A Place In The Sun's Jonnie Irwin takes son to see Santa on 'last Christmas' after being given months to live
Last month, A Place In The Sun star Jonnie Irwin tragically revealed he’d been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The 49-year-old shared that his lung cancer has spread to his brain and he'd been told he may have just six months to live.
Given that this Christmas could be his last, Jonnie is making the most of the festive season with his wife Jess and three-year-old son Rex, revealing on Wednesday (7 December) that they’d been to visit Santa’s grotto.
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Posting sweet snaps of the day out, Jonnie quipped: “Ok, I’ve given in, Christmas is here! Nothingbtondonwith the mince pies and mulled wine on offer at all! Merry Christmas!”
In November, Jonnie sat down with HELLO! and spoke frankly about his diagnosis, saying: “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.
"I set little markers – things I want to be around for. I got into the habit of saying: 'Don't plan ahead because I might not be well enough’.”
Jonnie explained that he first became aware of his health issues back in 2020 when filming A Place In The Sun in Italy.
He was driving on location when he noticed his vision had become blurry. Tests soon after revealed that he had developed lung cancer.
He explained: "Within a week of flying back from filming, I was being given six months to live.
"I had to go home and tell my wife, who was looking after our babies, that she was on her own pretty much. That was devastating. All I could do was apologise to her. I felt so responsible."
The TV star continued: “I hope that by shaking that monkey off and talking to HELLO!, I might inspire people who are living with life-limiting prospects to make the most of every day; to help them see that you can live a positive life, even though you are dying."
Jonnie also confessed that he hasn’t shared his devastating prognosis with children Rex and two-year-old twins Cormac and Rafa.
He confirmed to HELLO!: “He doesn't need to know yet. We make fun of my hair - he calls it my 'spiky head' - but as far as he's concerned, his dad is normal and why would I shatter that innocence?”
Jonnie went on to say that he has been teaching Rex how to ride a bike and spending as much time as possible with the twins and his wife Jessica.
Aisha Nozari