“That’s enough for me,” he says. “That’s all I need.”
The Escape to the Country presenter will savour every small moment with sons Rex, four, and twins Rafa and Cormac, who turn three this month, and his wife Jessica, throwing himself into family life in a way he hasn’t always felt able to in the past three years.
In August 2020, two months after the birth of his twin boys, Jonnie was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer that had spread to his brain.
“At the start of my illness, I know I held back,” he tells HELLO! at his home in Newcastle-uponTyne. “It was probably a defence mechanism as ultimately I know I’m not going to be around.
“But more recently I thought: ‘F**k it.’ I just want to immerse myself in it and to have as many good times as we can.”
NEVER GIVING UP
It is fighting talk from a man who says he isn’t “interested in talking about cancer – I want to talk about life”.
Which he does with bravery, resilience and stoicism – as well as a few tears – in this exclusive interview and photoshoot, talking movingly about his pride in and love for his family, as well as how he is coping with an illness that has left him weak and in pain, but not diminished.
“It can happen at any time,” he says of his death, which he has so far cheated for three years. “I’m here to stop it for as long as possible.”
A stay in a hospice to deal with chronic pain in his back has meant Jonnie, 49, has been more sedentary than usual, not so quick on his feet or as full of the energy needed to keep up with his rambunctious boys.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 19, 2023 من HELLO! UK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 19, 2023 من HELLO! UK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
AS 'THE DIPLOMAT RETURNS KERI RUSSELL
ON HAVING FUN WITH RUFUS SEWELL, MEETING THE U.S. AMBASSADOR AND BEING STRAPPED TO TOM CRUISE
FROM HIS CHALLENGING CHILDHOOD TO HOLLYWOOD'S HOT LIST BARRY KEOGHAN
ON BEING DRAWN TO STRONG WOMEN AND ENJOYING LIFE WITH HIS LITTLE BOY
AS 'THE SUBSTANCE' IS RELEASED MARGARET QUALLEY
ON MAKING THE LEAP FROM BALLET TO HOLLYWOOD
BUSY MUM-TO-BE AND DUTIFUL DAUGHTER PRINCESS BEATRICE
TEAMS UP WITH SISTER PRINCESS EUGENIE TO SUPPORT THEIR FATHER IN HIS EXILE FROM ROYAL LIFE
CHAMPIONING WOMEN'S HEALTH THE DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH
HONOURS 60 YEARS OF GROUNDBREAKING CHARITY
AS ONE DIRECTION REUNITE TO BID FAREWELL TO FORMER BANDMATE LIAM PAYNE
HUGS AND TEARS AS MOURNING FRIENDS AND FAMILY SAY GOODBYE
CELEBRATING HER GAME-CHANGING NEW CONCEALER VICTORIA'S SECRETS
THE DESIGNER SHARES HER TOP SKINCARE TIPS AND REVEALS WHICH PRODUCTS HARPER LOVES TO STEAL
CHANNELLING MARY POPPINS TO CHAMPION LITERACY THE QUEEN
JOINS CELEBRITIES AND BEST-SELLING AUTHORS TO APPLAUD YOUNG WRITERS' 'ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT WORK'
CONTINUING A FESTIVE TRADITION - WITH A TINY NEW TREAT TO DELIGHT VISITORS WINDSOR CASTLE AT CHRISTMAS
STAFF DECK THE HALLS - AND, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE ROYAL DOLLS' HOUSE
SNAPPING UP RECORD-BREAKING £60M MANSION IN MIAMI THE BECKHAMS
WE GO INSIDE THEIR BILLION-DOLLAR LIFESTYLE AS THE FAMILY PREPARE TO EXPAND THEIR BRAND