Jonnie Irwin's A Place In The Sun co-star reveals first meeting 'wonderful' host

Jonnie Irwin’s A Place In The Sun co-star Leah Charles-King recalled the sweet moment she the property expert two years ago.

The A Place in the Sun presenter, 49, shared publicly last November that he didn’t know how long he had to live after a tumour in his lung spread to his brain.

Jonnie has since kept his followers in the loop with his treatment and the emotional milestones for his family as he makes the most of his final moments.

At the time, the presenter was told he could only have ‘months to live’ and has been enjoying spending time with his family since – wife Jessica Holmes, and kids, Rex, four, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac.

Sharing her love for her former colleague, Leah exclusively told Metro.co.uk: ‘We all love and support Jonnie, we all saw him at the TRIC awards where A Place in the Sun won and we dedicated it to him live on stage.

‘I met Jonnie before when I first got the gig in 2021, and he was so welcoming and warm to me and he left the programme before I even started but he was just wonderful and as we all do just sending him lots of love.’

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Heaping praise on her co-star, A Place in the Sun presenter Laura Hamilton added: ‘Jonnie is amazing, intelligent charismatic guy and we all love him to bits.’

The hit Channel 4 series recently returned with a fresh batch of episodes, with presenters Laura Hamilton, Jasmine Harman and Dani Menzies helping Brits secure the best property across the world.

Its back to business as usual for the experts, as Leah helps a couple find their perfect holiday home that will suit them, and Laura puts forward a list of options to help a family find their dream location in the beautiful Lecrin Valley in Granada Province.

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Explaining the challenges they faced this time round, Leah stressed there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes that viewers don’t realise.

‘Filming during Covid was really tough, but now we’re coming through that and now it’s things like if we want a shot of the pool but everyone’s in it,’ she said.

‘Or every time we go to film it’s really quiet and then you hear a lawnmower or a dog barking. It was so hot I didn’t even realise my false eyelashes were down my face. I really feel sorry for the house hunters at the time, because as the experts that’s what we signed up for. It’s a lot of stopping and starting.’

When asked if she still feels the pressure when presented with a new task, Laura, 41, added: ‘I never get nervous, because every week is different. We’re there to hold their hand and guide them through the process. My job is to help them switch off and that’s what we do.’


Although the A Place In The Sun stars are busy with all year round with the lifestyle programme, one host in particular revealed that she would drop everything to appear on a certain BBC One show.

I’m manifesting Strictly [Come Dancing] and I have been for a number of years now,’ Leah told us.

‘My friend Eddie Kadi is on it this year and I can’t wait to see him, I know he is going to bring that flavour.’

In fact, Leah is so keen she fears a popular professional dancer will leave the show before she gets the chance to sign up.

‘Giovanni [Pernice] has been my dream partner for years,’ she added.

‘I ’m worried that he’s going. I love Johannes [Radabe], his vibe and energy seems incredible. If I was paired with him though I’d be way to camp and over the top. I think I’d be all that and a bag of chips, but Giovanni is the one for me. 

‘I met him at an award show and we locked eyes and I started doing a bit of salsa for him and I was like ‘one day Gio I’ll be coming back for you,’ so he better not leave before I get on there.’

A Place in the Sun broadcasts daily at 4pm on Channel 4.

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