TRIBUTE – 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, Jessica described her beloved partner, with whom she shares sons Rex, five, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac, as a ‘truly remarkable husband’.
Cause of his Death
TV host Jonnie revealed in November that his cancer had spread to his brain after first being diagnosed with the disease in 2020. He passed away on Friday.
Sharing a sweet snap of her and Jonnie to his account, Jessica penned: ‘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’.
She continued: ‘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’.
She added: ‘Rest in peace, dear Jonnie. You will be dearly missed, but never forgotten’.
Going Down the Memory Lane
Jessica later took to her own account to share a snap of her late husband beaming and confessed to wishing this devastating day would never come.
Writing: ‘Good night my favourite. Thank you for everything. I will always love you. The hardest day has come, a day I prayed wouldn’t come. It’s with all the the saddness in the world that I confirm Jonnie has passed away earlier today’.
‘His magical brain that continued to fight to the end has now gone to sleep. He has given me more than I could ever have wished for, 8 bonkers years of love and adventure and 3 amazing boys’.
‘I will continue to make you proud but only with your love still finding me and guiding me for the rest of my life, me and the boys still need you. Jonnie you really were the most handsome man I ever knew and I am so sorry for this cruel end.’
‘It really wasn’t fair and you didn’t deserve any of this. You gave so much time to others and touched everyone you met, I have never experienced anything like the effect you had on people. I love you so much and forever proud of you xxx’.
Tributes
His former A Place In The Sun co-presenter Jasmine Harman led tributes and shared some heartfelt words on social media.
‘Sharing a picture of them looking off towards a sunset, she penned: ‘Jonnie Irwin – I will always remember the first time I heard your name. When I was doing a screen test for a new show, they said “we definitely want Jonnie, but we need to find another presenter”. I wondered who this mysterious Jonnie was’.
‘We met in Cape Town, filming the pilot. You we’re so charismatic and energetic, so confident and fun. I understood immediately why they had to have you.
‘Your cheeky-chappy persona and naughty sense of humour always broke the ice and made people laugh. Everyone warmed to you and you had the incredible ability to connect with people, making them feel like they’d known you for years’.
‘To begin our TV careers together was a pleasure and a privilege I will be eternally grateful for. Almost twenty years ago, as two nervous new presenters (me perhaps more nervous than you!) little did we know we know about the adventure we were about to embark on, and the friends we would become’.
