16 March 2023 , 22:30
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Jonnie Irwin has spoken out about how living with terminal cancer has impacted his parenting duties.
The A Place in the Sun star, 49, recalls how a recent kickabout with his young son almost 'broke' him, due to feeling 'weaker' as he lives alongside his terminal cancer diagnosis.
Jonnie shared the heartbreaking admission that he 'doesn't know how long' he has left to live in November, after first being diagnosed with lung cancer in August 2020, which has since spread to his brain.
Speaking in a new interview, the dad-of-three reveals he recently celebrated his 50th with 170 loved ones and a big party, ahead of his milestone birthday in November.
"It was a great night. I chose a playlist with some great tunes from the 90s and 2000s and people came from all over the country and abroad," Jonnie recalls.
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The former A Place in the Sun presenter has detailed the reality of life with terminal cancer"I didn’t know the extent of the loyalty and generosity that my friends would exhibit. I’ve been dumbfounded and spellbound by their support, as well as that of our families, who have been amazing."
Jasmine Harman and ex-England cricketer Andrew Caddick were in attendance at the bash, which Jonnie says he held as he wanted "to do something to celebrate my birthday".
While the party was a happy memory for Jonnie, the property guru has been struggling with certain activities he used to be able to easily manage.
Jonnie is a doting dad to three young sons (Instagram/jonnieirwintv)Speaking with The Sun, the doting dad goes on to explain how playing a spot of football with his son Rex left him feeling frustrated as he "couldn't get near the ball."
"I’m very sporty and suddenly it’s just like…it was as if it was the first time I’d attempted football. I felt like a granddad. And that broke me a bit," he recalls.
Jonnie continues to add how he always thought he'd be leading from the front, despite being an older dad, but is "now at the back".
After making his diagnosis public last year, Jonnie credited "Jess and our boys" with helping him stay positive and focus on creating as many memories as he can with his family following his terminal diagnosis.
Jonnie wants to make as many memories as possible with his wife and children (Instagram/jonnieirwintv)The property guru and Jessica, 40, tied the knot in September 2016 and have since gone on to welcome three children into the world together - Rex, three, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac.
Jonnie is an exceptionally proud father and often shares pictures of his young family with his fans on Instagram, with the latest update coming earlier this week during their staycation.
Discussing his terminal diagnosis and death with Hello! magazine last year, Jonnie said: "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."
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