Jonnie Irwin celebrated 50th birthday early as he 'didn't think he'd make it'

Jonnie Irwin celebrated his 50th birthday early because he feared he wouldn't "make it" to the milestone.

The 'A Place in The Sun' presenter was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2020 - which has since spread to his brain – and given just six months to live and he was worried he wouldn't be around to mark his birthday so he had a party several months ahead of the big day.

He told Hello! magazine: "I had an early birthday party at the start of the year because I didn't think I'd make it. It was like being at my own wake; lots of fun, lots of dancing. But here I am. I view it as a complete triumph."

Jonnie turned 50 on Sunday (19.11.23) and celebrated on a trip to Spain's Costa Del Sol with his wife Jessica Holmes and their sons, Rex, four, and twins Rafa and Cormac, three.

He said of the party: "I feel really privileged to be able to celebrate my birthday looking at blue skies and with sand between my toes."

Jonnie was recently allowed home from hospital because his liver function is now "heading in the right direction" and before catching the flight to Spain with his family, the TV star confirmed he'd cleared the trip with his oncologist.

In a post on Instagram, he explained: "I woke up this morning feeling a bit better, still slightly jaundice-y, but I'm about to jump on a flight to southern Spain.

"I did clear it with with my oncologist, and he said, 'Well, there are hospitals in Spain and in fairness, you don't play by the rules anyway'. But my thoughts are, that's probably part of my success so far!

"Hopefully my liver continues to get a bit better and me and my family, we wake up tomorrow, to blue skies in southern Spain ... Bon voyage to us."