Jonnie Irwin
Jonnie Irwin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Jonathan James Irwin 18 November 1973 Rugby, Warwickshire, England |
| Died | 2 February 2024 (aged 50) Newcastle upon Tyne, England |
| Occupations |
|
| 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]- ^ a b c Purves, Robbie (13 January 2024). Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ Archived from the original on 24 November 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
- ^ "Christie + Co". Christie.com. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
- ^ the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
- ^ "Programmes – Most Popular – All 4". Channel 4. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
- ^ Archived from the original on 10 October 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
- ^ Archived from the original on 4 January 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ Bushby, Helen (24 November 2022). Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
- ^ a b Muir, Ellie; Chilton, Louis (2 February 2024). Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ Shillcock, Francesca (4 March 2021). Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
- ^ Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
- ^ the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
- ^ Ensor, John (23 September 2023). Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "TV's Jonnie Irwin remembered at cricket match". BBC News. 10 August 2024.
- ^ Purves, Robbie (14 November 2022). Archived from the original on 15 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
- ^ Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
- ^ Murphy, Nicola (2021) Archived 24 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine, Hello!
- ^ Price, Karen (13 November 2022). Archived from the original on 13 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ Hadfield, Charlotte (13 November 2022). Archived from the original on 13 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ Archived from the original on 15 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
- ^ Siddique, Haroon (14 November 2022). Archived from the original on 14 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ^ Robey, Belinda (13 November 2022). Archived from the original on 14 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ^ Stolworthy, Jacob (14 November 2022). Archived from the original on 14 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ^ Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.