A Place in the Sun's Jonnie Irwin has shared an update on his cancer journey after being admitted to hospital on Friday with an infection that caused a "fever" and a "stabbing pain" in his right hand side.
The 49-year-old, best known for presenting the Channel 4 travel show, has since been discharged and is now en-route to Spain for a much-needed break with his loved ones. Jonnie took to Instagram on Monday evening to share a video of him at the airport with his wife Jessica Holmes and their three young sons before they board a plane to the Costa del Sol for some winter sunshine.
"I woke up this morning feeling a bit better, still slightly jaundice-y, but I'm about to jump on a flight to southern Spain," he told his 229k followers. "I did clear it with with my oncologist, and he said, 'Well, there are hospitals in Spain and in fairness, you don't play by the rules anyway.' But my thoughts are, that's probably part of my success so far," he admitted in the short clip as he wandered around the departures lounge.
Jonnie, who revealed he'd been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in November 2022, confirmed he was back home from hospital on Sunday after blood tests and scans found his liver function to be "going in the right direction." He is now making the most of his discharge by heading to the Mediterranean, where he will spend his 50th birthday on Friday in balmy weather on the coast.
"Hopefully my liver continues to get a bit better and me and my family, we wake up tomorrow, to blue skies in southern Spain," he added, before signing off the message with an enthusiastic, "Bon voyage to us." Jonnie also shared that a friend is staying at his family home, which is currently being refurbished, while he is abroad.
Escape to the Chateau's Dick and Angel give exciting news as fans beg for return"Time for some current bun and a break from hospitals and builder and them a break from me! Thankfully a mate needs somewhere to crash so there’s someone to keep an eye on everyone whilst I’m away as it’s a big week on site too," he captioned the post.
It didn't take long for Jonnie's followers to react to the uplifting update, with many taking to the comment section to wish him and his family a enjoyable vacation. "Have a lovely time away. You and your family deserve a break," one person said, white another gushed, "You are truly inspiring. Get some sun and feel better soon." Others took the opportunity to send Jonnie kind messages ahead of his milestone birthday on Friday.
"Have an amazing time and a very Happy 50th Birthday," one supportive fan said, echoing the kind words of another follower who wrote, "It’s beautiful here in southern Portugal so I really hope it’s the same for you in Spain! Good for you for going and celebrating your birthday in the sunshine."