In an exclusive shoot and interview with HELLO! to celebrate Father's Day, TV presenter Jonnie Irwin tells us what sort of father he tries to be to his three sons, Rex, four-and-a-half and twins Rafa and Cormac, who will be three later this month.
"I encourage the kids, I'm positive about them and give them cuddles. I've started to tell Rex in private conversations, 'You can do anything'. He's bright, he's talented, and comes home from nursery knowing more French than I do.
"I had a tough upbringing," says Jonnie, who in August 2020, was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer which had spread to his brain. "And I've managed to do a lot in my life, despite that, but I don't want them to struggle. I want them to have the confidence of a public school boy, but also be streetwise lads. They're happy kids, they laugh, and are a lot of fun to have around."
His wife Jess, 40, added: "Jonnie is a great dad – and a big kid himself," joining the conversation and taking a seat beside her husband.
"All the boys gravitate to him when they want to show off and get his attention. They're aware that Jonnie needs his rest and can't always jump up and play football for hours, but they're more than happy snuggled up on the sofa, watching a movie. Story time is a big thing at bedtime and that is something I know Jonnie treasures with them."
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Any fatherly advice or guidance that Jonnie might give his sons has, inevitably, taken on a deeper significance. "I'm acutely aware that everything I do has to be a good example. Jess is soft, so they'll have a softer upbringing than if I was around, probably," he says, smiling at his wife. "But I'm confident that they'll have a good upbringing."
So far, they have chosen not to tell their sons about their dad's illness. "I keep being asked, 'Are you going to tell them?' but tell them what?" he asks, exasperated. "It would be horrible news that they'd have to get their heads around. And it would confuse the hell out of Rex – he's got a shocking enough day coming. Let's bury our heads in the sand for as long as possible."
Since his diagnosis Jonnie, who was a presenter on Escape to the Country, has tried not to be such a "stress head" "I'm not sweating the small stuff anymore," he says. "It's much better to be chilled about the little things. That's the journey I've been on, and continue to be on."
When did Jonnie go public with his diagnosis?
Jonnie revealed his terminal cancer battle back in November 2022. Speaking exclusively to HELLO! magazine, the presenter explained how his lung cancer had spread to his brain, leaving him with just months to live.
Opening up, he 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 got into the habit of saying: 'Don't plan ahead because I might not be well enough.'
MORE: A Place In The Sun star Jonnie Irwin's moving life lesson amid cancer diagnosis
When did Jonnie first become aware of his illness?
Jonnie was in Italy in August 2020, filming for A Place in the Sun, when he got the first warning sign that something was wrong when his vision went blurry while driving.
Tests soon revealed he had lung cancer which had spread to his brain. "Within a week of flying back from filming, I was being given six months to live," he recalls.
"I had to go home and tell my wife, who was looking after our babies, that she was on her own pretty much. That was devastating. All I could do was apologise to her. I felt so responsible."
Cancer drugs and chemotherapy have helped prolong Jonnie's prognosis while he has continued to work as much as possible.
What else has Jonnie said about his kids?
Despite his cancer diagnosis, Jonnie is keen to make lasting memories with his three sons. "I want to make plans. I want to make memories and capture these moments with my family because the reality is, my boys are going to grow up not knowing their dad and that breaks my heart," he told HELLO!
He went on to say: "Some people in my position have bucket lists, but I just want us to do as much as we can as a family."
Watch Jonnie's heartfelt words about his children, his life as a dad and how he hopes they remember him in the future, in the touching, and very emotional, video at the top of the page.
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