Yahoo News Jonnie Irwin felt like he'd been 'thrown on scrap heap' after revealing cancer diagnosis
The presenter said when you say you’ve got cancer 'people just write you off'
Jonnie Irwin has said he felt as if he'd been "thrown on a scrap heap" after he revealed that he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The A Place In The Sun star told fans last year that he had lung cancer and was determined to make the most of any time he had left with his wife Jess and their three young sons - Rex, four, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac.
However, he has shared that he kept his diagnosis quiet at first because he knew he needed to earn money and was worried it would affect his career.
Read more: Jonnie Irwin called 'an inspiration' as he returns to A Place In The Sun
"As soon as you say you’ve got cancer, people just write you off, people just think you are going to cark it," he said on the OneChat podcast.
"I had to live with it as a secret. If I was to continue to be able to continue to provide for my family, I had to keep it a secret."
After Irwin, 49, opened up about his diagnosis he said he had been dropped by his Channel 4 property show.
“Unfortunately, one of the companies claimed they couldn’t insure me and so they didn’t renew my contract and left a massive hole in my income," he explained on the podcast.
"I felt like I’d been thrown on a scrap heap.
"They recruited within a week and then I saw someone else doing my job.”
Production company Freeform told Yahoo last year: "Jonnie has been a hugely important part of the A Place In The Sun family for over 18 years and all of us were deeply saddened by his diagnosis.
"Much loved by everyone on the production, no stone was left unturned in trying to enable Jonnie to continue his international filming with us during COVID but the production company were unable to secure adequate insurance cover for him.
"Whilst we were unable to continue to film abroad with him, we’re delighted that he was able to remain as part of our team in the UK for exhibitions.
Read more: A Place In The Sun's Jonnie Irwin thanks fans for overwhelming support
"We of course understand how frustrating this must be for him at this incredibly difficult time."
Watch: A Place In The Sun presenter Jonnie Irwin explains why he kept cancer diagnosis secret
