Jonnie Irwin shares heartbreaking update on health as he celebrates 50th early

Jonnie Irwin is continuing to make as many memories as he can with his children after announcing he has terminal cancer.

The A Place in the Sun host has now been opening up on how the illness has impacted his parenting duties in a new interview.

The 49-year-old presenter was given just six months to live when he was told he had stage four lung cancer which eventually spread to his brain back in August 2020.

The father of three, who is married to Jessica Holmes, at first kept his diagnosis lowkey but eventually went public with the news at the end of last year.

Chatting with The Sun, he revealed he celebrated his 50th birthday with 170 friends and family and friends, ahead of his birthday in November.

And he admitted a recent game of football with his young son almost "broke" him because he feels weaker these days.

He said: "It was a great night. I chose a playlist with some great tunes from the 90s and 2000s and people came from all over the country and abroad.

"I didn’t know the extent of the loyalty and generosity that my friends would exhibit. I’ve been dumbfounded and spellbound by their support, as well as that of our families, who have been amazing."

Guests at the event included Jasmine Harman and ex-England cricketer Andrew Caddick.

Jonnie says he held the party as he wanted "to do something to celebrate my birthday".

But he added that there are certain activities he's not quite able to do the way he used to, recalling the football match with Rex.

He said: "I’m very sporty and suddenly it’s just like…it was as if it was the first time I’d attempted football. I felt like a granddad. And that broke me a bit."

After making his diagnosis public last year, Jonnie credited "Jess and our boys" with helping him stay positive.

The pair were married in September 2016 and they share three children - Rex, three, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac.

Jonnie previously said he is planning to record video messages so he can still speak to his beloved wife and three children after he passes away.

He appeared on Morning Live earlier this month and left hosts Rav Wilding and Kimberley Walsh with "goosebumps" after he watched a segment about a woman battling cancer who records a short clip each day for her loved ones and said he plans to do the same.

He said: "It's amazing to think I too could speak to my wife and children after I pass away. My diagnosis has taken a lot from me but it has given me the ability to prepare."

Reflecting on his own actions so far, Jonnie said: "I've got a lifetime of memories and while over the years many have been stored online and whilst I've been getting my affairs in order since my diagnosis two and a half years ago, I've not given much thought to my digital legacy.

"I've posted thousands of pictures and digital images online but when I pass on I've got no idea what will happen to those images."

Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily Showbiz newsletter here.
• None A Place In The Sun host Jean Johansson's comment leaves couple in tears
• None A Place in the Sun's Danni Menzies shares heartache over 'inspirational' Jonnie Irwin's illness
• None A Place In The Sun host cringes at 'hard work' couple's low offer on property
• None A Place In The Sun buyers reject property within seconds before stepping inside