Jonnie Irwin Explained

Jonnie Irwin
Birth Name:Jonathan James Irwin
Birth Date:18 November 1973
Birth Place:Rugby, Warwickshire, England
Death Date: (aged 50)
Death Place:Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Known For:Presenting A Place in the Sun and Escape to the Country
Years Active:2004–2023
Children:3

Jonathan James Irwin (18 November 1973 – 2 February 2024[1]) was an English television presenter, writer, lecturer, businessman, and property expert. He was best known for presenting the Channel 4 lifestyle programme A Place in the Sun between 2004 and 2021, as well as the BBC daytime programme Escape to the Country between 2010 and 2023.

Early life

Irwin was born on 18 November 1973 in Rugby, Warwickshire, to Avie (Orr) and James Irwin, a property developer. He grew up on a small farm in the village of Bitteswell, Leicestershire. He was educated at Lutterworth Grammar School and Community College. He obtained a degree from Birmingham City University in estate management. Irwin's father was Irish.[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, he 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.[7] 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".[8]

Irwin presented episodes of BBC property shows Escape to the Country and To Buy or Not to Buy. He 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.[11]

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.[12]

Irwin wrote a regular column for A Place in the Sun magazine.[13] He appeared at A Place in the Sun Live[14] giving presentations on his tips for buying property abroad. Irwin also regularly hosted seminars and corporate events.[15] [16]

Personal life

Irwin was a keen sportsman. He played cricket many times for Gumley Cricket Club,[17] and 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.[18]

Irwin married Jessica Holmes in September 2016 and they had three sons. Irwin and his family moved to the Hertfordshire town of Berkhamsted in 2018[19] and then to the Newcastle upon Tyne area.[20]

Illness and death

In November 2022, Irwin shared that he had terminal lung cancer,[21] [22] after being diagnosed in August 2020 after experiencing blurred vision while driving. He was given six months to live.[23] [24]

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."[25] [26] Irwin died aged 50, with his death announced on 2 February 2024.[27]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 3 February 2024 . Jonnie Irwin's family lead tributes to 'remarkable soul' – latest . 3 February 2024 . The Independent . 3 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240203081419/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/jonnie-irwin-tributes-wife-escape-to-the-country-b2489873.html . live.
  2. News: Even with an Irish Dad ..... Twitter. 21 July 2019. en-UK. 24 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221124155914/https://mobile.twitter.com/jonnieirwin/status/444883181121318913. live.
  3. Web site: Christie + Co . Christie.com . 29 July 2015 . 4 May 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160504152947/https://www.christie.com/ . live .
  4. Web site: TRIC Awards 2008 Pictures. 17 August 2010 . dead. The Television and Radio Industries Club. https://web.archive.org/web/20100123021337/http://www.tric.org.uk/main/awards08_pictures.html. 23 January 2010.
  5. Web site: Programmes – Most Popular – All 4 . Channel 4 . 29 July 2015.
  6. Web site: Programmes – Most Popular – All 4 . Channel4.com . 29 July 2015 . 10 October 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101010080850/http://www.channel4.com/4homes/on-tv/a-place-in-the-sun-home-or-away/about-jonnie-irwin/about-jonnie-irwin-08-06-24_p_1.html . live .
  7. Web site: 15 November 2023 . Channel 4 and Freeform Productions Announce 'A Place In The Sun What Happened Next?' . 3 February 2024 . Channel 4 . 4 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240104000923/https://www.channel4.com/press/news/channel-4-and-freeform-productions-announce-place-sun-what-happened-next#:~:text=A%20Place%20in%20the%20Sun%20episodes%20are%20distributed%20and%20screened,London%2C%20Manchester%2C%20and%20Birmingham. . live.
  8. News: Bushby . Helen . 24 November 2022 . 'A Place in the Sun axed me after cancer news' . 24 November 2022 . BBC News . en-GB . 14 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221214021218/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-63741938 . live.
  9. Web site: Shillcock . Francesca . 4 March 2021 . All you need to know about Escape to the Perfect Town presenter Steve Brown . 2 February 2024 . Hello Magazine . 28 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230328083930/https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/20210304108171/escape-to-the-perfect-town-who-is-steve-brown/ . live .
  10. Web site: Sky 1 HD . Sky1.sky.com . 29 July 2015 . 19 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120319155513/http://sky1.sky.com/dream-lives-for-sale . live .
  11. Web site: Muir . Ellie . Chilton . Louis . 2 February 2024 . Jonnie Irwin, A Place in the Sun presenter, dies aged 50 . 2 February 2024 . The Independent . 2 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240202233637/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/jonnie-irwin-death-place-in-the-sun-b2487234.html . live .
  12. Web site: Purves . Robbie . 13 January 2024 . Jonnie Irwin became property star after having rugby dreams crushed by accident . 2 February 2024 . Leicestershire Live . 22 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230222071149/https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/jonnie-irwin-became-property-star-8026218 . live .
  13. Web site: A Place in the Sun Magazine. www.aplaceinthesun.com. 9 July 2019. 9 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190709190057/https://www.aplaceinthesun.com/magazine. live.
  14. Web site: A Place in the Sun Live | TV Presenters . Aplaceinthesun.com . 29 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150912151421/http://www.aplaceinthesun.com/exhibitions/celebrities . 12 September 2015 . dead.
  15. Web site: Ensor . John . 23 September 2023 . Jonnie Irwin Shines At A Place In The Sun Live . 3 February 2024 . Euro Weekly News . 7 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231007105154/https://euroweeklynews.com/2023/09/23/jonnie-irwin-shines-at-a-place-in-the-sun-live/ . live .
  16. Web site: Jonnie Irwin – Personal appearances . 3 February 2024 . www.speakerscorner.co.uk . 28 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220528035335/https://www.speakerscorner.co.uk/conference-facilitators/jonnie-irwin . live .
  17. Web site: TV's Jonnie Irwin remembered at cricket match . BBC News . 10 August 2024.
  18. Web site: Who Leicester's Jonnie Irwin is, his wife and kids and how he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Leicester Mercury. Purves. Robbie. 14 November 2022. 15 November 2022. 15 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221115065957/https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/who-leicesters-jonnie-irwin-is-7817992. live.
  19. S01E02 Berkhamsted . Escape to the Perfect Town . . 8 October 2019 . 15 November 2020 . 1 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201101020828/https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000969h/escape-to-the-perfect-town-series-1-2-berkhamsted-hertfordshire . live .
  20. Murphy, Nicola (2021) Escape to the Country's Jonnie Irwin reveals pristine garden at new home, Hello!
  21. Web site: Channel 4 A Place in The Sun's Jonnie Irwin diagnosed with terminal cancer. Wales Online. Price. Karen. 13 November 2022. 13 November 2022. 13 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221113223734/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/channel-4-place-suns-jonnie-25507413. live.
  22. Web site: A Place in the Sun presenter Jonnie Irwin given six months to live after 'blurred vision'. Liverpool Echo. Hadfield. Charlotte. 13 November 2022. 13 November 2022. 13 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221113224312/https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/place-sun-presenter-jonnie-irwin-25507586. live.
  23. Web site: Beloved TV star shares heartbreaking diagnosis: 'Six months to live' . 14 November 2022 . 15 November 2022 . 15 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221115054041/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 . live .
  24. Web site: TV property presenter Jonnie Irwin reveals he has terminal cancer. The Guardian. Siddique. Haroon. 14 November 2022. 14 November 2022. 14 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221114002007/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/nov/14/tv-property-presenter-jonnie-irwin-terminal-cancer. live.
  25. Web site: Exclusive: Jonnie Irwin reveals terminal cancer diagnosis and how he is creating memories for his family. Hello!. Robey. Belinda. 13 November 2022. 14 November 2022. 14 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221114000526/https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/20221113156678/jonnie-irwin-terminally-ill-cancer-exclusive/. live.
  26. Web site: Jonnie Irwin: A Place in the Sun and Escape to the Country presenter says he has terminal cancer. The Independent. Stolworthy. Jacob. 14 November 2022. 14 November 2022. 14 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221114080459/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/jonnie-irwin-cancer-place-in-the-sun-b2224448.html. live.
  27. Web site: 2 February 2024 . TV presenter Jonnie Irwin has died, his family says . 2 February 2024 . Sky News . 2 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240202192247/https://news.sky.com/story/tv-presenter-jonnie-irwin-has-died-his-family-says-13062323 . live.

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