bittersweet
Jasmine Harman chokes back tears as she pays tribute to Jonnie Irwin and marks major milestone on A Place in the Sun
Jasmine wrote, "It doesn’t seem possible that he is gone"
JASMINE Harman choked back tears as she paid tribute to her late A Place in the Sun co-star, Jonnie Irwin.
Jonnie was just 50 when he died last month following his tragic and well-documented cancer battle.
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He was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2020 - a week after filming the popular Channel 4 show in Italy.
Presenter Jasmine, 48, was left heartbroken by his passing and took a break from Instagram at the time.
She has since returned and marked a major show milestone with a post this evening.
Alongside a montage of photos with Jonnie, the TV host looked back on two decades of filming the programe.
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Jasmine dedicated the celebration to her late friend, writing in her caption, "I recently passed the 20 year anniversary of my first ever shoot on A Place in the Sun.
"Two decades ago, my career turned onto a different path which has shaped so many factors of my life until now. From meeting my husband, having our children, moving to Spain, to making so many wonderful friends over the years.
"In particular, one very special friend… Jonnie and I started our Television careers together, which makes the 20 year anniversary especially poignant.
"Without him, I have not really felt like celebrating. I’ve been pretty choked up about posting anything about it to be honest.
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"I miss him. He was always full of fun and mischief, it doesn’t seem possible that he is gone.
"In Jonnie’s memory, I give you a snippet of the last 20 years. What an honour to work with someone so vibrant and fun.
"Thank you Jonnie for the memories, sending love as always to Jonnie’s family and loved ones."
Jasmine and Jonnie first met when they were hired as the co-hosts of A Place in the Sun in 2004 and met during a pilot shoot in South Africa.
Speaking shortly after his death, Jasmine recalled: "To begin our TV careers together was a pleasure and a privilege I will be eternally grateful for.
"Almost twenty years ago, as two nervous new presenters (me perhaps more nervous than you!) little did we know about the adventure we were about to embark on, and the friends we would become."
She also said: "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 A Place in the Sun and Escape to the Country star had previously told The Sun of his sorrow at not being able to see his children grow up.
He said last March: “I think they’re not going to remember me, they’re really not.
“They’re too young and if I die this year there’s no chance they will have memories. And someone else is going to bring them up.
“I’ve done the hard yards with them and someone else will get the easy bit.”
Jonnie revealed how he was left heartbroken after being ditched as a presenter for A Place in the Sun after 18 years.
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The firm behind the show Freeform Productions claimed it couldn’t cover Jonnie’s travel because of his cancer.
It led him to keep his cancer secret for two years, fearful he would lose more work.
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Initially, was given six-months to live after his diagnosis in August 2020 but determinedly defied the odds to carry on working.
Jonnie leaves behind wife Jess, his eldest son Rex, and twins Rafa and Cormac, born in June 2020.
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