’s A Place In The Sun co-presenters and Scarlette Douglas lead the emotional tributes to their late friend.
The , after a long battle with lung , which had sadly spread to his brain, the diagnosis of which he first revealed in 2022.
His family announced the ‘immeasurable’ loss on Friday, February 2, in an Instagram post asking for privacy for his wife, Jessica Holmes, and their three sons – Rex, three, and twins Rafa and Cormac, two.
‘May the sun always shine on you Jonnie 🙏🏾,’ shared Douglas with a snap of Irwin filming their hit property show.
Co-star Laura Hamilton shared a black and white picture of the star and wrote: ‘Without doubt one of the best… Funny, intelligent, kind hearted, one of a kind, Jonnie you will forever be missed. 🥲🥲🥲’
In the post she added they were ‘heartbroken’ to lose a member of their A Place in the Sun family after 18 years working together and will ‘miss him terribly.’
Harman, who joined the show at the same time as Irwin, posted a long tribute to him on her , in which she called him her ‘partner in crime’.
She wrote: ‘I will always remember the first time I heard your name. When I was doing a screen test for a new show, they said “we definitely want Jonnie, but we need to find another presenter”.I wondered who this mysterious Jonnie was.
‘We met in Cape Town, filming the pilot. You we’re so charismatic and energetic, so confident and fun. I understood immediately why they had to have you.
‘Your cheeky-chappy persona and naughty sense of humour always broke the ice and made people laugh. Everyone warmed to you and you had the incredible ability to connect with people, making them feel like they’d known you for years.’
She said that it was a ‘pleasure and a privilege’ to begin their TV careers together, one which she ‘will be eternally grateful for’.
‘Professionally, you were well suited to life in front of the lens,’ Harman added. ‘But for years, you always talked about wanting to settle down and become a dad.
‘Your wish was granted when you met Jess. Never were you happier than in your role as husband and Dad to the most awesome three boys – you are a legend.’
Much of Irwin’s updates about his health have focused on spending as much time with his children and family as possible on wild adventures.
The presenter continued: ‘Life is simply not fair. We can’t reason with it; there are no answers to the question Why?
‘We can, in your memory learn to cherish every hug, every conversation, every moment, for the priceless time we have. Enjoy every breath, every sunrise and sunset, never take anything for granted, because tomorrow is not promised.
‘Jonnie, you’ve taught me so much in our time as work colleagues and as good friends. I have never admired you more than over the last few years as you’ve faced life with cancer with positivity, determination and bloody mindedness.
‘I’ve never known anyone as strong as you. You have done yourself, your loved ones and all of us proud.
‘The world is a little darker today without you, but I will always smile when I think of you. My partner in crime, my OG co-presenter – Jonnie, I will miss you.’
Soon after the show’s official social media page also paid tribute.
Alongside a photo of Irwin the message read: ‘We are heartbroken. Jonnie was a much loved part of the A Place in the Sun family for more than 18 years- he brought joy, wit and bundles of energy to the show. We will miss him terribly. Our thoughts are with Jess and the boys and the rest of the family.’
His A Place in the Sun co-star Danni Menzies also shared a poem when addressing his death.
A few hours after the initial news of Irwin’s death on his page, his wife posted a heartfelt tribute on her own social media account.
In it, Jess wrote: ‘Good night my favourite. Thank you for everything. I will always love you. The hardest day has come, a day I prayed wouldn’t come. It’s with all the the saddness in the world that I confirm Jonnie has passed away earlier today.
‘His magical brain that continued to fight to the end has now gone to sleep. He has given me more than I could ever have wished for, 8 bonkers years of love and adventure and 3 amazing boys.
‘I will continue to make you proud but only with your love still finding me and guiding me for the rest of my life, me and the boys still need you. Jonnie you really were the most handsome man I ever knew and I am so sorry for this cruel end.’
She added: ‘It really wasn’t fair and you didn’t deserve any of this. You gave so much time to others and touched everyone you met, I have never experienced anything like the effect you had on people. I love you so much and forever proud of you xxx 💔’
On the original post, Vogue Williams also commented: ‘Incredibly courageous man… x
Escape to the Country’s Nicki Chapman also wrote: ‘Heartbroken. Sending love to Jess & the family.’
Former Gogglebox star Stephen Lustig-Webb shared: ‘Rest in peace, always came across as a thoroughly decent person! So sad, love n hugs to him family x’
Jenny and Lee – also from Gogglebox – added: ‘Absolutely gutted to hear this he was one who inspired me and Steve to move to Cyprus after watching places in the sun for years he always said follow your dreams life is to short Rip.’
A Place In The Sun star Jonnie Irwin dies aged 50
