The heartbreaking reason why Jonnie Irwin kept his lung cancer diagnosis a secret for two years [Video]

10:00 EST 03 Feb 2024 , updated 11:08 EST 03 Feb 2024

The reason why Jonnie Irwin kept his lung cancer diagnosis a secret for two years has been revealed.

The A Place In The Sun star confirmed in November his cancer had spread to his brain after first being diagnosed with the disease in 2020. He passed away on Friday at the age of 50.

Jonnie told how the reason why he kept his battle with cancer a secret for two years was to ‘pay the bills’ and look after his family. 

He said: ‘The only reason I kept it secret is because I’ve got to earn, I’ve got to feed my babies, pay the bills.

‘And as soon as you say you’ve got cancer, people just write you off.