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Jonnie Irwin

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 82.46.69.54 (talk) at 21:06, 2 February 2024 (Date of death as posted by his wife). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Jonnie Irwin
Born
Jonathan James Irwin

(1973-11-18)18 November 1973
Bitteswell, Leicestershire, England
Diedc. February 2024 (aged 50)
Occupations
  • Television presenter
  • writer
  • lecturer
  • business expert
  • property expert
Known forPresenting A Place in the Sun and Escape to the Country
Spouse
Jessica Holmes
​
(m. 2016)​
Children3

Jonathan James Irwin (18 November 1973 – 2 February 2024) was an English television presenter, writer, lecturer, business and property expert.

Early life

Irwin grew up on a small farm in the village of Bitteswell, Leicestershire.[1] Irwin was educated at Lutterworth Grammar School and Community College. He obtained a degree from Birmingham City University in estate management.[1] Irwin was of Irish descent.[2]

Career

Irwin worked for business transfer specialists Christie & Co,[3] becoming an associate director within three years, before going on to work for Colliers International.

In 2004, Irwin was selected from hundreds of applicants along with co-presenter Jasmine Harman to present Channel 4's[4] show A Place in the Sun – Home or Away,[5][6] and filmed over 200 episodes all around Britain. The programme is also broadcast daily on More4, Discovery Real Time and Discovery Travel & Living, as well as channels throughout Europe and the rest of the world, including New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. In 2022 Irwin accused A Place in the Sun producers of axing him as presenter after 18 years due to a cancer diagnosis, leaving his mood "really low."[7]

Irwin presented episodes of BBC property shows Escape to the Country and To Buy or Not to Buy.[8] Irwin also presented the spin-off to Escape to the Country, Escape to the Perfect Town.[9]

In January 2011, Sky 1 broadcast Irwin's own show called Dream Lives for Sale,[10] which saw him help people leave behind their lives in the UK and buy a business. In late 2011 he began a new series, The Renovation Game, which aired on weekday mornings on Channel 4.[8]

Irwin advised clients on business and property, ranging from small high street gift shops to multimillion pound corporate hotel packages. He ran a property and business consultancy.[1]

Irwin wrote a regular column for A Place in the Sun magazine.[11] He appeared at A Place in the Sun Live[12] giving presentations on his tips for buying property abroad. Irwin also regularly hosted seminars and corporate events.

Personal life

Irwin was a keen sportsman. He played rugby for Lutterworth RFC and then for Rugby Lions RFC, until an accident in a sevens tournament in which he broke his back and subsequently retired.[13]

Irwin married Jessica Holmes in September 2016 and they had three sons.[1] Irwin and his family moved to the Hertfordshire town of Berkhamsted in 2018[14] and then to the Newcastle upon Tyne area.[15]

Illness and death

In November 2022, Irwin shared that he had terminal lung cancer,[16][17] after being diagnosed in 2020.[18][19] In an interview with Hello!, Irwin said, "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'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."[20][21] On 2 February 2024, it was announced Irwin had died at the age of 50.[22]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Purves, Robbie (13 January 2024). "Jonnie Irwin became property star after having rugby dreams crushed by accident". Leicestershire Live. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Even with an Irish Dad ..." Twitter. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  3. ^ "Businesses for Sale - Buy and Sell Businesses | Christie + Co". Christie.com. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  4. ^ "TRIC Awards 2008 Pictures". The Television and Radio Industries Club. Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
  5. ^ "Programmes - Most Popular - All 4". Channel4.com. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  6. ^ "Programmes - Most Popular - All 4". Channel4.com. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  7. ^ Bushby, Helen (24 November 2022). "'A Place in the Sun axed me after cancer news'". BBC News. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  8. ^ a b Muir, Ellie; Chilton, Louis (2 February 2024). "Jonnie Irwin, A Place in the Sun presenter, dies aged 50". The Independent. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  9. ^ Shillcock, Francesca (4 March 2021). "All you need to know about Escape to the Perfect Town presenter Steve Brown". Hello Magazine. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Sky 1 HD". Sky1.sky.com. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  11. ^ "A Place in the Sun Magazine". www.aplaceinthesun.com.
  12. ^ "A Place in the Sun Live | TV Presenters". Aplaceinthesun.com. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  13. ^ Purves, Robbie (14 November 2022). "Who Leicester's Jonnie Irwin is, his wife and kids and how he was diagnosed with terminal cancer". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  14. ^ "S01E02 Berkhamsted". Escape to the Perfect Town. 8 October 2019. BBC.
  15. ^ Murphy, Nicola (2021) Escape to the Country's Jonnie Irwin reveals pristine garden at new home, Hello!
  16. ^ Price, Karen (13 November 2022). "Channel 4 A Place in The Sun's Jonnie Irwin diagnosed with terminal cancer". Wales Online. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  17. ^ Hadfield, Charlotte (13 November 2022). "A Place in the Sun presenter Jonnie Irwin given six months to live after 'blurred vision'". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  18. ^ https://7news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/a-place-in-the-sun-tv-host-jonnie-irwin-given-6-months-to-live-following-terminal-cancer-diagnosis--c-8851032.amp
  19. ^ Siddique, Haroon (14 November 2022). "TV property presenter Jonnie Irwin reveals he has terminal cancer". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  20. ^ Robey, Belinda (13 November 2022). "Exclusive: Jonnie Irwin reveals terminal cancer diagnosis and how he is creating memories for his family". Hello!. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  21. ^ Stolworthy, Jacob (14 November 2022). "Jonnie Irwin: A Place in the Sun and Escape to the Country presenter says he has terminal cancer". The Independent. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  22. ^ "TV presenter Jonnie Irwin has died, his family says". Sky News. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
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