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Viewers were in tears as Escape To The Country paid tribute to show host Jonnie Irwin after his tragic death.

Jonnie passed away on Friday aged 50 after a three year battle with cancer. 

The TV host revealed in November 2022 that his cancer had spread to his brain after first being diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020.

BBC bosses put together the 45-minute programme of Jonnie’s highlights to remember his 13 years as host with the show airing on Monday. 

Emotional fans took to X, formerly Twitter, as they remembered the presenter and said it was ‘heartbreaking to watch’. 

They wrote: ‘Going to be a sad watch but a nice tribute. I hope one day a cure is found for cancer so we don’t have to say goodbye too earlier R.I.P’. 

Viewers were in tears as Escape To The Country paid tribute to show host Jonnie Irwin after his tragic death

Viewers were in tears as Escape To The Country paid tribute to show host Jonnie Irwin after his tragic death

‘This is heartbreaking to watch. He’s so diminished but still the same lovely Jonnie.’

‘Lovely tribute to Jonnie Irwin.’ 

The show followed Jonnie helping out retired couple Janet and Brian looking for a rural home in Somerset with a budget of £625,000. 

 In 2010, he helped buyers find their dream home in rural areas for the BBC’s Escape To The Country. He hosted this until 2023. 

Bosses of Jonnie Irwin’s television shows A Place In The Sun and Escape To The Country paid tribute to the presenter on Friday following his death at the age of 50 from cancer.

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

The property expert started off presenting what was then called A Place In The Sun: Home Or Away? with Jasmine Harman in 2004, while he also featured on other property shows, such as I Escaped To The Country and Escape To The Country on the BBC.

Bosses of Jonnie’s television show A Place In The Sun shared a tribute on Instagram after his passing.

Emotional fans took to X, formerly Twitter , as they remembered the presenter

Emotional fans took to X, formerly Twitter , as they remembered the presenter

A Place In The Sun paid tribute to the presenter on Friday following his death at the age of 50 from cancer

A Place In The Sun paid tribute to the presenter on Friday following his death at the age of 50 from cancer

The property expert started off presenting what was then called A Place In The Sun: Home Or Away? with Jasmine Harman in 2004

The property expert started off presenting what was then called A Place In The Sun: Home Or Away? with Jasmine Harman in 2004

Jonnie also featured on other property shows, such as I Escaped To The Country and Escape To The Country on the BBC

Jonnie also featured on other property shows, such as I Escaped To The Country and Escape To The Country on the BBC

Under a picture of the broadcaster, a message read: ‘Jonnie Irwin 1973 – 2024. We are heartbroken. Jonnie was a much-loved part of the A Place in the Sun family for more than 18 years – he brought joy, wit and bundles of energy to the show.

‘We will miss him terribly. Our thoughts are with Jess and the boys ad the rest of the family.’

Separately, Rob Unsworth, Head of BBC Daytime and Early Peak Commissioning said in a statement: ‘Jonnie Irwin was an extraordinary man and wonderful presenter. He brought such warmth and fun to Escape to the Country, where he was a firm favourite with not just viewers, but the production team too. 

‘More recently, he did some truly inspirational reports for Morning Live about his illness, tackling taboos around end of life care, and wonderfully demonstrating the limitless positivity that he brought to everything he did. 

‘His kindness will be hugely missed by everyone he worked with, and we are sending all of our thoughts to his family and friends at this sad time.’

John Comerford, Head of Naked West and Executive Producer, Escape to the Country said: ‘We are incredibly saddened to hear the news about Jonnie. 

‘He has been at the very heart of Escape to the Country for 14 years and will be a huge loss to our production team and all the viewers who have loved watching him on the show. 

‘Jonnie was clever, warm and funny, never short of a mischievous and insightful line and always put the programme’s contributors at ease. All the teams he worked with loved him. 

A Place in The Sun's Jonnie Irwin has tragically lost his battle with lung cancer aged 50, his wife Jessica Holmes announced in a heartbreaking tribute on Friday

A Place in The Sun’s Jonnie Irwin has tragically lost his battle with lung cancer aged 50, his wife Jessica Holmes announced in a heartbreaking tribute on Friday 

Taking to Instagram she described her beloved partner as a 'truly remarkable husband'

Taking to Instagram she described her beloved partner as a ‘truly remarkable husband’ 

‘He is an unimaginable loss to the Escape family. We send our love and heartfelt condolences to Jess and his beautiful boys.’

Jonnie’s wife Jessica announced the sad news of his death on social media on Friday.

Sharing a picture of her and Jonnie, Jessica wrote on Instagram: ‘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. 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.’

 

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.’

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This post first appeared on Daily mail