A Place in the Sun presenter Laura Hamilton has marked the show’s 25th anniversary with a heartfelt public tribute to late co‑star Jonnie Irwin, underlining how central he remains to the series and its community of presenters and fans. The milestone has prompted multiple A Place in the Sun stars to reflect on Jonnie’s legacy, their shared history on the show, and the impact of his death at the age of 50 after a battle with lung cancer.
Jonnie Irwin’s legacy on A Place in the Sun
Jonnie Irwin became one of the defining faces of A Place in the Sun, fronting the Channel 4 property series for more than 18 years and helping countless couples search for homes abroad. Alongside co‑presenter Jasmine Harman, he established a warm, upbeat on‑screen style that made the show a daytime favourite and inspired many viewers to pursue their own “place in the sun.”
Beyond his television work, Jonnie Irwin was widely praised for his kindness, humour and ability to connect with ordinary house‑hunters, traits colleagues say made filming both productive and fun. Production company Freeform Productions and Channel 4 have both described him as a much‑loved member of the A Place in the Sun family whose energy and positivity lifted the entire series.
Diagnosis, illness and passing
Jonnie’s illness began to surface while filming A Place in the Sun in Italy in 2020, when he experienced sudden vision problems that led to further tests. He was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer that had spread, and at one point was given a prognosis of around six months to live, a timeline he ultimately exceeded.
He chose to go public with his diagnosis in 2022, using interviews and TV appearances to speak candidly about living with a terminal condition and planning for his young family’s future. Jonnie Irwin died in early February 2024 at the age of 50, with his family and production colleagues paying tribute to his courage, warmth and determination to make the most of every day.
Laura Hamilton’s 25th‑anniversary tribute
As A Place in the Sun celebrated an extraordinary 25 years on air, presenter Laura Hamilton used the occasion to honour Jonnie’s memory in a moving tribute shared with fans. Marking the anniversary as a “huge milestone” for the show, she reflected on years of filming, the families they have helped and the behind‑the‑scenes team who keep the series running.
Laura made clear that the celebrations were also a moment of remembrance, saying the team were thinking of colleagues who are no longer with them and highlighting Jonnie’s ongoing influence on the show’s spirit. She described his kindness, humour and character as an enduring part of A Place in the Sun’s DNA, noting that he is “deeply missed” yet still regarded as a permanent member of the team.
Jasmine Harman’s emotional milestone
Jasmine Harman, who started on A Place in the Sun with Jonnie Irwin back in 2004, has spoken repeatedly about how intertwined her career and life became with his. As she marked 20 years with the programme, she called the anniversary “bittersweet,” explaining that celebrating her own milestone felt difficult without the colleague who shared those early days.
She has shared memories and photos from two decades of filming with Jonnie, describing him as a source of mischief and joy whose absence still feels unreal. Jasmine has also said that his approach to facing illness has encouraged her to embrace life more fully, echoing Jonnie’s own message that people should seize the day and not postpone meaningful changes.
Wider tributes from co‑stars and viewers
Tributes to Jonnie Irwin have come from across the presenting teams of both A Place in the Sun and Escape to the Country, as well as from viewers who followed his journey. Fellow presenters have called him an extraordinary colleague, praising his professionalism, warmth and the way he tackled discussions around end‑of‑life care with honesty and optimism.
Fans have repeatedly voiced how much they miss seeing Jonnie Irwin on screen and how his story has affected them personally, with many noting that his openness about terminal cancer helped start conversations in their own families. When tributes aired on TV, some viewers said they were moved to tears, underlining the emotional connection Jonnie Irwin built with audiences over nearly two decades.
A Place in the Sun’s big show milestone
The current milestone marks roughly a quarter of a century of A Place in the Sun helping people find properties overseas, a longevity rare in lifestyle television. Presenters have spoken about the thousands of house‑hunters, the wide range of locations and the life‑changing moves the show has documented since it first aired.
For Laura Hamilton and her colleagues, the 25th‑anniversary celebrations are as much about gratitude to viewers as they are about the programme’s staying power, with messages of thanks to families who trusted them and audiences who have watched for years. Fans, in turn, have flooded social media comments with congratulations for the show and appreciation for the presenters’ heartfelt words about Jonnie.
Jonnie Irwin’s personal story and impact
Away from the cameras, Jonnie Irwin married Jessica in 2016, and the couple had three sons, a young family he often mentioned when discussing his diagnosis and the future. He spoke about his efforts to create lasting memories for them, including filming moments from everyday life so his children would later see how much fun they had together.
He also chose to celebrate his 50th birthday early with a large gathering of friends and relatives, which he described as a joyous event that revealed how loyal and supportive his circle really was. Colleagues at the BBC highlighted how his reports on illness and end‑of‑life issues were both practical and inspiring, showing the same positivity he brought to property shows.
How the show continues Jonnie’s ethos
In the wake of Jonnie’s death, many of his co‑stars have said they try to carry forward his focus on seizing opportunities and living fully, both on screen and in their personal lives. Jasmine Harman, now based in Spain, has spoken about valuing time with family and embracing change, themes that echo Jonnie’s own reflections on what matters most.
The 25th‑anniversary milestone has therefore taken on a deeper meaning, serving not only as a celebration of A Place in the Sun’s success but as a moment to reaffirm the values Jonnie Irwin championed: positivity, kindness and making bold moves when the chance arises. For fans and colleagues alike, his legacy lives on in every new episode that encourages viewers to chase their own dream home in the sun.
