Jonnie Irwin has said he plans to record video messages so he can continue to talk to his beloved wife and three children after he passes away.
The TV presenter, 49, is battling terminal cancer after tumors spread to his brain two years after his initial diagnosis.
Jonnie presented a segment on digital legacy on Morning Live on Friday and left hosts Rav Wilding and Kimberley Walsh with “goosebumps.”
The Escape To The Country host said he “takes every opportunity” to give his wife Jessica, 40, and their three children – son Rex, three, and twins Rafa and Cormac, two years – a bright future when he was gone.
After watching a segment about how a woman battling stage 4 bowel cancer records a short clip every day for loved ones to watch when she’s gone, Jonnie said he plans to do the same.
Jonnie Irwin has said he plans to record video messages so he can always talk to his beloved wife and three children after he passes away.
“It’s amazing to think that I too could talk to my wife and children after my death. My diagnosis took me a lot but it gave me the ability to prepare myself.
“The only way to ensure your digital legacy is the way you love it is to take control now. And I’m going to take every opportunity to do that for the people I love.
The program went on to provide information on how to prepare a “digital legacy” so you can tell your loved ones what you want to happen to things like social media pages.
A digital legacy is an individual’s online interactions, spanning everything from social media platforms to email.
It’s something that’s often omitted from estate plans because they’re not considered tangible assets, but they’re just as important as your family can’t legally access them, which is a problem if they have need to get information.
A digital inheritance is also important to specify the actions you want to perform on certain accounts, for example if the Facebook page is deleted or remembered.
Reflecting on his own actions so far, Jonnie said: ‘I have a lifetime of memories and while over the years many have been stored online and while I put my things in order Since my diagnosis two and a half years ago, I haven’t given much thought to my digital legacy.
“I’ve posted thousands of photos and digital images online, but when I die I have no idea what will happen to those images.”
Devoted husband: The Escape To The Country host said he ‘takes every opportunity’ to give his wife Jessica, 40, a bright future
Chills: Host Rav Wilding said in the studio: ‘I got goosebumps. Such a powerful movie from Jonnie. I think this movie is a real reminder of all the practical things you can do’
Moving: “It’s amazing to think that I too could speak to my wife and children after my death. My diagnosis took me a lot but it gave me the ability to prepare myself’
Host Rav said in the studio: “I have goosebumps. Such a powerful movie from Jonnie. I think this movie is a real reminder of all the practical things you can do.
Kimberley: ‘It’s heartbreaking. I think creating special memories with your loved one can be as simple as sitting down for a Sunday roast.
Jonnie went public with his diagnosis in November, after secretly battling cancer for two years.
The married father-of-three said he hoped sharing his diagnosis would inspire others to “make the most of every day”.
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.”
Inspiration: The married father-of-three said he hoped sharing his diagnosis would inspire others to ‘make the most of every day’
“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.
Jonnie was diagnosed with cancer while filming Channel 4’s A Place In The Sun in Italy in 2020.
He was driving when his vision became blurry and home doctors discovered he was terminally ill.
Cancer drugs and chemotherapy helped prolong his life.
Heartbreaking: Jonnie was diagnosed with cancer while filming Channel 4’s A Place In The Sun in Italy in 2020
The Leicestershire-born presenter is supported by his wife Jessica, 40. He said: “A week after returning from filming, I was given six months to live. I had to go home and tell my wife, who was taking care of our babies, that she was almost alone. It was devastating. All I could do was apologize to her. I felt so responsible.
The couple live with their three children in Newcastle, having moved there from Hertfordshire in 2020.
Jonnie said he has chosen to keep his illness private until now. Her case is reminiscent of Dame Deborah James’ battle with bowel cancer, which she chose to publicize to raise awareness and fund research.
He said: “I could inspire people who live with life-limiting perspectives to make the most of every day, to help them see that you can live a positive life, even if you’re dying.
“One day it will catch up with me, but I’m doing everything I can to keep this day off as long as possible.
I owe it to Jess and our boys. Some people in my position have bucket lists, but I just want us to do everything we can as a family.
From Lutterworth to Lanzarote: How ex-estate agent Jonnie Irwin’s TV career took off after beating hundreds to present A Place in the Sun
TV presenter Jonnie Irwin has revealed he has terminal cancer, saying he hopes sharing his terminal cancer diagnosis will inspire others to ‘make the most of every day’
Born in 1973, Jonnie Irwin grew up in Bitteswell, Leicestershire and attended Lutterworth Grammar School and Community College before becoming an estate agent.
In 2004, Irwin was selected from hundreds of applicants alongside co-presenter Jasmine Harman to present Channel 4’s A Place In The Sun – Home Or Away. The property program was a surprise and widely syndicated hit. . Irwin also regularly presents the BBC’s Escape To The Country and To Buy Or Not To Buy programmes.
In January 2011, Sky 1 aired Irwin’s own show called Dream Lives for Sale, in which he helped people leave their lives in the UK to buy their dream business.
Later that year he launched a new series The Renovation Game which aired weekday mornings on Channel 4.
Apart from presenting, he is also commercial director for Judicare, which describes itself as a “specialist law firm providing clients with legal advice on all matters related to overseas property”.
Irwin married Jessica Holmes in September 2016. Together they have three sons and lived in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, before moving to Newcastle.
On November 13, Irwin was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. He told Hello magazine: “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.”
