A Place in the Sun's Jasmine Harman struggles to talk about Jonnie Irwin after his tragic death
A Place in the Sun's Jasmine Harman shared an emotional wish following the death of co-star Jonnie Irwin. When A Place in the Sun celebrates its 20th year on our screens on Monday 29 April, it'll be a poignant moment for host Jasmine as her close friend and co-star of almost two decades, Jonnie Irwin, won't be there with her.
The presenting duo kicked off their journey in February 2004 when they first hosted an episode of A Place in the Sun on Channel 4 and they quickly became close.
With Jonnie's tragic passing from lung cancer at the tender age of 50 this February, Jasmine is steeling herself for an incredibly emotional episode.
She shared with the Mirror: "I am so proud to have been part of A Place in the Sun for 20 years. It has been life changing for so many people and to be able to help hundreds of couples last time I counted it was 440. But [reaching this landmark] has also been very bittersweet. I still find it very hard even talking about Jonnie. It’s still very raw."
Jasmine, 48, was deeply moved by how strongly Jonnie, a father of three, kept a positive attitude despite his bleak prognosis in 2022.
Jonnie, who besides being a beloved figure on A Place in The Sun was also known for presenting BBC's Escape To The Country, gained admiration from his multitude of fans by offering support through social media, remaining optimistic and even cracking jokes right till his final days.
And Jasmine is now embracing Jonnie's philosophy of living life to the fullest, having found her own slice of paradise in Estepona, Spain. The move to Spain means Jasmine will have a shorter commute and more precious time with her loved ones.
The mother of two explained: "We felt with the children it was now or never. If we waited until they were at secondary school age, it wouldn't be as easy. I feel lucky I am able to give my children the chance to be part of a different culture."
However, the transition hasn't been without its challenges, as Jasmine, who is currently learning Spanish, navigates the complexities faced by expats, including six months of legal paperwork. This experience has given her insight into why buyers often have extensive lists of what they want and don't want.
Reflecting on her own property search, she recalled: "I actually had it with myself. When we were looking, I fell in love with a beautiful property before I saw it. "But when I arrived, there was a pylon in the garden. I was devastated. [But] I don't think people should compromise.”
Jasmine is hopeful for more adventures in house-hunting, looking forward to perhaps another two decades with the show she and her colleague Jonnie adored.
