JONNIE Irwin has revealed the heartbreaking moment he told his wife Jessica she would have to care for their three kids on his own after her cancer diagnosis.
The dad-of-three, who was given just six months to live in 2020, disclosed that his lung cancer had spread to his brain in an emotional new interview.
The 48-year old TV star devastated family and friends with the news
Jonnie Irwin revealed the heartbreaking moment he told his wife she had to look after their kids on her own
Jonnie got married to wife Jessica Holmes in 2016
Jonnie with son Rex, three, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac
The star of Escape to the Country and A Place in the Sun, 48, has devastated his friends and fans, with many sending him messages of support.
Jonnie had chosen to keep his illness private, but has now spoken out as he revealed how he is making as many memories as possible with wife Jessica Holmes, who he wed in 2016, and their three sons – Rex, three, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac.
Leicestershire-born Jonnie is being supported by his 40-year-old partner Jessica while he bravely battles on.
And he revealed the “devastating” moment he had to tell his wife that she would have to care for their children all by herself.
Jonnie told Hello! magazine: ‘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.”
Jonnie discovered he had cancer – which has spread to his brain – a week after filming A Place in the Sun in Italy in August 2020.
One of the show’s longest-running presenters, he joined alongside Jasmine Harman in 2004 and had been filming as recently as April this year.
Jonnie compared his cancer secret to having a “monkey on his back” and said he wanted to share his story to inspire others suffering with “life-limiting prospects to make the most of every day”.
He said he wanted to help people to “see that you can live a positive life, even though you are dying”.
The TV star added: “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.
“One day, this is going to catch up with me, but I’m doing everything I can to hold that day off for as long as possible. I owe that to Jess and our boys.
“Some people in my position have bucket lists, but I just want us to do as much as we can as a family.”
The 48-year-old 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.
In 2010 he won even more fans by becoming a regular host of Escape to the Country on BBC1.
But he said that would “try to stay positive” and enjoy making beautiful memories with his family while he was around.
The Escape to the Country host continued: “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.’
“But now I want to make plans. I want to make memories and capture these moments with my family because the reality is, my boys are going to grow up not knowing their dad and that breaks my heart.”
