Jonnie Irwin opens up about ‘up and down days’ as he receives palliative care in hospice

Jonnie Irwin spoke with Helen Skelton, Gethin Jones and Dr Ranj Singh about receiving palliative care in a TV appearance from his hospice.

The former A Place In The Sun presenter was hailed as ‘amazing’ by viewers after he gave an interview on BBC Morning Live on Monday (July 24th) about receiving palliative care.

The 49-year-old encouraged people living with terminal cancer to ‘embrace’ palliative care if they are offered it saying he has been using a ‘delightful hospice’ since being given his diagnosis.

He described it as ‘spacious, comfortable and energising’ and told viewers they are not all ‘doom and gloom’, as some people may think.

Jonnie, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in August 2020, has since been told the cancer has spread to his brain and shared how he doesn’t know how long he has left to live.

Speaking on the BBC One programme, the father-of-two admitted he has ‘up days and down days’ living with the terminal illness as he opened up about spending time in a hospice.

“I’ve been using palliative care for three years,” Jonnie explained.

Palliative care is given to people living with a terminal illness and is there to make them as comfortable as possible by managing pain and other distressing symptoms. It helps to improve the quality of life for anyone who may be facing a life threatening condition. 

Continuing to clear up any misconceptions around palliative care Jonnie went on: “It’s the care you’re given when doctors think you won’t recover.

“I’ve been in palliative care since day one when I got my diagnosis. It can take many guises, from hospital visits and chemotherapy all the way to the hospice.”

On his recent hospice stay, he continued: “It’s a delight actually! I wouldn’t say it’s like [staying in] a hotel but it is like a very nice, private hospital.

“My perceptive [of hospices] was very much a room full of frail people towards the end of their days, but this is nothing of sort – it’s spacious, energised, comfortable… there is even jacuzzi!!”

The property guru said staff at his hospice have been ‘amazing’, adding: “I implore people to check out hospices. If you’ve got the choice to use them  hen use them. It’s not all doom and gloom.”

Fans following Jonnie’s journey took to social media to praise him in helping to raise awareness around cancer and break down any taboos.

One follower wrote: “Jonnie, you’re amazing. Your positive attitude and advice will help so many.”

Another typed: “So admire Jonnie and his honest and open minded approach to his illness. Big ups to all that work in palliative care, my sister in law included.”

A third penned: “How great to hear such positive words… my daughter is a palliative care consultant and she is amazing as are all hospices.”

And someone else added: “Such a brilliant interview. Thank you so much for shining a light on hospice care.”