A Place In The Sun's Jonnie Irwin breaks silence as he 'escapes' after cancer announcement

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A Place In The Sun presenter Jonnie Irwin has taken to Instagram for the first time since his devastating diagnosis was made public. The 48-year-old announced on Sunday that his lung cancer has spread to his brain and he was told that he had just six months to live. 

In his post, Jonnie told his 72,000 followers that, following the announcement, he felt the need to “escape the country” to get some “headspace”. 

Sharing a series of photographs, he wrote: “Overwhelmed by your kind messages, not had the chance to read them all yet but I assure you I will.  

“Yesterday I needed some headspace so I escaped to the country with my brother in law and his dog. It was a tonic. Xx.” 

In the photographs, Jonnie looked downcast as he walked through the countryside wearing a puffer jacket and flat cap.

In the comments, thousands shared their heartfelt messages including his A Place In The Sun co-star, Danni Menzies, who left a red heart emoji. 

Jonnie revealed his terminal diagnosis in an interview with Hello! Magazine this week. 

He explained that he had his first warning sign in 2020 when his vision went blurry while driving. 

Tests soon determined that his lung cancer had spread to his brain and he was given just six months to live. 

Chemotherapy and other cancer treatment has helped to prolong Jonnie’s prognosis and he was able to continue to work with very few people knowing about his illness. 

However, he says that he has decided to make his condition public in a bid to “inspire people with life-limiting prospects to make the most of every day”. 

Jonnie also detailed the “devastating” conversation he had with his wife, Jessica, 40, when he received the news. 

He recalled to the aforementioned publication: “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 and Jessica married in 2016 and share three children: Rex, three, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac. 

More to follow...