Escape To The Country viewers were left emotional as the BBC show paid tribute to the late Jonnie Irwin following his death.
The TV presenter passed away on Friday (February 2) aged 50 following a battle with terminal lung cancer. The property expert was diagnosed with the disease in 2020.
He was later informed the cancer had spread to his brain and was given just six months to live. Jonnie’s death was announced via his official Instagram page with an emotional statement in which he was branded a “truly remarkable soul” who fought cancer with “unwavering strength and courage”.
READ MORE: Jonnie Irwin gave wife his ‘blessing’ to find love again after death from cancer
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And on Monday (February 5) one of Jonnie’s shows Escape To The Country made a special change to the schedule. The show aired Jonnie’s final show with them – after being on the series for 14 years.
The voiceover before the episode aired said: “In a change to the bill, we have Escape to the Country as we pay tribute to the late Jonnie Irwin here on BBC One.”
Fans watching soon reacted the episode. On X, formerly known as Twitter, one person said: “This is heartbreaking to watch. He’s so diminished but still the same lovely Jonnie.”
Someone else added: “This is going to be a sad watch. RIP lovely man.” A third quipped: “Lovely to hear and see Jonnie Irwin on @Escape_Country. What a nice tribute from @BBCOne. So brilliantly talented at presenting these shows along with @PlaceintheSunTV. Will be so very missed…..RIP.”
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Another penned: “Please continue to broadcast editions of ETTC featuring @jonnieirwin we don’t forget people when they die and remembering them brings their loved ones comfort. RIP Jonnie, you will be missed by us all. Condolences to your friends and family.”
At the end of the episode, the show played a montage of Jonnie on Escape To The Country – including bloopers and behind-the-scenes clips. The episode then ended on a snap of Jonnie.
Just days before his death, the Escape To The Country star shared a snap of himself in his hospital gown ahead of an MRI scan. He captioned the post: “This is look of a man who’s not slept for 6 nights and awaiting a full body MRI scan of at least an hour.
After returning home from hospital, Jonnie shared a video showing off the new windows he’d had installed in his house. He added in the caption: “I was tempted to spray the remaining windows, but after interviewing someone that actually knows what they’re talking about I changed my plans.
(Image: INSTAGRAM)
“This more than any other Reno has been a fluid process! Check out the film we made on Morning Live on @bbciplayer, it’s worth a watch. Look out for the episode on 13/11/23. Or go straight to Richard who’s tagged.”
Following the news of his sad passing, fans suggested he may have sensed that he didn’t have long left to live. One commented: “He must have known he had just a week left .. life is outrageously cruel when so many shallow, inflated ego souls survive him.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
