring that his family would be provided for after his death. "I knew I had to look after my family - as soon as you've got a family, you have this massive responsibility," he said, explaining that he sold properties he was renting out and looked at his savings in order to make sure his family would be financially secure.
"Most people should do this every five years anyway - just see how much you're worth and where everything is," he advised. "We all put it off because it seems kind of macabre."
Jonnie also gave advice on life insurance as he revealed a "mistake" he made when it came to his own policy in not taking out a type of cover called critical illness. This typically provides policy-holders with a lump sum if they are diagnosed with cancer, and often covers other illnesses such as a heart attack, stroke, and paralysis.
"You want to make sure they're looked after," he said of his wife Jessica and their young children, three-year-old Rex and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac. "But what I didn't realise is there's a gap, and critical illness covers this gap."
He explained: "When you get a terminal diagnosis it covers you for when you are gone, and probably for your last few months. But terminal diagnoses can go on for years, and your illness obviously affects your work - so if you're unable to work and you're waiting for this pay-out, who's going to pay the rent or mortgage?
"Critical illness is a policy you take alongside that kicks in as soon as you're ill. I didn't take that, and that put a lot of pressure on me, having to work on days I didn't really want to work.
"That is the one mistake I made, and I'd say to everyone to get it out. Even if you haven't got dependents, get it out to look after yourself," he urged.
Gethin went on to ask Jonnie about how his life had changed since learning of his illness, particularly the way he is treated by others. "The word cancer is absolutely loaded - I think the most terrifying word in the English language," he said.
"I don't want - and lots of people are like me - we don't want people making decisions on our behalf. 'Oh, don't invite Jonnie, he won't be well enough, he might be ill'. Please, invite me - I'll make that decision, thank you very much.
"We don't need mollycoddling. We are normal human beings - as normal as it gets - so treat us as you would do two years ago," he implored. "We want the same opportunities for fun and living as everybody else gets".
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