Jonnie Irwin has enlisted the help of a digital legacy company to preserve his documents, accounts, memories and wishes for his family when he dies.
The 49-year-old A Place In The Sun host just hinted days ago that he was working with the company to preserve his precious memories and documents.
Jonnie, who was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2020 that has since spread to his brain, posted a picture of his son playing football on Instagram on Tuesday.
He said it would go to @biscuittinco in the caption of the post, writing: “Changing sport – quick penalty game before bed. Rex ‘Efforts go to the @biscuittinco!’
On Thursday, Jonnie was pictured with company founder Sheila Hogan, who has confirmed they are working together to save his digital footprint.
Memories: Cancer-stricken Jonnie Irwin has enlisted the help of a digital legacy company (pictured with founder Sheila Hogan) to preserve his documents, accounts, memories and wishes when he dies
Sheila and Jonnie met at the Flower Café in Newcastle to talk to cancer survivor Paul Fowler about their project.
Biscuit Tin was turned down for an investment in Dragon’s Den, but has since received six times what Sheila asked for during the show.
Their website urges, “Give loved ones the tools they need to manage your end-of-life affairs by backing up your important documents, accounts, and memories.”
It comes after Jonnie also first opened up about his intentions to chat with the company when he appeared on the BBC to discuss digital legacies in February.
He hosted the digital heritage segment on Morning Live, giving hosts Rav Wilding and Kimberley Walsh “goosebumps.”
Reflecting on his actions to date, Jonnie said: “I have a lifetime of memories and over the years many have been stored online and since my diagnosis two and a half years ago I have put my affairs in order , I still have my digital legacy in mind no thought.
“I’ve put thousands of images and digital images online, but going further I have no idea what’s going to happen to those images.”
Host Rav said back in the studio, “I have goosebumps. Such a strong film from Jonnie. I think this film is a real reminder of all the practical things you can do.”
Kimberley: “It’s heartbreaking. I think creating special memories with your loved ones can be as easy as sitting down to a Sunday roast.
Preserving memories: The 49-year-old The Place In The Sun host only hinted days ago that he is working with the company to preserve his precious memories and documents
Jonnie wrote at the time: “I snapped some selfies for @bbcmorninglive for tomorrow’s 9am episode of digital legacies including an amazing start up called @biscuittinco. Check it out – it’s a great idea.”
It comes after Jonnie joked he looked in “right shape” earlier this month as he gave his fans an update amid his cancer battle.
He had just six months to live when he was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer in August 2020, which has spread to his brain.
But in a light-hearted Instagram post, Jonnie quipped he took a “walk of shame” as he ran to catch the train to Newcastle.
He joked about his looks, saying he looked like a “crazy and panicked chemo boy” as he rushed to catch the departing train.
Alongside a selfie from his seat, he wrote: “Must have looked in real shape – a crazed and panicked chemo boy pulling a wheeled suitcase with a weird clear shoulder bag falling off his arm and a hot crossed bun, hanging from the side of his mouth trying to run to the departing train.
‘Luckily the friendly security guard held the door open at the other end. My penance was that my seat was at the other end, so I had to walk past all the passengers who saw the spectacle.”
He added the hashtags: “#walkofshame #relief”.
Funny: It comes after Jonnie joked earlier this month that he looked in “right shape” as he gave his fans an update amid his cancer battle
Last month, Jonnie gave a heartbreaking update amid his tragic cancer battle.
The presenter publicly shared his prognosis in December after being diagnosed last August.
During an interview with The Sun, Jonnie said: “I’m weak now, frail and my memory is terrible… but I’m still here.”
Jonnie then explained: “I was trying to play football with Rex the other day and was in goal and couldn’t get the ball. It was so frustrating.
“I’m very athletic and suddenly it’s like trying football for the first time. I felt like a grandpa. And that broke me a bit.’
Jonnie lives in Hertfordshire with his wife Jessica, 40, and their three children – son Rex, three, and twins Rafa and Cormac, two.
During the interview, Jess recalled the moment Jonnie came home and told her about his terminal diagnosis: “He couldn’t stop apologizing. He kept saying ‘sorry’ and I kept telling him it wasn’t his fault.”
She added: “I think I’m still in denial about a lot of it, if I’m being honest.”
Joker: Jonnie kept his spirits up though and took to Instagram on Monday to joke that he had taken a ‘walk of shame’ as he ran to catch the train to Newcastle
Jonnie also recently spoke about his condition and said he’s trying to make as many memories as possible with his wife Jessica and their three sons.
He said he plans to record video messages so he can still speak to his beloved wife and three children after his death.
The Escape To The Country host said he is taking “every opportunity” to give wife Jessica and their three children a bright future when he is no longer here.
After seeing a clip of a woman battling stage 4 colon cancer capturing a short clip each day for loved ones to see when she’s gone, Jonnie said he plans to do the same.
“It’s amazing to think that I too would be able to talk to my wife and children after I die. My diagnosis took a lot out of me, but it gave me the opportunity to prepare.”
From Lutterworth to Lanzarote: How former estate agent Jonnie Irwin’s television career began after beating hundreds to present A Place in the Sun
TV presenter Jonnie Irwin has revealed he has terminal cancer and he hopes sharing his terminal cancer diagnosis will inspire others to “make the most of each day”.
Born in 1973, Jonnie Irwin grew up in Bitteswell, Leicestershire and attended Lutterworth Grammar School and Community College before becoming a real estate agent.
In 2004, Irwin, along with co-host Jasmine Harman, was selected from hundreds of applicants to present Channel 4’s A Place In The Sun – Home Or Away. The real estate program was a surprise hit and was widely syndicated. Irwin also regularly presents the BBC series Escape To The Country and To Buy Or Not To Buy.
In January 2011, Sky 1 aired Irwin’s own show entitled ‘Dream Lives for Sale’ in which he helped people give up their lives in the UK to buy their dream business.
Later that year he launched a new series, The Renovation Game, which aired weekday mornings on Channel 4.
Outside of presenting, he is also Commercial Director of Judicare, which describes itself as a “specialist law firm providing clients with legal advice on all foreign property matters”.
Irwin married Jessica Holmes in September 2016. Together they have three sons and lived in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire before moving to Newcastle.
On November 13, Irwin was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. He told Hello magazine, “I don’t know how long I have but I’m trying to stay positive and my attitude is that I’m living with cancer, not dying from it.”