TV host Jonnie Irwin has accused the producers of Channel 4’s A Place in the Sun of firing him after he disclosed he had terminal cancer.
Irwin told The Sun that Freeform Productions “paid me off for the remainder of the season and did not renew my contract,” leaving him in a “depressing” state.
Earlier this month, he disclosed that his lung cancer had spread to his brain.
Freeform and C4 reportedly “left no stone unturned” in their efforts to find a way for him to stay, but they were unable to obtain insurance.
“Although we were unable to continue filming abroad with him, we are thrilled that he was able to stay a member of our team in the United Kingdom for exhibitions,” the companies said in a joint statement. We recognize how frustrating this must be for him during this tremendously trying time.
In 2020, he was diagnosed with cancer and given six months to live, but he did not disclose his illness until lately.
The broadcaster stated when he informed A Place in the Sun’s executives of his decision “they drew the wrong inference because I said, ‘Look, it’s stage four, which implies it’s terminal but not yet.’ Allow me to enjoy my life while I still can.”
He stated that he has not filmed for the show in the two years after he disclosed his diagnosis.
He no longer hosted the program He told the newspaper that it “broke my heart” and harmed his mental health.
“After 18 years as a host, I was no longer a presenter for A Place in the Sun. The moment I turn on the television, someone else is performing my duties.”
He added: “To have that taken away, to have that salary taken away, to have that purpose removed… As if getting cancer wasn’t horrible enough, I was quite depressed. I was deeply impacted by this. I can no longer even watch the show.”
Irwin also appeared on Good Morning Britain (GMB) on Thursday, where he was questioned if he was “angered” by the cancellation of his contract with A Place in the Sun.
He described the insurance concerns but added: “It crushed my heart, and I did not believe they had battled for me.
“[Being a presenter] always defines you, and not being able to travel and do what I think I’m very good at, and not being able to provide for my family… every program I do today is money for my family’s future.”
Irwin has continued to work on Escape to the Country and disclosed to The Sun that he has also worked on commercial initiatives, involving international travel.
The property expert told Hello Magazine earlier this month that he did not know precisely “how much time I have left” but that he was attempting to be “positive” and was “living with cancer, not dying of it.”
Channel 4 and Freeform Productions stated in a joint statement: “Jonnie has been a vital member of the A Place in the Sun family for almost 18 years, and we were all devastated to learn of his diagnosis.
The production firm did everything possible to allow Jonnie to continue his foreign filming with us during Covid, but was unable to procure him enough insurance coverage.
