05 February 2024 , 22:45
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Helen Skelton vowed to honour Jonnie Irwin's legacy following his death.
The Morning Live presenter paid tribute to her friend, who appeared many times on the show, after he died last week after a four-year battle with terminal cancer. The Escape to the Country and A Place In The Sun star was a father-of-three and married to wife Jess.
On Monday's show, Helen and co-host Gabby Roslin said: "We are celebrating the life of our friend and presenter, Jonnie Irwin, who sadly died on Friday after a four-year battle with cancer. Johnny was determined to share his story on Morning Live to get more people talking about difficult subjects like end-of-life care and dealing with death. We want to look back at the incredible impact he’s had and continue his legacy."
Helen and Gabby paid tribute to Jonnie (BBC)Gabby continued: “We are talking about the incredibly sad news that on Friday, our friend and presenter Jonnie Irwin died from cancer after it spread from his lungs to his brain. After Jonnie’s diagnosis in 2020, he joined Morning Live to share his story and tackle the taboos around the disease.
"Together, we spoke about critical illness insurance, palliative care and the importance of leaving a lasting digital legacy for loved ones.” Helen then added: “Now his passion was property, so we also followed his own renovation project to create a home for his two boys to support them in the future and today, we celebrate his life and as per Jonnie’s wishes, continue the conversation around the effects of cancer.”
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The BBC show shared a series of clips from Jonnie's career on TV, as Helen said: “For 18 years, Jonnie lit up our screens from sunny climates working on Channel 4’s A Place in the Sun. But in November 2022, Jonnie shared with the world that two years before that he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
“He was determined to challenge the taboo around talking about cancer. Jonnie joined the Morning Live team to get us talking about end-of-life care. On your behalf, Jonnie, we promise to continue that conversation. For the lives you changed and the joy you brought, thank you, from all of us.”
Jonnie appeared on Morning Live to raise awareness of his diagnosis (BBC)Jonnie, who is dad to son Rex and twins Rafa and Cormac with wife Jess death, continued to live his life to the fullest following his terminal cancer diagnosis. His death was confirmed in a heartbreaking post on Instagram on Friday evening.
A spokesperson. for the family said: “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.”