Jonnie Irwin cancer battle update: Brave Place in the Sun star 'living every minute' as he admits he can't face telling son he's dying

A Place in the Sun presenter Jonnie Irwin shared photos of his Christmas break on social media as he gave an update on his cancer battle following a terminal diagnosis.

The 49-year-old was told he had just six months left to live after he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2020 which has since spread to his brain.

Irwin, who has son Rex, three, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac with his wife Jessica Holmes, spoke about enjoying what might be his “last” Christmas as he posted snaps during their break on Instagram.

The TV star shared a series of photos, as he captioned: “After NY with family tacked on a couple of days and ventured deeper south. Splendid! #friends”.

One touching photo showed Irwin smiling while on a sofa with his son Rex and in another with loved ones just hours before midnight on New Year’s Eve.

The festive snaps come after the presenter spoke about not wanting his children to know that this could be their final Christmas with their dad.

He told the Daily Mail: “When I’m more frail or in bed for days we might [tell them]. If you have 20 days left, why spend them in mourning and confusion?

“Why not just have 15 days of pure, blissful ignorance and five days of knowing the facts?”

He described the Christmas period as “tricky” due to the uncertainty of how long he has left for his family.

Irwin told The Sun: “I’d be lying if I didn’t say that Christmas will be tricky. I’m not saying this will be my last one because I don’t know for certain.

"I want to be here as long as I can but it could be and I want to enjoy it and just spend time with Jess and the kids."

Last month, the star revealed that he was forced to continue working despite having terminal cancer because he did not take out “critical illness” cover.

Irwin says he did take out insurance for getting the terminal diagnosis, but it will not pay out until after he has passed away.

He continued working, despite being so unwell, to continue providing income for his family and kept his terminal cancer diagnosis hidden from TV bosses over fears he would lose work.

Irwin said: “As soon as people find out you’ve got cancer they write you off. Yes, I have stage four and it’s terminal – but not yet, so let me live my life while I can.

“Yes, I’m a family man and I need to put a roof over our heads and food on the table but work is something that’s really important to me. It also stops me thinking about cancer.”