Jonnie Irwin has revealed his wish for this three children when he’s no longer around.
The A Place in the Sun host, 49, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer after he was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020 which has since spread to his brain.
Irwin reflected on his life in a new interview and shared the life he wants for his three sons: Rex, three, and twins Rafa and Corma, two.
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“I had a tough upbringing and I’ve managed to do a lot in my life, despite that, but I don’t want them to struggle,” he told Hello! Magazine.
“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 be around.”
Before embarking on a career as an estate agent and eventually becoming a Channel 4 TV personality, Irwin was raised in Bitteswell, Leicestershire and attended Lutterworth Grammar School.
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He also explained in the interview why he and his wife Jessica, 40, decided to keep his cancer diagnosis a secret from their children.
“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,” he explained.
“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.”
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Irwin has continued to work throughout his cancer treatment. He issued a health update as he revealed doctors were monitoring changes in his medication in order to help in manage his pain.
The dad-of-three has also been undergoing brain therapy which he called ‘brutal’.
In an interview on OneChat podcast with AIG life, Irwin explained: “The programme is to try and remain positive. Positive for me is burying my head in the sand a bit.
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“Jess and I don't talk about it much and we've been close to death's door a few times now. Twice at least.
“Apart from those times we've not really talked about it. Financially we're slowly getting stuff in place, transferring account details and putting stuff in her name but being positive such an important factor. I do that by not talking about it too much."
Topics: Health, Cancer, Channel 4, TV and Film
Gregory Robinson