Jonnie Irwin 'not slept for six nights' as he shares health update with exhausted hospital selfie

Jonnie Irwin has given fans an insight into his gruelling cancer treatment as he shared a tired selfie of himself in hospital.

A Place in the Sun presenter Jonnie, 50, showed fans the "look of a man who's not slept for six nights" as he awaited a full body MRI scan in hospital. He first announced in November 2022 that he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, having been privately given the diagnosis in 2020 and told he had six months to live.

But Jonnie - who is dad son Rex and twins Rafa and Cormac with wife Jess - is continuing to live life to the fullest. Yet some days are more difficult than others, which he is open to sharing with his social media followers.

Taking to Instagram today, he posted an exhausted photo of himself in a hospital down as he stared into the camera with bloodshot eyes. He wrote: "This is look of a man who’s not slept for 6 nights and awaiting a full body MRI scan of at least an hour. If you haven’t had one they’re claustrophobic and claustrophobic and omit loud random noises. Joy. Take note on attempt of a jaunty not on my gown! I’m expecting to come out to news of India all out 195! ##alwaystrying #mri #livingwithcancer #nhs."

The presenter was flooded with support in the comments, with some offering advice and commenting: "Wear eye mask, don't open your eyes, they should give you ear protection and I say a buddhist mamtra works for me. Used to have to take Diazepam." While another wrote: "know what you mean. It hated having those scans when having chemo. I'm sure the outcome will be positive for you. So many new trials and treatments are coming out for you to beat this. Behind you all the way."

A third commented: "You will get through the MRI … close your eyes & with every clunk and bang of the MRI just imagine a stage and create a story with each sound being a different character … and if you can - feel peaceful, restful and calm and breath steadily in through your noise and out slowly through your mouth & always remember you have the comfort of knowing that you have a button to press if it gets too much I hope it goes okay xx."

It comes after Jonnie explained earlier this month how he was still managing to stay positive. Speaking on the Conversations with Jane McLelland podcast, he explained: "One of the reasons I think I'm still here is I'm not a cancer patient. It's always there at the back of your mind, but I'm living with cancer, not dying with cancer."

Jonnie then encouraged others not to focus too much on their prognosis, as he said: "If I just listened to the prognosis I'm perennially given, I'd be curled up in a ball and crying myself to death." The TV star added that he feels more empowered knowing there are things he can do to help himself, including hyperbaric oxygen, intravenous Vitamin C, and Reiki treatments.

"I'm so much more open-minded now. Probably because I've got a gun to my head. It's a rich kaleidoscope of help that I'm getting and I'm pursuing and I will continue to do that. You've got to look into alternatives and do your own research," he commented whilst on the podcast.

The brave star also highlighted the importance of maintaining a positive outlook on life amid his cancer battle. "At the very least you're giving people hope. And as a patient that can add weeks and months. This positive attitude buys you days, buys you weeks and buys you moments with people like my kids," he shared.

Jonnie recently said he feels "really privileged" to have reached his 50th birthday while continuing to live with cancer. "I never thought I'd be here for this, so I'm chuffed to bits," Jonnie told Hello! as he chatted from his family getaway. He added: "I feel really privileged to be able to celebrate my birthday looking at blue skies and with sand between my toes. 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."

The Macmillan Support Line offers confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones. If you need to talk, call them on 0808 808 0000.

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