Jonnie Irwin’s tragic apology to sons in tear-jerking video shared before his death

In the months leading up to his death, Jonnie Irwin bravely shared a message for his three young sons - who are all aged five and under - with the intention that they can watch it in years to come and remember their dad.

The A Place In The Sun presenter, 50, tragically lost his three-and-a-half-year battle with terminal cancer on Friday.

Back in June, Jonnie sat down to film the emotional clip for his children, issuing them an apology.

He told HELLO!: “If my boys are watching this in years to come, I apologise for being overly emotional, but, it’s a very emotional thing to cope with knowing that I’m not with you.

“I would like you to know that the years I’ve had with you, have been the happiest years of my life.

“I’m so proud of you and I’m so confident that you will be happy with your mum and that you are looking after each other. You are positive, I want you to continue that.

“I want you to do whatever you want to do to the best of your ability and be happy.”

Jonnie welcomed his three boys – Rex, five, and twins Rafa and Cormac, three – with his beloved wife Jessica.

The pair married in 2016 after meeting less than a year earlier through mutual friends.

Following Jonnie’s lung cancer diagnosis in 2020, the family moved to Newcastle so they could be closer to Jessica’s relatives.

After Jonnie’s death was announced, his widow took to Instagram to share a heartbreaking message with her followers, vowing to make her late husband “proud” as she raises their boys without him.

She wrote: “The hardest day has come, a day I prayed wouldn’t come...I will continue to make you proud but only with your love still finding me and guiding me for the rest of my life, me and the boys still need you.

“Jonnie you really were the most handsome man I ever knew, and I am so sorry for this cruel end. It really wasn’t fair and you didn’t deserve any of this.

“You gave so much time to others and touched everyone you met, I have never experienced anything like the effect you had on people. I love you so much and forever proud of you.”