Thursday 24 November 2022 09:05 AM Jonnie Irwin is 'making memories' for his children as they 'won't remember him' ... trends now

Jonnie Irwin has revealed he's 'making memories' for his children as they won't be able to remember him once he dies. 

The A Place In The Sun star, 49, has son Rex, three, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac with his wife Jessica Holmes but has just months to live as he battles terminal cancer. 

During an appearance on Thursday's episode of Good Morning Britain, he revealed his plan to spend his final days with his loved ones, capturing the moments on film for his children to watch when they're older. 

He explained: 'I'm about making memories, I know my children are so young they won't remember me. 

'I want to at least get it on camera or film to show them the early days were brilliant. I think our house for Christmas will be extravagant.'

Earlier this month, Jonnie revealed he was given just six months to live when he was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, which had spread to his brain, in August 2020, just two months after the birth of his twin sons. 

On GMB he detailed the struggles he and his wife have faced in handling his diagnosis around their children, saying: 'It's only been recently I've considered when we are going to tell them, they are so young.

'At the moment I'm me, a thinner version, there's no need to tell them. I think it'll be a lot for them to get their heads round.

'I try my best to put my head in the sand because what's the point spending your days thinking about cancer when there's gas bills to worry about. The cost of living is a concern because I won't witness it, but my family will.' 

He continued: 'I was in fear of what's happened to some extent, when people find out you have cancer it's terrifying and I lose work through it, professionally I didn't want to lose work, people treat you differently. 

'If I withheld that information, I could have lived a normal life. There are certain busy bodies on social media saying I look ill.'

Jonnie also spoke about losing his job on A Place In The Sun after he alleged he was paid off when he told them of his terminal diagnosis mid-season and his contract was not renewed.

He mused: 'I could work on Escape to the Country, it's the same show and I can travel away from home for three  to four days.

'When I was told I couldn't do it they broke my heart, but I don't think they thought of me. I've been bowled over by some people and the desire to help me and my family. 

'Not working on A Place In The Sun anymore has affected my mental health. I'm a family man now but being a TV presenter defines you and not being able to travel and provide for my family.'

Jonnie's diagnosis came when he was filming Channel 4's A Place In The Sun in Italy in 2020, after he had experienced blurred vision while driving.

Within a week of flying back home, doctors told him he was terminally ill and had just six months to live. Cancer drugs and chemotherapy have helped prolong his life.

He alleged that Freeform Productions, the company behind Channel 4's property show, stopped giving him work, leading to him keeping his illness a secret for more than two years.

Channel 4 and Freeform told The Sun they were 'unable to secure adequate insurance cover' for him to continue international filming amid the Covid-19 crisis.

Their joint statement read: 'No stone was left unturned in trying to enable Jonnie to continue his international filming with us during Covid but the production company were unable to secure adequate insurance cover for him.

'We, of course, understand how frustrating this must be for him at this incredibly difficult time.'

Jonnie alleged that somebody had replaced him as host on A Place In The Sun within two weeks and said he felt he 'deserved more' after working for 18 years on the show.

'Within two weeks someone else was on TV doing my job, I just feel I earned a bit more from them after 18 years. That was my first job in TV and it was special to me,' he added.

MailOnline has contacted Channel 4 and Freeform for further comment.

Earlier this month, MailOnline unearthed footage of Jonnie sipping Puglian olive oil on his last trip for A Place in the Sun in 2020, before he discovered he had terminal cancer. The episode was never broadcast.

Since his diagnosis and throughout his treatment, Jonnie has continued filming for the BBC's home improvement show, Escape To The Country.

The former estate agent's TV career began in 2004 when he was selected from hundreds of applicants to co-present Channel 4's A Place in the Sun with Jasmine Harman.

He was the programme's longest-serving presenter, alongside co-star Jasmine Harman, who is still with the show.

In 2010, he won more fans by becoming a regular host of Escape to the Country on BBC1.

Elsewhere in the interview, Jonnie spoke about his devastation at the thought of leaving behind his wife Jess Holmes, 40, and their children - Rex, three, and

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