Jonnie Irwin shares heartbreaking cancer update as he celebrates 50th birthday early

A Place In The Sun presenter Jonnie Irwin has shared an update on his terminal cancer ahead of his 50th birthday.

Jonnie, 49, spoke about how terminal cancer has affected his parenting duties in an interview. He recalled how a recent kick-about with his son almost ‘broke’ him due to feeling ‘weaker’ as he navigates day-to-day life alongside his terminal diagnosis.

Jonnie admitted ‘he doesn’t know how long he has left to live’ back in November last year, after he first received the diagnosis of lung cancer in August 2020.

The cancer has since spread to his brain. In the interview the dad-of-three revealed he recently celebrated his 50th birthday with 170 of his friends and family to mark the milestone — which is in November.

Jonnie said: “It was a great night. I chose a playlist with some great tunes from the 90s and 2000s and people came from all over the country and abroad.

“I didn’t know the extent of the loyalty and generosity that my friends would exhibit. I’ve been dumbfounded and spellbound by their support, as well as that of our families, who have been amazing.”

Jasmine Harman and Ex-England cricketer Andrew Caddick were some of the guests in attendance at Jonnie’s bash. While the party will be a happy memory for the ex-presenter, he says he now struggles with certain activities he used to manage easily.

As he spoke to The Sun, the doting dad explained how playing football with his son Rex left him feeling frustrated as he ‘couldn’t get near the ball’. He said: “I’m very sporty and suddenly it’s just like…it was as if it was the first time I’d attempted football. I felt like a granddad. And that broke me a bit.”

Jonnie went on to say how he always thought he’d be ‘leading from the front’, despite being an older dad, but is ‘now at the back’.

After making his diagnosis public last year, Jonnie credited ‘Jess and our boys’ with helping him stay positive and focus on creating as many memories as he can with his family.

The property guru tied the knot with Jessica, 40, in September 2016. The couple have since gone on to welcome three children into the world together — Rex, three, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormack.

Proud dad Jonnie often shares pictures of his family with fans following his Instagram account. Talking about his terminal diagnosis and death to Hello! Magazine last year, Jonnie said: “I’m doing everything I can to hold that day off for as long as possible. 

“I owe that to Jess and our boys. Some people in my position have bucket lists, but I just want us to do as much as we can as a family.”