[ad_1]

A Place In The Sun presenter Danni Menzies has paid a heartfelt tribute for her co-host Jonnie Irwin following his death at the age of 50.

Jonnie tragically lost his battle with lung cancer on Friday, his wife Jessica Holmes announced in a statement.

Taking to her Instagram Stories a devastated Danni, 31, shared a poem by Ida Banks and told her followers how her former colleague would ‘continue to exist in those who loved him’. 

The post read: ‘When we die I want to believe that we are scattered throughout all the people that have ever loved us’.

‘That we will continue to exist in them, in their bloodstreams, for generations, for lifetimes.’

A Place In The Sun presenter Danni Menzies has paid a heartfelt tribute for her co-host Jonnie Irwin following his death at the age of 50

A Place In The Sun presenter Danni Menzies has paid a heartfelt tribute for her co-host Jonnie Irwin following his death at the age of 50 

Jonnie tragically lost his battle with lung cancer on Friday, his wife Jessica Holmes announced in a statement (pictured on A Place In The Sun)

Jonnie tragically lost his battle with lung cancer on Friday, his wife Jessica Holmes announced in a statement (pictured on A Place In The Sun)  

With Danni adding: ‘You will Jonnie xxx’.

Jonnie first hosted the Channel 4 property show in 2004, with Danni joining the lineup in 2016. 

He revealed in November 2022 that his cancer had spread to his brain after first being diagnosed with the disease in 2020.

Taking to Instagram to announce the tragic news his wife described her beloved partner, with whom she shares sons Rex, four, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac, as a ‘truly remarkable husband’.

In a statement  Jessica said: ‘In Loving Memory. It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Jonnie’s passing.

‘A truly remarkable soul, he fought bravely against cancer with unwavering strength and courage. Jonnie touched the lives of so many with his kindness, warmth, and infectious spirit.

‘At this time, we kindly ask for the privacy of Jonnie’s family as they navigate through this profound loss. Their grief is immeasurable, and your thoughts, prayers, and support are deeply appreciated.

‘As we remember the beautiful moments shared with Jonnie, let us celebrate a life well-lived and a legacy that will forever be etched in our hearts. 

Taking to her Instagram Stories a devastated Danni, 31, shared a poem by Ida Banks and told her followers how her former colleague would 'continue to exist in those who loved him'

Taking to her Instagram Stories a devastated Danni, 31, shared a poem by Ida Banks and told her followers how her former colleague would ‘continue to exist in those who loved him’

The post read: 'When we die I want to believe that we are scattered throughout all the people that have ever loved us'

The post read: ‘When we die I want to believe that we are scattered throughout all the people that have ever loved us’ 

‘Jonnie may be gone from our sight, but his love, laughter, and memories will live on.

‘Rest in peace, dear Jonnie. You will be dearly missed, but never forgotten.’

Jessica later took to her own account to share a snap of her late husband beaming and confessed to wishing this devastating day would never come. 

She wrote: ‘Goodnight my favourite. Thank you for everything. I will always love you. The hardest day has come, a day I prayed wouldn’t come. It’s with all the the sadness in the world that I confirm Jonnie has passed away earlier today.

‘His magical brain that continued to fight to the end has now gone to sleep. He has given me more than I could ever have wished for, 8 bonkers years of love and adventure and 3 amazing boys’. 

‘I will continue to make you proud but only with your love still finding me and guiding me for the rest of my life, me and the boys still need you. Jonnie you really were the most handsome man I ever knew and I am so sorry for this cruel end.’ 

Taking to Instagram to announce the tragic news his wife described her beloved partner, with whom she shares sons Rex, four, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac, as a 'truly remarkable husband'

Taking to Instagram to announce the tragic news his wife described her beloved partner, with whom she shares sons Rex, four, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac, as a ‘truly remarkable husband’ 

Sharing a sweet snap of her and Jonnie to his account, the tribute read: 'It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Jonnie¿s passing

Sharing a sweet snap of her and Jonnie to his account, the tribute read: ‘It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Jonnie’s passing 

The TV host revealed in November his cancer had spread to his brain after first being diagnosed with the disease in 2020 (pictured with wife Jessica in 2023)

The TV host revealed in November his cancer had spread to his brain after first being diagnosed with the disease in 2020 (pictured with wife Jessica in 2023) 

‘It really wasn’t fair and you didn’t deserve any of this. You gave so much time to others and touched everyone you met, I have never experienced anything like the effect you had on people. I love you so much and forever proud of you xxx’.

Jonnie celebrated his 50th birthday in November and said he felt ‘really privileged’ to mark the milestone after doctors had given him six months to live two years earlier.

The TV presenter marked the occasion in Costa Del Sol with Jessica and their sons.

The presenter went public with his cancer battle in 2022 after keeping it a secret for two years. 

The television presenter had been filming A Place In The Sun in Italy when he began to see ‘weird gold spots’ when he was driving.

A crew member with him in the car was concerned at the time and took him straight to hospital where he was told he had nodules around his brain. 

Jonnie got a flight straight back to the U.K and went to hospital. 

He said: ‘Within a few hours I got told I had cancer. And I was like “right”.

‘Then a few hours later, my good friend Rahul was sat with me when they said it is terminal cancer and I had six months to live.

‘Do you ever hear the phrase it knocked the wind out of you? Nothing had ever done that to me and that it did it.

‘I was just battered.’

The father-of-three walked home in a dazed state as he struggled to comprehend the diagnosis and the daunting prospect of telling wife Jessica.

‘I didn’t think I was shakable like that,’ Jonnie said through tears. 

‘I was really shaken up. I had to go home and I had to tell my wife and that’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.

‘How do you tell a woman who only two month before has had twins? How do you tell them that you’re not going to be there anymore?

‘I can remember it like it was yesterday. I’ve got no memory since I’ve had brain therapy but that b****y memory stays in my head and it is brutal.

‘All I can remember is hugging her and just saying sorry and I still feel sorry now.’ 

Jonnie had weeks of tests and bad news, but was given a two to three year lifeline when doctors found his cancer had a mutation. 

In his last social media post last month, Jonnie revealed he hasn't slept for six nights in a row as he gave an update on his health from hospital

In his last social media post last month, Jonnie revealed he hasn’t slept for six nights in a row as he gave an update on his health from hospital

Jonnie revealed the reason why he kept his battle with cancer a secret for two years was to ‘pay the bills’. 

He said: ‘The only reason I kept it secret is because I’ve got to earn, I’ve got to feed my babies, pay the bills.

‘And as soon as you say you’ve got cancer, people just write you off.

‘I had to live with it as a secret. It was really difficult living with such a massive cloud above me and pretending to everyone else.

‘For the first year and a half I could work. Unfortunately, one of the companies claimed they couldn’t insure and didn’t renew my contract. It left a massive hole in my income.

‘I felt like I’d been thrown on the scrapheap. They’d recruited within a week and then I could see some else doing my job.’

He told The Sun: ‘As soon as I told A Place in the Sun about my diagnosis they paid me for the rest of the season but didn’t renew my contract.

‘They knew I wanted to carry on. That hurt. That broke my heart.’

When approached for comment, Channel 4 said at the time ‘no stone was left unturned’ to find a way for Jonnie to stay but they could not get insurance.

The host said it was when he was hiding from photoshoots and taking selfies with fans that he decided to speak out about his terminal diagnosis.  

He said: ‘The day came when I decided I’m going to tell the world and I just thought as well I might get some money for the family.

‘It’s been a massive weight off my shoulders. The day I came out and told the world I have terminal cancer is the day I started living again. I started being Jonnie Irwin again.

‘I actually feel alive.’

From Lutterworth to Lanzarote: How former estate agent Jonnie Irwin’s TV career took off after he beat hundreds to present A Place in the Sun

TV presenter Jonnie Irwin has revealed he is suffering with terminal cancer, saying he hopes sharing his terminal cancer diagnosis will inspire others to 'make the most of every day'

TV presenter Jonnie Irwin has revealed he is suffering with 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 show A Place In The Sun – Home Or Away. The property programme was a surprise hit and syndicated widely. Irwin also regularly presents the BBC’s Escape To The Country and To Buy Or Not To Buy.

In January 2011, Sky 1 broadcast Irwin’s own show called Dream Lives for Sale, in which he helped people leave their lives in the UK in order buy their dream business. 

Later that year, he started a new series The Renovation Game which aired on weekday mornings on Channel 4. 

Outside of presenting, he is also a 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 long I have left, but I try to stay positive and my attitude is that I’m living with cancer, not dying from it.’

[ad_2]
This post first appeared on Daily mail