Jonnie Irwin

English television presenter (1973–2024)

Jonnie Irwin

Born|

Jonathan James Irwin

(1973-11-18)18 November 1973

Rugby, Warwickshire, England

Died| 2 February 2024(2024-02-02) (aged 50)

Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Occupations|

* Television presenter
* writer
* lecturer
* business expert
* property expert

Years active| 2004–2023
Known for| Presenting A Place in the Sun and Escape to the Country
Spouse|

Jessica Holmes

(m. 2016)​

Children| 3

Jonathan James Irwin (18 November 1973 – 2 February 2024) 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

[edit]

Irwin was born on 18 November 1973 in Rugby, Warwickshire, to Avie (née 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.[1] Irwin's father was Irish.[2]

## Career

[edit]

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.[9] He also presented the spin-off of Escape to the Country, Escape to the Perfect Town.[10]

In January 2011, Sky 1 broadcast Irwin's own show, titled Dream Lives for Sale,[11] 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.[9]

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

## Personal life

[edit]

Irwin was a keen sportsman. He played cricket many times for Gumley Cricket Club,[16] 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.[17]

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[18] and then to the Newcastle upon Tyne area.[19]

### Illness and death

[edit]

In November 2022, Irwin shared that he had terminal lung cancer,[20][21] after being diagnosed in August 2020 after experiencing blurred vision while driving. He was given six months to live.[22][23]

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."[24][25] Irwin died on 2 February 2024, at the age of 50.[26][27]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Purves, Robbie (13 January 2024). "Jonnie Irwin became property star after having rugby dreams crushed by accident". Leicestershire Live. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
2. ^ "Even with an Irish Dad ..." Twitter. Archived from the original on 24 November 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
3. ^ "Christie + Co". Christie.com. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. 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". Channel 4. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
6. ^ "Programmes – Most Popular – All 4". Channel4.com. Archived from the original on 10 October 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
7. ^ "Channel 4 and Freeform Productions Announce 'A Place In The Sun What Happened Next?'". Channel 4. 15 November 2023. Archived from the original on 4 January 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
8. ^ Bushby, Helen (24 November 2022). "'A Place in the Sun axed me after cancer news'". BBC News. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
9. ^ a b Muir, Ellie; Chilton, Louis (2 February 2024). "Jonnie Irwin, A Place in the Sun presenter, dies aged 50". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
10. ^ Shillcock, Francesca (4 March 2021). "All you need to know about Escape to the Perfect Town presenter Steve Brown". Hello Magazine. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
11. ^ "Sky 1 HD". Sky1.sky.com. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
12. ^ "A Place in the Sun Magazine". www.aplaceinthesun.com. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
13. ^ "A Place in the Sun Live | TV Presenters". Aplaceinthesun.com. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
14. ^ Ensor, John (23 September 2023). "Jonnie Irwin Shines At A Place In The Sun Live". Euro Weekly News. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
15. ^ "Jonnie Irwin – Personal appearances". www.speakerscorner.co.uk. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
16. ^ "TV's Jonnie Irwin remembered at cricket match". BBC News. 10 August 2024.
17. ^ 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. Archived from the original on 15 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
18. ^ "S01E02 Berkhamsted". Escape to the Perfect Town. 8 October 2019. BBC. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
19. ^ Murphy, Nicola (2021) Escape to the Country's Jonnie Irwin reveals pristine garden at new home Archived 24 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine, Hello!
20. ^ Price, Karen (13 November 2022). "Channel 4 A Place in The Sun's Jonnie Irwin diagnosed with terminal cancer". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 13 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
21. ^ Hadfield, Charlotte (13 November 2022). "A Place in the Sun presenter Jonnie Irwin given six months to live after 'blurred vision'". Liverpool Echo. Archived from the original on 13 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
22. ^ "Beloved TV star shares heartbreaking diagnosis: 'Six months to live'". 14 November 2022. Archived from the original on 15 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
23. ^ Siddique, Haroon (14 November 2022). "TV property presenter Jonnie Irwin reveals he has terminal cancer". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
24. ^ Robey, Belinda (13 November 2022). "Exclusive: Jonnie Irwin reveals terminal cancer diagnosis and how he is creating memories for his family". Hello!. Archived from the original on 14 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
25. ^ 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. Archived from the original on 14 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
26. ^ "Jonnie Irwin's family lead tributes to 'remarkable soul' – latest". The Independent. 3 February 2024. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
27. ^ "TV presenter Jonnie Irwin has died, his family says". Sky News. 2 February 2024. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Official A Place in the Sun website
* A Place in the Sun:Home or Away? on Channel 4 Television
* Jonnie Irwin at IMDb

*[m.]: married