Escape to the Country fans were left emotional on Tuesday, as an old episode was aired that was presented by the late Jonnie Irwin, months after his tragic death.
The presenter passed away in February at the age of 50, three years after he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer in 2020.
He left behind his wife Jessica Holme and their young sons Rex, four, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac.
Tuesday afternoon saw the BBC air a rerun of an episode from 2022 in North Yorkshire, where Jonnie was helping Ian find a new home for £350,000, after moving back to the UK from Hong Kong.
But the episode was tinged with melancholy, as one of the last to feature Jonnie before his passing.
Escape to the Country fans were left emotional on Tuesday, as an old episode was aired that was presented by the late Jonnie Irwin, months after his tragic death (pictured)
The presenter passed away in February at the age of 50, three years after he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer in 2020
He left behind his wife Jessica Holme and their young sons Rex, four, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac (pictured)
Viewers couldn’t help but be distracted by the sad reminder and took to social media to remember the host and praise him for his presenting skills and optimism.
They wrote: ‘Hearing Jonnie Irwin’s distinctive voice on #EscapeToTheCountry. He fought his cancer battle with dignity and no attention-seeking. God bless you, you were a brilliant presenter.’
‘Episode of Escape to the Country with #JonnieIrwin is on now Tuesday 11 June. Lovely to see Jonnie still had his cheeky sense of humour; Johnnie Irwin episode today, RIP #escapetothecountry’.
‘So sad to switch on the TV and hear Jonnie Irwin’s voice, talking about having three kids in nappies; Great to see one of the #JonnieIrwin episodes on #EscapeToTheCountry now on BBC ONE. What a top guy & presenter he was.’
It comes after Jonnie’s widow candidly opened up about his final moments as she tearfully reflected on their loving marriage.
Jessica, who fell in love with the presenter in 2015 after meeting through mutual friends, said the couple ‘weren’t best friends they were lovers’.
Speaking with Hello! magazine last month, Jessica wiped away tears as she said: ‘He told me, “I’m so happy I met you,” and that he knew the boys would have the most joy and fun a person could bring.
‘We had so much fun, Jonnie and me, we were never boring, we weren’t best friends, we were lovers; there was passion’.
Viewers couldn’t help but be distracted by the sad reminder and took to social media to remember the host and praise him for his presenting skills and optimism
It comes after Jonnie’s widow candidly opened up about his final moments as she tearfully reflected on their loving marriage
Jessica, who fell in love with the presenter in 2015 after meeting through mutual friends, said the couple ‘weren’t best friends they were lovers’
Jonnie hosted property show A Place In The Sun from 2004 to 2021, when he was forced to step down due to his terminal cancer diagnosis.
Jessica cared for Jonnie at their home in the last few days of his life and was supported by nurses.
She said his death was ‘cruel by how quick it was’ as he returned home from hospital and didn’t leave his bed before passing away days later.
Jess admitted she was in denial that this was the end because she was expecting him to have an ‘neurological decline’ because days earlier he was ‘playfully giving her grief’ about something.
She revealed their oldest son Rex went to Jonnie’s room to see him before he passed and Jess explained how she believes their little boy ‘knew something wasn’t right because he kissed Jonnie’s hand’.
Jessica announced the news of his death in a heartbreaking tribute earlier this year.
Jonnie was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020, and went public two years later revealing the cancer had spread and it was terminal.
Jessica remained a steadfast pillar of support during her husband’s challenging health battle.
Wiping away tears, she said: ‘He told me, “I’m so happy I met you,” We had so much fun, Jonnie and me, we were never boring, we weren’t best friends, we were lovers; there was passion’
She added that his death was ‘cruel by how quick it was’ as he returned home from hospital and didn’t leave his bed before passing away days later
The couple, who wed in 2016 in what Jonnie fondly described as the ‘happiest weekend of my life,’ have three sons.
When Jonnie was fit and healthy he enjoyed several walking holidays with his group of ‘brothers’ and Jess revealed she recently gave the friends some of his ashes to ‘sprinkle on top of a mountain’ in the Lake District.
She told the publication: ‘On their last trip they rented e-bikes to make it easier for Jonnie and went to the Lake District. Two weeks ago, the others went back and I said to them, “Do you want to take a bit of him with you?” so they sprinkled some of his ashes on the top of a mountain’.
Jess went onto reveal that the family are currently looking for a special tree to plant in Northumberland so Jonnie’s ashes can be planted in the roots as ‘that was his wish’.
