A Place In The Sun bosses have expressed sympathy for host Jonnie Irwin after he hit out on the show for killing him while he was battling terminal cancer.
The presenter, 49, had just six months to live when he was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, which had spread to his brain, in August 2020.
After sharing his diagnosis with show bosses, his contract was not renewed, with Jonnie admitting the decision “broke my heart”.
Free Form Productions, which makes the programme, said they were “unable to obtain adequate insurance cover” for it to continue international filming amid the Covid-19 crisis and said that they understood his “frustration” with the decision.
Sending a message: A Place In The Sun bosses have expressed sympathy for host Jonnie Irwin after he hit out on the show for killing him while he was battling terminal cancer
A statement published on MailOnline read: ‘Jonnie has been a hugely important part of the A Place In The Sun family for over 18 years and we have all been deeply saddened by his diagnosis.
“Much loved by all on the production, no effort was spared to allow Jonnie to continue his international filming with us during Covid, but the production company were unable to secure him insurance cover. adequate.
“Although we have not been able to continue filming overseas with him, we are delighted that he has been able to remain with our team in the UK for exhibitions.” We of course understand how frustrating that must be for him at this incredibly difficult time.
One of a kind: The former estate agent’s TV career began in 2004 when he was selected from hundreds of applicants to co-present Channel 4’s A Place in the Sun with Jasmine Harman
The former estate agent’s television career began in 2004 when he was selected from hundreds of applicants to co-present Channel 4’s A Place in the Sun with Jasmine Harman.
He was the program’s longest-serving presenter, alongside Jasmine, who is still with the show.
In 2010, he gained more fans by becoming a regular host of Escape to the Country. He has continued to film for the BBC One show since his diagnosis and throughout his treatment.
Travel: Earlier this month MailOnline unearthed footage of Jonnie sipping olive oil from Puglia on his final trip to A Place in the Sun in 2020, before discovering he had terminal cancer
Addressing the decision on Thursday’s episode of Good Morning Britain, he said: ‘When I was told I couldn’t do it they broke my heart but I don’t think I would. they thought of me.” I was knocked down by some people and the desire to help me and my family.
“Not working on A Place In The Sun anymore has affected my mental health. I’m a family man now, but being a TV presenter defines you and not being able to travel and support my family.
He added in a chat with The Sun: “Within two weeks someone else was on TV doing my job, I just feel like I’ve earned a bit more after 18. ” It was my first television job and it was special for me.
Jonnie’s diagnosis came while filming Channel 4’s A Place In The Sun in Italy in 2020, after experiencing blurred vision while driving.
Less than a week after returning home, doctors told him he was terminally ill and only had six months left to live. Cancer drugs and chemotherapy helped prolong his life.
Earlier this month MailOnline unearthed footage of Jonnie sipping olive oil from Puglia on his last trip to A Place In The Sun in 2020, before he found out he had cancer in the terminal phase. The episode never aired.
Heartbreaking: Jonnie appeared on Good Morning Britain on Thursday as he revealed he was ‘making memories’ for his children as they won’t be able to remember him once he dies
During an appearance on Good Morning Britain, Jonnie revealed his focus at the moment is to ‘create memories’ for his children – son Rex, three, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac – because he fears they won’t remember him after he dies.
He explained: “I want to make memories, I know my kids are so young they won’t remember me.
“I want to at least film it or film it to show them that the start was brilliant. I think our house for Christmas will be extravagant.
Family: The presenter, 49, has son Rex, three two-year-old twins, Rafa and Cormac, with wife Jessica Holmes, but has just months to live as he battles cancer
He also detailed the difficulties he and his wife had in dealing with his diagnosis around their children, saying: “It was only recently that I considered telling them they are so young.”
‘Right now I’m me, a slimmer version, there’s no need to tell them. I think it will be a lot for them to get an idea.
“I do my best to put my head in the sand, because what’s the point of spending your days thinking about cancer when there are gas bills to worry about. The cost of living is a concern because I will not witness it, but my family will.
He continued: ‘I was scared of what happened to some degree, when people find out you have cancer it’s terrifying and I lose work because of it, professionally I didn’t want not lose work, people treat you differently.
“If I had hidden this information, I could have led a normal life. There are some busy bodies on social media who say I look sick.
Announcing his diagnosis, he told Hello magazine: ‘I carry a dirty secret – it’s become a monkey on my back. I don’t know how much time I have left, but I try to stay positive and my attitude is that I’m living with cancer, I’m not dying of it.
‘I put little markers – things I want to be there for. I got into the habit of saying, “Don’t plan ahead because I may not be doing well enough.”
“But now I want to make plans. I want to create memories and capture those moments with my family because the reality is that my boys are going to grow up not knowing their dad and that breaks my heart.